With no end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, companies are re-evaluating their reopening strategy. Many companies have put re-entry plans on hold due to a recent spike of COVID across the country. Most employees will continue working from home for the foreseeable future and if there is an off chance they go back to the office, safety will be at the forefront limiting capacity of the office and person to person contact.
The longer employees work from home, the less connection they have with their co-workers and the company culture can begin to erode. A study by Gallup research found that “optimal engagement” occurs when employees spend 60 to 80 percent of their time working off-site (a 3-4 day work week). This means employees would still likely need a day or more on-site a week to reach “optimal engagement”. In addition, companies will have to work extra hard to build a connection with new hires that do not have a concept of what the company culture was prior to the pandemic. So is your company culture canceled?
No, your company culture isn’t canceled. Even as our working lives and hours are evolving, employees and their success should be top of mind. Below are three things to keep in mind as you navigate keeping your company culture alive while working remote.
1. Collaboration platforms
Be sure all employees have access to the same collaboration platform (i.e. skype, slack, zoom) for fast and seamless communication
Set Up fun communication channels. To encourage employees to connect socially, some businesses are setting up “WFH Channels” where employees are encouraged to post about what they are up to (i.e. workouts, pets, and hobbies).
2. Flexibility
Working from home means productivity should be emphasized over “normal” business hours. Let your employees help make decisions on when team meetings are scheduled.
3. Communication
Be very clear about when and how you expect employees to communicate. Now it’s easier than ever for employees to go MIA for extended periods of time. With employees no longer maintaining “normal” business hours, being clear on how they are expected to communicate is important.
Even after we have moved past the pandemic, many companies are planning to retain a significant work from home policy as part of their culture. Keeping employees and company culture top of mind is more important than ever, even if you plan on returning to the workplace in the coming months.
Reference: Wong, Kellie. "25 Key Remote Work Statistics for 2020." Achievers.com, 1 Apr. 2020,www.achievers.com/blog/remote-work-statistics/. Accessed 22 July 2020.
