Українська 1. Remote Work
This is the new reality, and companies should not expect to return to the old ways after the quarantine. They need to prepare for new surprises, including setting up remote work systems to ensure that business doesn’t depend on physical presence of employees in the office. Quarantine was a forced but valuable opportunity to test remote work, technologies, tools for managing teams remotely, and to develop corresponding skills of employees (e.g., time management, personal efficiency).
It’s crucial to set up a system for employees to be able to access important documents remotely, 24/7. Companies that had already established these conditions adjusted to the coronavirus crisis the fastest and with the least losses. Security of remote access to company resources, especially from personal devices, is also a current concern.
It’s worth noting that demand of employees for remote work is likely to grow after the quarantine ends. Many will have experienced the benefits and effectiveness of such work.
2. Horizontal Development
If a company has a diversified portfolio, makes sure to create new products, and builds assets in various fields, it helps preserve both the business and the team during turbulent times. For instance, companies with multiple business areas that lost the ability to develop some of them reoeriented employees to other areas that became more relevant. Hence, in the new reality, horizontal development takes on special importance.
3. Online Communication
With remote work, communication between colleagues becomes even more important. Communication can only be maintained in teams where a friendly atmosphere has been built. Therefore, it is important to create teams considering this aspect – that the team consists of people with common goals, values, and who want to stay connected, even remotely. Popular communication formats include online coffee breaks and chats on non-work-related topics.
4. Employee Health
Physical and mental health, as well as the safety of both “in field” and office workers, is a company priority and a valuable resource that helps achieve business results. Personal protective equipment, vitamins, medical insurance, online training, webinars on mindfulness, and other practices are more important than ever. Companies are increasingly concerned with matters not directly related to work, such as psychological support lines for employees, assistance to employees stranded abroad, and helpful content for parents about interacting with children, as well as online events for children of the employees is also trending.
5. Employee Engagement
As the main factor for business success – especially in a crisis. For this, people need to feel that the company cares about them (security, compensation, stability), and that business decisions are made with the interests of the team in mind. When a company cares about the stability of both the organization and its people, and communicates its actions transparently, it reduces anxiety and positively impacts engagement and productivity.
6. Communication
The crucial importance of this tool during crises cannot be overestimated. Communication between all levels of employees and managers, as well as other stakeholders, needs to be established. It’s very important for communication to be in a format of a dialog – not only the top management cascades its decisions, but also employees and managers should be able to ask questions (including anonymously) and provide feedback on the effectiveness of the crisis strategy of a company (for example, through weekly surveys). It is essential to ensure the effectiveness of communication in an online format as well, with interactive elements, such as using tools that create a live communication effect (e.g., collective video conference sessions).
7. Recognition
When teams work remotely, it becomes harder for people to understand whether the company notices and appreciates their contributions. Therefore, it’s necessary to adapt systems of performance evaluation and compensation mechanisms so that people understand that distance is not an obstacle for the business – their efforts will be noticed and rewarded.
8. Workload Balance
In practice, many people when working remotely perform even better than they did in the office. Therefore, an important issue today is balancing workloads: on the one hand, setting up comfortable work schedules to ensure workloads do not lead to burnout, and on the other hand, cultivatig an understanding within the team that in crisis times, workloads may temporarily increase, requiring more effort.
9. Development
Training and development programs need to be adapted to the changes. For example, in some companies, training has become more focused on skills crucial for this period – managing remote teams, making remote work effective, online communication, setting up remote workplaces, using remote communication technologies, serving clients remotely, mindfulness, critical thinking, etc.
Read more: “Quarantine” Labor Legislation: 5 Important Aspects
10. Change Management
In this area, stability and balance of leaders are crucial, as is their readiness to constantly keep in touch with people, being available for a team (the most popular format – weekly online meetings with top management, hotlines for employees – some even specifically addressing coronavirus-related issues, messaging channels, etc.). Providing comprehensive answers to questions that concern employees and exacerbate their anxiety is essential. Also, the capacity of the organization to make quick and reasonable decisions and involve people in the crisis action program is critical. Active participation and readiness to provide competent advice from HR business partners are equally important.
11. Crisis Planning
Companies should create crisis plans for different areas. While there is no guarantee that all circumstances can be predicted, such plans still allow the company to prepare for external changes. At the same time, these plans should be flexible, and the strategy must quickly adapt to changes. Companies also need to plan for business recovery post-crisis.
12. Tolerance
Currently, the focus is primarily on promoting the idea that we should approach the team with understanding. Not just towards children who joyfully interrupt business online meetings, but also towards the fact that everyone finds themselves in a challenging situation, under the influence of anxiety and informational pressure. Therefore, colleagues should not judge, but support one another, even in unusual situations.
The material is prepared by the partner of the Association – robota.ua.
For more detailed expert comments, check the recording of the online meeting “ANTI-Crisis Camp: Anti-crisis HR Tool.
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