When COVID impacted the world, it’s fair to say we weren’t prepared. Businesses everywhere had to change how they operated. Conference rooms were replaced with Zoom meetings. In-office communication changed to instant messaging software like Microsoft Teams. Working moms became working moms, stay-at-home moms, and homeschooling moms all at once. Something a lot of people liked was that every day became casual Friday. But have all of these changes been positive? Have they brought teams closer or driven them apart?
Nowadays, even with the pandemic behind us, a lot of offices have adopted a hybrid or remote work setup. This new arrangement is unlike anything we’ve seen before. But, as we adapt to this setup, the way we work and stay connected at the office will definitely change as well.
Things Have Changed: Some Key Elements of an Employee’s Daily Life That Have Changed
Working from home is a privilege, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have its own set of struggles. If your home doesn’t have space for a home office, you’re probably working on a couch or in the dining room – not exactly quiet, solitary places to focus. If you’ve got kids, you’re probably juggling online schooling or changing diapers between meetings. And there’s always the cat or dog occasionally showing up onscreen during a Zoom meeting.
But on the other side of things, you don’t have to dress up. You don’t have to drive in traffic to get to and from the office. You get to be in your own space while working. It isn’t all bad.
Are These Changes to Workplace Settings and Dynamics Positive?
Something that has actually been positive is the rogue pets and toddlers that interrupt the occasional meeting. Remote work can bring employees closer because it makes their everyday private lives visible to their officemates. Another positive change is that people’s appearance and charisma have become almost invisible, so an employee’s work ethic and competence can be the sole focus of management.
But not all of it was great. The shift to remote work means overhauling many existing systems. From implementing better tech infrastructure to support working from home to coming up with new ways to maintain an office culture, businesses have faced an adjustment period.
Implications for the Future of Offices All Over Corporate America
This pandemic was a wake-up call for our corporate, government, and small business sectors alike. And nowadays, these are just a few of the ways things in the workplace have changed:
- Companies will be more flexible with how and where work is done.
- Some companies, those that have found that doing work remotely wasn’t a difficult change at all, may never go back to the office.
- Employee engagement for remote teams requires a different sort of plan, when compared to before.
How to Maintain Employee Connection and Engagement Even for Remote Teams
In this current reality of hybrid and remote work, companies need to adapt and transform the way they connect with their teams. It’s easy for people who work from home to simply feel like they’re not part of a larger group. In between Zoom calls and completely online interaction, some remote workers have reported feeling higher rates of loneliness .
To reduce loneliness and foster team relationships even in a virtual work environment, you need to consider bringing back ways to show your appreciation to your team members. From hosting online award events to setting up virtual team-building activities, you can allow your remote employees to feel like a part of a wider community.
Previously, your company may have had a dedicated celebration at the end of the year to honor the achievements and successes of each valuable team member. Even though the logistics of an award event may be difficult for a remote work setup, that doesn’t mean you should do away with it.
In fact, it’s even more crucial for you to continue this company tradition for your employees’ well-being. Because recognition ceremonies have been found to increase employee motivation and satisfaction, you shouldn’t forget about hosting these events for your remote workforce.
For online recognition ceremonies, you can plan out a way to deliver personalized awards, whether that be acrylic, glass, or crystal, to their doorstep. It’s also important for you to select the right awards as you plan out a virtual recognition event.
