We are in the early stages of a global health crisis. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted and rearranged the workplace with breath-taking speed.
Protecting lives is the first priority, but we must also protect our livelihoods. With dramatic increases in layoffs and remote working, organisations are likely to see reductions in employee engagement, morale and possibly productivity, due to an increased sense of loneliness, isolation and anxiety.
For business leaders, there’s never been a more critical time to keep close to EMPLOYEES and to track their sentiment. Here are two things that you can do right now, to weather the storm and come through it in great shape when the upturn happens:
1.) Engage and support your staff:
- Communicate clearly and effectively to share actionable information at a speed that helps staff take critical decisions
- Engage and connect with employees to manage any loneliness and isolation of remote workers
- Offer reassurance and support to employees about how the crisis is affecting the business and implications
- Motivate employees by encouraging them to think about the rebirth and growth of the organisation once things settle down
2.) Monitor their wellbeing
- Continually gauge stress and engagement levels
- Whatever measures you have put in place, check with your staff that they are perceived as actually working
- Adapt over time, and do not assume that what you have done cannot be enhanced and improved
For more information and the Dorset Chamber member offer call Neal Middle on 01425 615024.