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Employee Wipe-Out
July 20, 2020
How to address depleting energy and engagement levels in your business.
As businesses start to take employees off of furlough
and return them to the office many are finding that the transition is not as seamless as they would have hoped. After weeks and months of adapting to either working from home or, for some, not working at all many employers may have underestimated the impact of the past months on employees physical and mental well-being.
We’ve seen it happen within our own business having found that many of us are suffering from fluctuating energy levels and anxieties about what the future holds and, as the UK begins to ease lockdown restrictions (with Boris Johnson ‘telling’ employees that they should return to the office from August) the future of the office as we know it still remains unclear, leaving many employees in limbo.
Businesses have been faced with reduced capacity and having to make significant changes to the working environment and, with some businesses not renewing leases, it is a reality that many will still be faced with the prospect of working from home for the foreseeable future.
This level of continued uncertainty (with the looming possibility of a 2nd spike of infection) is likely to mean that employees will continue to suffer from fluctuating energy levels and anxiety. But what can employers do to support the self-care that is needed right now?
Create a culture that supports employee health and wellbeing
When you have a culture that supports employee health and wellbeing your employees will feel comfortable having conversations around their own individual circumstances.
Managers should create an environment where there can be open dialogue including discussions around energy levels, sleep patterns, exercise, diet and the impact that the pandemic has had on each individual. Take the time to share your own experiences too so that employees feel that they aren’t alone.
Take a break
Actively encourage employees to take breaks throughout the day and step away from work, even if they are working from home. We all know that when working from home - without your colleagues asking if you want a cuppa or, being able to pop over to a colleague’s desk to ask them a question - that it is easy to reach 3.00pm without having left your desk.
Schedule team breaks (we’ve seen clients have a Zoom coffee room at set times throughout the day to encourage breaks and maintain communication) or send an email reminding employee to take a break throughout the day.
Pick up the phone
What better way to give an employee a break by calling them to check in on how they are doing? Taking a genuine interest in your employee’s welfare goes a long way and can help both parties to address any issues head on instead of letting them fester and escalate at a later date.
Show your appreciation
A simple ‘thank you’ will help employees feel appreciated and, on those days, when individuals are feeling isolated or have a dip in mood and productivity, this simple action could help to make a real difference.
HR software
will allow you and your employees to acknowledge one another’s achievements and contributions by providing kudos, in an open forum, for everybody to see. Working in isolation can leave employees feeling disconnected from the business and their peers and this is a great alternative to being able to show appreciation as you would do when you are in an open plan office together.
Meet your employees
Where it isn’t possible to return to the office collectively (if you are operating shift patterns or some employees are still working from home) make arrangements to meet your team face-to-face on a regular basis. A weekly walk and talk where employees can meet, grab coffee and walk around the local area together, or a group picnic in an open space, is a great way to give people down time from work – ensuring that they take a break - and allows them to re-connect with colleagues. Working in isolation often means that we miss out on those touch points where we can learn so much about one another and, this interaction can be pivotal in maintaining team spirit in your business.
Whatever approach you decide upon it’s important to recognise that there is no cure-all solution. Your employees are all individuals and you may find that what works for one does not work for others. Ultimately, taking steps to boost employee energy levels now will have a positive impact on your employees and your business. It will increase productivity and employee satisfaction which will be pivotal to success as we plough forwards into what lies ahead for the remainder of 2020.
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Did you know the 4-Day Week campaign kicked off a six-month trial in November 2024?
As our working and home lives continue to become ever more intertwined the blurred boundaries can lead to increased stress for employees, in extreme cases, burnout and a general decrease in employee well-being.
As we approach the end of the year, it's the perfect opportunity to ensure that your employees are making full use of their annual leave entitlements, especially if your company's holiday policy does not allow for unused leave to roll over into the following year.
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