Even before the coronavirus outbreak began, 43% of US employees worked remotely, at least for part of their workweek. Since the virus began its rapid spread throughout the country, more companies have enacted emergency work-from-home policies.
Although remote work had already become a common practice in some industries, many companies were not prepared for the abrupt transition to a totally remote workforce. More importantly, many companies did not have the option of turning to remote work as an alternative. If they remained open, their employees had to work on the shop floor.
This unprecedented situation has added complexity and uncertainty to these employees‘ workday, making it all the more critical that they keep their workers engaged.
To support your workers and mitigate some of the anxiety, try these six suggestions for connecting with your workers while increasing both engagement and productivity.
1. Keep them in the loop
Right now, your people want to be informed more than anything. They are likely concerned about the continually changing situations or the condition of the company. It‘s crucial for the business‘s success that your people are getting regular and transparent communication. Your updates give them something on which they can depend.
2. Provide some extra support to calm their fears
When your staff is worried about workplace policies or other concerns, they tend to disengage. To keep them informed, try these tips:
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- Provide them with links to information about benefits and other company updates.
- Post the email addresses of managers or leaders on all communication channels.
- Share information for people experiencing anxiety or other mental health concerns.
3. Maintain friendly social interactions in the break room
Coffee breaks are more important than ever. The stress they are under from worrying about their jobs, their families, and their health means they need to get away from their machines or whatever their tasks might be and talk about non-work topics.
4. Get employee feedback on how they’re feeling
Managers should be talking to their workers and soliciting feedback to gauge the general mood in the shop. Once you start getting feedback, you can act on it.
5. Don‘t put their continuing education on hold
Training your workers on new skills will give them the feeling of continuity. During these times of doom and gloom, giving them hope for the future will be good for morale and give your employee retention a boost.
6. Do whatever you can to be flexible
Many of your workers have children at home (instead of in school) and a flexible work schedule might mean a lot to them. It probably isn‘t possible to give workers completely flexible work hours in a manufacturing setting, but let them know you‘ll do whatever you can to accommodate them under these unusual circumstances.
Let us help you find the perfect employee
Lingo Staffing is your resource for your long-term or short-term staffing needs. Contact us, and let‘s get started.
