The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the entire business world. Organizations were compelled to ask most of their employees to work from home. Fortunately, the virus has been curbed, and things have become normal like before. However, organizations in today’s post-pandemic world have adopted both the working-from-home and workplace culture concepts.
Goals of the employer
Many companies promote a work-from-home culture. With employees working remotely, the employer’s key goal should be to maintain company culture. Work flexibility established should support employees’ efforts to stay productive, contribute, derive fulfillment at work, and find happiness. This Workplace Culture does not need to change with remote work.
Do what is best for your employees and organization
Determine the factors that require maintenance and emphasis as employees work remotely. Putting in efforts to maintain company culture is not limited to sponsoring celebrations, excursions, company events, or providing team-building activities. Employers need to set up a virtual environment to maintain a remote work culture. In such an environment, the team will feel protected and connected.
They will get the feeling that the team works hard together to be productive while their opinions matter. They stay in touch with their colleagues and managers to achieve this goal. You, as an employer, have to assist your employees to stay connected with the company’s goals and overall vision. It boosts the feeling among team members that they are playing a vital role in organizational success. This is crucial for employee engagement.
Five things that help maintain a positive workplace culture when working remotely
1. Trust your employees.
Every employee, whether existing or new, prefers to be treated with respect and trust. Only then will they rise to overcome hurdles and contribute to the organization’s success. Moreover, they will also work as a team. Over-monitoring remote-working employees tends to hamper their productivity and motivation. Develop better work relationships by sharing work schedules with your teams. Promote advanced tools among your teams that they can use to stay abreast of the latest trends and achieve progress in their work.
2. Reinforce the culture within the team that you desire to develop
Workplace Culture will develop automatically, whether you pay attention or not. Discuss culture actively with all employees, managers, and senior leadership. You may reinforce your current culture if you find it effective, as employees work remotely.
3. Improve employee work-life balance:
A remote workplace culture enables employees to maintain a better work-life balance. It reinforces the organizational care culture. As an employer, acknowledge the challenges that your team experiences in their remote work setting. Interact constantly and schedule meetings often to achieve this aspect. Respected family time during the morning and evening hours. Encourage work flexibility without hampering individual productivity.
4. Communicate with greater transparency:
A better work culture can be maintained through transparent and clear communication with all remote workers. Employees working from their respective homes should trust you. Remember, their top concern is job security.
5. Seeking employee mental wellness:
Do not pay much attention to employee life-work balance problems. Instead, ensure remote workers’ positive mental health. They may be experiencing mental health issues, like mourning past workplaces, loneliness, and concern for their economic and job future. They may even miss daily co-worker interaction.
Essential for business success
Perhaps you are operating a business and depend more on your remote workers to perform daily operations. In such a case, you have to instill confidence in them and motivate them constantly to do better. They should feel secure in their respective jobs and think as a team even while working from home. Define your company culture. Well-trained management can help reinforce this culture, thus making your employees feel more motivated, connected, and engaged while working from their homes.
