5 Ways to Maintain Company Culture During A Pandemic
While many businesses are currently considering having employees return to work in some capacity, or have already started bringing them back, there’s a lot that still won’t go back to ‘normal’ any time soon. Those company potlucks, weekly huddles, and other in-person activities look a lot different now, and will for the foreseeable future. For some companies, going back to work in person isn’t even on the table depending on where in the country they are located. This is why it’s important to make sure that your company is taking the right measures in order to keep morale up, and to incorporate as much of the normal company culture as possible.
5 Ways to Maintain Company Culture
Provide Regular Company-wide Updates. Whether over Zoom or in some other fashion, it’s important to keep your employees in the loop on what’s going on both within the company, and with the latest state-wide mandated requirements for your work environment. People will appreciate the transparency, and even if there aren’t any huge business updates, seeing familiar faces and having opportunities to ask questions is always appreciated.
Put People First. At Buzz Franchise Brands, this means asking employees how they’re doing, and asking for recommendations on what could be done better. These uncharted times have meant doing things in a different way, and while the top-level decisions are well thought out and focused on our core values, it’s important that employees feel seen and heard. Buzz Franchise Brands sent out a company-wide survey to get feedback from employees about how they’re feeling during this time as well as the current nature of our work environment and business operations, which resulted in great ideas and recommendations that might not have otherwise been communicated. One additional way that Buzz Franchise Brands is putting people first is through an added perk called “Buzz Off Fridays,” of half day Fridays throughout the summer months.
Incorporate Fun Whenever You Can. Part of maintaining company culture when the level of in-person communication is lost, means coming up with creative ways to socialize and have fun. Hold a weekly virtual happy hour, do online trivia, or create a space where employees can eat lunch together outside while maintaining social distancing. Small steps like this can go a long way and provide positive experiences that are highly appreciated in the current climate.
Separate Work and Home Life. Working from home can make it easy to forget regulating work/life balance, resulting in stressed-out employees. Set boundaries, make sure that employees are taking a lunch break as they normally would, and encourage your team to stop work once the end of the day hits. This ensures that employees get the time off to recharge and come to work energized the next day.
Keep the Positivity Flowing. Keep positive vibes in the office by incorporating extra feel-good measures. Give shout-outs for great performance in newsletters or during recurring meetings. Celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries, whether it’s a surprise Zoom party or a card left on the person’s desk. Recognize company milestones, whether virtually or in person while social distancing. This could even mean bringing in donuts or champagne (while taking appropriate safety measures of course). Yum!
These are just a few of the many ways that you can help make your office feel normal during abnormal times. These steps have helped to boost morale at the Buzz Franchise Brands office. While we look forward to the day we can do a company-wide group hug, these practices have been greatly appreciated and welcomed by our staff!