We conducted an informal survey to better understand the adaptations companies have implemented in response to the current WFH situation spurred by COVID-19, particularly in relation to work culture. The recommendations we gathered are focused on five goals.
Activities to help coworkers bond while working remotely
Consider new benefits to support employees’ well-being
Tips for successfully leading remote teams
Do something educational outside of normal expertise. For example cooking class, calligraphy or origami.
Each person gets the same variety pack of tea/wine, and each day everyone picks one to discuss.
Break into small groups (max 15), assign a group facilitator and suggest discussion topics/activities. HR leaders, managers & executives should rotate groups.
Create a hub where employees can share fun resources, activities and outlets. For example food, tv shows to watch, discounts or even Zoo Cams!
Randomized 15 minute 1-on-1 pairings for coworkers to take a break and meet someone new at the company.
Order-in delivery some type of cuisine and teams eat together.
Allow employees to schedule and work during the optimal hours that account for their circumstances.
Offer your employees a day away from the computer. Schedule a day off for everyone so no one feels pressured to work or misses anything.
Provide employees with real, honest answers on any subject and establish a connection
1. Hold weekly 1-on-1s with each team member - now is not the time to let this drop
2. Promote compassion and empathy amongst team members
3. Take personal responsibility for social activities for your team
1. All participants should have cameras on during meetings - it makes a huge difference!
2. Implement note taking for every meeting - rotate that responsibility
3. Avoid scheduling back-to-back-to-back meetings
4. Encourage adherence to business hours- no email/messaging during off-hours
5. Keep centralized repositories - Try Notion to store all notes and documents
Build trust in the organizationPromote retentionImprove employee engagement
