Let’s think back to why employee engagement became such a hot topic in the first place… Evidence continues to suggest that employee engagement has a significant positive effect on organizational commitment ; Engaged employees are likely to go beyond their expected amount of … ICYMI: With a unique virtual stage setup, endless energy, & sharp insight @shawnkanungo has been earning high prais… https://t.co/0gkQxnhcks However, those needs are evolving, calling for a more sophisticated approach as organizations enter the next phase. physical distancing measures) as well as maintaining the viability of their business. Bringing employees together through contests and activities conducted virtually is the easiest way to keep them on their toes. Employees will remember for a long time how they were treated during a crisis. Conversations surrounding the future of work have been happening for a while. The news traveled to their employees at the Indian office and they started anticipating impact on t… During a crisis, when external factors impact your employees, these factors may jump around in importance. Keep employees involved.. People just want to help, especially in tough times. Develop a watercooler channel for posting random news, pointless debates, and GIFs to mimic the camaraderie that happens over coffee when everyone is together. Over the next decade the company’s market cap grew nearly 300 per cent. As employees transition to remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, new insights on how to effectively manage virtual employee engagement during a crisis are emerging. When the time comes, let employees know what you are doing to prepare to ramp up operations and how much you are looking forward to welcoming them back. Cliff Ettridge looks at the recent Oxfam brand crisis, his time working at The Body Shop and how employee engagement sowed the seeds needed during times of brand crisis. But step one is determining where exactly things are receding, acknowledging why it happened, and establishing a plan for how morale and productivity will be restored. ~ Michael "Pinball" Clemons A lack of openness and honesty is going to lead to more fear. Also Read: What Is an Employee Engagement Survey? An organization that practices talent optimization has a framework from which to start. Turning a crisis into an opportunity to boost employee engagement. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many tourism and hospitality employers have suddenly been faced with making tough business and financial decisions in order to comply with government legislated restrictions (e.g. You may have to call in experts, but... 3. As employee engagement goes up, productivity goes up (as does retention and safety). Exercise Challenges. Based on our decades of experience teaching executives around the world, we have seen first-hand that every leader at some point will have to navigate a crisis or two. A Brand Reachout Initiative Employee Engagement Keeping employees informed and connected during a crisis. Employee engagement, which had been fairly static for the last 20 years, reached an all-time high of 40 percent in July, according to a Gallup survey of 3,127 full- and part-time U.S. workers. Employee engagement is basically that your employees are happy to work for you. Organizations have to work overtime to bridge the gaps in the cash flow to fund their internal operations such as salaries, rentals, utility bills, vendors and other payables. 5 Ways to Keep Your Employees Happy During a Crisis 1. Employee engagement levels may have actually improved during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you consider a few of your favorite leaders from history, chances are they all shared one thing in common — they worked their magic in the hardest of times. Email. How do we increase employee engagement during the current COVID-19 health crisis? These have remained stable during the upheavals of 2020. Everywhere else our people would go they’d hear about the horror; when they came to work with us, they were going to hear about hope.”. During times of crisis, it is critical for organizations to gather employee feedback and take action so employees feel heard and supported by their manager and organization. What to keep in mind when disaster strikes. Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton are the New York Times bestselling authors of Leading with Gratitude, The Carrot Principle, and All In. But, motivators like compensation and benefits are only short term, and real dividends will be paid by focusing on long-term motivators like professional growth or peer connections. Generate excitement around the return of employees and invite them to participate and contribute ideas to help rebuild the business. Striking a balance between pushing performance and maintaining morale will … Employee engagement levels may have actually improved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scanning the Savannah for potential problems in no way precludes a leader from paying sufficient attention to the contributions of one’s team. Employee development contributes to higher employee engagement, which is hugely important in our current state. With Achievers Listen and Check-ins, conversations are initiated to gather employee feedback. This vertical had employees located in both the US and India. Leading with empathy, respect and support is not only the humane thing to do, it’s also a powerful way of reassuring employees yours is an organisation worth belonging to for the long-term. Employees' needs can easily be overlooked during a rocky transition period - and most transitions do have their rocky patches. Family, hobbies and stressors are overlapping in unexpected ways. Offer online training opportunities. ... Howden urges many more employers to support their workers with Financial Wellbeing initiatives during and beyond the current crisis, and points out that that such support is a low cost / high impact offering. … Share everything. An engagement strategy is essential during a recession. A Brand Reachout Initiative Employee Engagement Keeping employees informed and connected during a crisis. 2 Employees were classified as engaged, passive, or disengaged based on responses to questions measuring work, organizational, and social engagement. What to do as an employer to maintain an engaged workforce? How to engage employees during unstable times is not an easy feat. Build on employee engagement during crisis times June 30th, ... Often in a crisis, employees of the organization step forward to take on roles outside their normal activities as they are needed to respond to the crisis. The return of engaged employees will not only mean reduced recruitment and training costs, it will also mean a speedier return to productivity and revenue generation as employees will be well positioned to welcome guests back and deliver a high-quality service experience that they will be craving. As your team continues to work remotely right now, it’s your job as a leader to help them feel connected. The good news is that, generally-speaking, employee engagement is moving in the right direction as organisations recognise the importance of emotionally-intelligent leadership. To fully support employees, it’s key for managers to consider life outside of work. Amid the current global pandemic, find out how workplace tools help replicate workplace engagement and productivity in the new universal workspace. Employee engagement during a crisis How Athene Communications can help. Privacy Policy | Website Use Agreement | Login The good news is that, generally-speaking, employee engagement is moving in the right direction as organisations recognise the importance of emotionally-intelligent leadership. Although there is no silver bullet for changing the employee experience during a crisis, there are improvements and progress that HR leaders can make today to positively impact how their employees work from home as their organizations build out digital workspace strategies to meet remote-first goals. 2 days ago, RT @kwillism: "Build bridges, not fences." As founders of the global training company, The Culture Works, they work with organizations around the world to address employee engagement, leadership, and organizational culture. Create a practice to … The, Start an e-card and encourage employees to add a personalized note, photo or other image (Check out, Arrange a surprise video call with the rest of the team, Coordinate employees to decorate their vehicles with balloons and signs for a drive-by celebration, Coordinate a surprise delivery to the employee’s home (flowers, pizza or other meal), Take photos of video chats and share on social media (use the hashtag from tip #1 above), Plan a welcome back/thanks for sticking with us event for employees, Post/share photos via emails or social media – “We are getting ready to open… all we need is you!” (Check out the Daily Greeting videos on Predator Ridge Resort’s, Host video calls and invite employees to contribute ideas for reopening activities or events, Send links and resources for training that you know may be of interest to them, A number of industry-related training programs are offering online training for free or discounted fees in recognition of the COVID-19 crisis, including, Consider other free learning apps such as. Email: Contact Us. … PreparedBC: Emergency Planning Resources for Tourism Operators, Top Tip: Effective Communication Techniques while Wearing a Mask, Be Successful in a Video Interview Tips & Best Practices, 150 Reasons to Love Working in #BCTourism, Occupational Health & Safety Program Fundamentals Course, Certificate of Recognition (Large Employer), Certificate of Recognition (Small Employer), Managing Workplace Impairment and Developing Impairment Policies, Create a closed group Facebook page or Instagram account just for your employees. Allow employees to create posts, share funny jokes, photos/videos, Run a contest and encourage employees to create a fun hashtag for everyone to use and share on social media, Send out weekly newsletters, emails – encourage contributions (Employees at True Key Hotels & Resorts are encouraged to submit stories and photos for weekly Pet Profiles in their newsletter), Offer a weekly video drop-in call – set up groups on Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp or Skype, Share/post inspirational videos or podcast. It’s easy to get distracted … With that said, not only is it okay but encouraged, to connect with employees who have been laid off. As it turns out, most companies did a solid job of addressing their employees’ basic needs of safety, stability, and security during the first phase of the COVID-19 crisis. Tags: Adrian Gostick, change management, Chester Elton, COVID-19, Employee Engagement, Leadership, Pandemic. Managing Change During a Crisis During times of crisis, organizational leaders should establish feelings of trust with employees by communicating accurate and clear information continuously. Say thank you. Employee distrust can grow during a crisis and can be the result of misunderstanding the intentions of others — especially leaders. I had an opportunity to observe an organization go through a loss of business in one of the verticals. People are feeling ‘Wow. All Rights Reserved. How to improve employee engagement in a crisis Consider the Whole Employee. When former CEO Alan Mulally took over Ford Motor Company in 2006, his company was expected to lose $17 billion. ", Customer Service Certification on Diversity and Inclusion, 910-850 West Hastings Street That would be a difficult task given the state of the economy, but Ridge greased the skids by communicating with his people every day. Employee Engagement Specialist Axel Schiphof answers in a webinar. The question is, what can and should employers be doing now to remain connected and foster engagement with employees during this time of crisis (so that they want to come back), even while they are not on the payroll? In fact, 90 percent of workers say they are more likely to stay at an employer that takes and acts on feedback. They have a clear understanding of their role and what is expected from them, they become energized by their work and are eager to help the company reach their main objectives. And, as a manager, turn your focus more to goals and outcomes than hours clocked. Our deepest condolences to you, and Kathleen’s family. As employees transition to remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, new insights on how to effectively manage virtual employee engagement during a crisis are emerging. Eventually this crisis will pass and when it does, businesses will want to be prepared to bring their employees back and return to operations as quickly as possible. It can provide a distraction, something to look forward to and work towards, and provide a sense of accomplishment (and another reason to celebrate) when completed. Celebrations for each step forward show the team that it’s expected to make progress. Ongoing training or personal development during a lay off may also help some individual cope within a difficult situation, where much is outside of their control. “When someone shows a red, we say ‘thank you for that visibility.’ When we work a red to a yellow, we thank everybody. Vancouver, BC V6C 1E1, Tel: 604-633-9787 For many employees, the workplace provides a social connection and when that connection is lost (or changed temporarily), people begin to feel isolated. When employees aren’t sure what’s happening around them, it’s easy to become suspicious. All other marks featured on this website are marks of third parties, used under license. Need help improving employee engagement? This is especially true during the COVID-19 crisis. Employee engagement and loyalty is also off the charts, with 99 per cent of employees saying they love to work there. Human Resources departments pride themselves on preparedness for how well they can respond to a crisis, but the coronavirus pandemic is no ordinary event. As employees transition to remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, new insights on how to effectively manage virtual employee engagement during a crisis are emerging. 7 Ways to Increase Employee Engagement During the Health Crisis. How do we increase employee engagement during the current COVID-19 health crisis? Consider setting up a schedule for regular communication and invite employees to attend and contribute. On the contrary, in times of challenge, keeping people motivated and optimistic is more vital than ever. ... During the time of a crisis, sales would fall, cash flows from receivable accounts could slow down and supplies could become scarce or costly. A lack of openness and honesty is going to lead to more fear. 4. Look for small wins. Learn More About Talent Management During the COVID-19 Crisis The 2018 Trends in Global Employee Engagement Report by Aon showed a four-point rise from the previous year, with 63 per cent of Malaysians said to be engaged in their work, up from 59 per cent in 2017. As devastating as the COVID-19 crisis has been, it has also highlighted opportunities to strengthen organizational culture, such as the transition to Collaborative Learning.. For Joe, Dermira’s learning playbook was a way to tell every member of their staff how much they were valued. 5. You’ll need to continue to assess employee engagement data in subsequent installments throughout the duration of the crisis. This is probably one of the more pressing questions for leaders in Malaysia. Start a practice of sending regular updates to your people (daily if you can), even if there’s not much new to share. ... How engaged are employees during the COVID-19 pandemic? But this is not a zero-sum issue. The US leadership team decided to restructure their team and made announcements about the impact on jobs. Managing Virtual Employee Engagement During Crisis. Employee relationship management includes various activities undertaken by the superiors or the management to develop a healthy relation among the employees and extract the best out of each team member. The research suggests than more than … By Gary Flood August 4, 2020. What to keep in mind when disaster strikes. With employees often taking the role of caregiver, teacher and parent, all while working - … Let employees know they are making a difference in their work every day. In an environment where information is withheld or not communicated properly, rumours take the place of facts. Below are 4 tips to help employers stay in contact and maintain relationships with employees who are on a temporary layoff: 1. Employee engagement during disasters and moments of national crisis. What is employee engagement? research was to determine factors that lead to employee engagement, well-being, and work effectiveness during and after a crisis. Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to help your people move up from the first two levels in Maslow's hierarchy. When employees aren’t sure what’s happening around them, it’s easy to become suspicious. During a crisis like Covid-19, show your employees how you’re making an impact as a company or as a team. Hold a weekly one-on-one with each employee to get an update about their accomplishments during the week and what they will be focused on the following week. If you don't work proactively to relieve workers' concerns and let them know you value them, you risk lowering their engagement levels or losing them. When I am more mindful, more aware, more thankful, everybody’s more engaged, focused, and productive.”. Published ... Email. The world has an employee engagement crisis, with serious and potentially lasting repercussions for the global economy. We mean besides that. Below are a few strategies leaders can use to help keep team members engaged and focused during this latest crisis we found ourselves in. “In stressful times, I’m sometimes not conscientious enough to be mindful of all the many, many people who are helping me. Given this major change in working conditions, leaders need to incorporate innovative approaches to keep employee engagement and productivity high. (02:50) At EFI, you Lead and manage the HR portfolio for organizations in the Asia Pacific region and your focus Areas are Leadership Development, Employee Engagement, Change Management, Manager Essentials, to name a few. Striking a balance between pushing performance and maintaining morale will be a crucial skill in the coming weeks and months. Republished under license. During times of crisis, it is critical for organizations to gather employee feedback and take action so employees feel heard and supported by their manager and organization. To make sure your organization survives this crisis, it is important to be innovative. Our Employee Engagement Specialist Axel Schiphof answers both of these questions. Employee Engagement Managing employee experience in times of crisis while maintaining business continuity. For example, you could ask employees to share images of the lockdown in their locality. Driving Employee Engagement During the Coronavirus Crisis "Never let a good crisis go to waste." Ridge told us, “I decided, let’s not waste a good crisis. Linked In . Realize that what happens in one part of an employee’s life impacts all others. Focus on employee engagement.. Keep your door open--literally and figuratively--so employees who want to talk about... 2. 7 Ways to Increase Employee Engagement During the Health Crisis Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to help your people move up from the first two levels in Maslow's hierarchy. Jarrett Jedlicka, VP & Principal, Industry Advisory – Healthcare at Ceridian shares how organizations can support employee wellness and engagement during times of crisis. Fostering Employee Engagement During a Time of Crisis Share this: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many tourism and hospitality employers have suddenly been faced with making tough business and financial decisions in order to comply with government legislated restrictions (e.g. The 2018 Trends in Global Employee Engagement Report by Aon showed a four-point rise from the previous year, with 63 per cent of Malaysians said to be engaged in their work, up from 59 per cent in 2017. Employee Engagement; Share this. All Rights Reserved. Conversations surrounding the future of work have been happening for a while. Encouraging and providing employees with opportunities to learn and develop their skills while they are off work will show that you are still interested and invested in them. In the midst of the last global crisis in 2008, WD-40 Company chief executive Garry Ridge recalls that fear was beginning to consume his employees. Let your employees know how much you appreciate them. After restructuring or an acquisition, people's roles may undergo … Managing Virtual Employee Engagement During Crisis May 20, 2020 Sponsored Conduent Learning Services 21 sec read As employees transition to remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, new insights on how to effectively manage virtual employee engagement during a crisis are emerging. Finding of a recent survey undertaken by intermediary Howden employee Benefits & Wellbeing ( Howden ) an impact as leader. 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In working conditions, leaders need to incorporate innovative approaches to keep employee engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic has!, 90 percent of workers say they are more likely to stay an., help set them up for success when they return to work remotely right now it. I decided, let alone one as life-altering as this one and financially s family pandemic quite like the COVID-19. When former CEO Alan Mulally took over Ford Motor company in 2006, his company expected... Goes up ( as does retention and safety ) employees aren ’ t sure ’! This major change in working conditions, leaders need to incorporate innovative approaches to keep door! Haven ’ t had to say good-bye to workers who are not just employees but. Deepest condolences to you and your business by taking time to recognize and celebrate occasions... Have had to navigate a pandemic quite like the current global pandemic, find out how tools... 57-Year history reported its best financials in its 57-year history working with each person on goals aligned with their motivators! Not to spend more time attending to problems than looking for opportunities to innovative...