Many office workers have long desired more flexibility in their schedules and extra time spent at home, but in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people are realizing that working from home for long periods of time is challenging. Distractions are inevitable—whether it’s children who need attention, a dog barking and begging for walks, or a partner fighting for airspace to make their own work calls. Without constant, in-person contact with colleagues, the experience can also be isolating, leaving some employees feeling disconnected from their work and less productive as a result.

“Engagement while working from home can be hugely impacted by the personal circumstances of an employee—parents working without childcare, Black employees who are grappling with ongoing racial injustice, people who live alone and feel isolated,” says Sarah Sheehan, cofounder and president of Bravely, an employee benefit platform. “The list of contributing factors is long.”

But when companies get creative and operate with intention, spaces for growth and connection aren’t necessarily lost in this new normal. Organizations that prioritize employee well-being and build meaningful opportunities for relaxation and connection into staff’s weekly schedules offer a road map for other companies, whether they’re aiming to get back on track or brainstorming where to start.

“The responsibility of company leaders, now more than ever, is to understand the unique circumstances of each of their employees and provide the resources and flexibility they need to stay engaged and do their best work while feeling included,” says Sheehan.

Offer Counseling

The pandemic has been enormously stressful for Americans who are grappling not just with a major lifestyle change but also with anxiety surrounding their health, the health of family members, job insecurity and broader financial instability prompted by the current recession. In fact, 87% of Americans say they’re somewhat or very concerned about the continuing outbreak in the U.S. and its impact, according to a recent survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project.

One way that businesses can help their employees navigate these challenges is through some form of counseling, from virtual therapy sessions to educational videos exploring tips for dealing with uncertainty and fear. The clean consumer products brand The Honest Company, for example, recently partnered with a behavior change-focused media company to offer employees educational sessions on topics like navigating ambiguity and stress, and some big-name companies are offering free counseling sessions with therapists.

“The amount of engagement and connection employees experience while working from home is directly related to the resources and time their company is willing to invest in them,” says Sheehan.

Rethink Your Check-ins

For businesses that can’t afford to implement free counseling, broadening the scope of weekly employee check-ins offers another route to better prioritizing staff wellness. Rather than using these meetings purely to connect about different projects, managers might consider expanding the conversation to explore how their direct reports are holding up and what kind of support or extra help could benefit them. Humanizing the conversation helps to motivate employees and encourage camaraderie among teams as they work through the significant disruptions to business and life.

“Working from home provides a real opportunity to build deeper working relationships if you focus first on the basics of building trust and seeking to understand,” explains Sheehan, who has been working to promote more honest dialogue among her employees and colleagues at Bravely. In meetings, she strives to create a space to discuss what’s going on in their lives and how they’re actually feeling.

As at many companies, her check-ins have become more frequent, a tactic that helps to build project momentum and keep employees energized. Setting up virtual office hours each week and making it clear to employees that you’re available to discuss their genuine concerns can set the tone for more productive and open communication.

Take Company Culture Online

While Friday happy hours and bond-forming company off-sites may be out of the cards for the foreseeable future, there are many opportunities to cultivate and maintain company culture and boost a sense of community while everyone works from home. These efforts can be vital to team morale and help employees avoid burnout.

Although virtual happy hours have their place, this moment is also a chance to think outside the box and explore creative activities that could foster deeper connections within an organization. Consider starting an employee book club or conversation series for team members to discuss topics that matter to them outside of work. To add some levity, a weekly or monthly virtual game night is another smart strategy for fostering connection and collaboration. Sheehan also recommends the platform Donut, which randomly pairs two employees for a coffee date where they can get to know each other better (an option that translates easily to a virtual meetup).

Since regular fitness routines have been sidetracked by the closure of gyms and studios, offering virtual workout classes such as free weekly yoga sessions is another gratifying way to bring people together while decreasing stress and encouraging a healthy routine.

“For many of us, seeing colleagues every day was a big part of why we loved our jobs and contributed to how engaged we were with work,” says Sheehan. “So it’s crucial to build new pathways to foster these connections and discover what keeps us motivated from home.”

Published in partnership with Forbes

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