Engaging employees is one big challenge when everyone is in the same place. In the current times of pandemic, the work mode of employees is continuously changing from work from the office to work from home and now the hybrid mode of working. Engaging employees in the new norm of hybrid working is more than a challenge. HR is in continuous pursuit of innovation to engage employees.?
A hybrid workplace is an arrangement where employees work from the office occasionally or a few days a week and work from home (anywhere) the rest of the days based on their convenience.?
Here are a few tips for engaging employees in hybrid working.?
- Equip managers and leaders with the new working style:?Any change happening should be a top-down approach. Train managers, leaders, employees in the organization to get adjusted to this new norm and equip them with all the tools necessary.
- Collaborative & connected team:?Ensuring collaborative and connected teams is a challenge as there would be a few employees working from home, working from the office, and flexible timings. Encourage that team to be connected with each other and create a space for collaboration. Allow employees to talk more about their future growth, experiences they are seeking, and how and what support is required. Creating satellite offices or various communities based on geography, function, etc. would help to be in communication and collaboration.?
- Communicate:?Invest in various tools available based on the need. Encourage managers , Leaders, team members to be in communication. Communicate, communicate and communicate will be the Mantra. The crux is educating the team on what, when, and how to communicate with whom. Ensuring proper communication is happening is the crux.
- Personalization:?One size fits all is of the past. We need to personalize various aspects – whether it might be working hours, working place, infrastructure or policies. Personalization is a bit new concept. HR might take some time to gear up on this concept. But once adopted, this will be a success in engaging employees.?
- Inclusion: Including employees from diversified backgrounds – levels, hierarchy, gender, age, geographical location in various aspects is necessary to make this successful. Ensure the voice is heard, giving a chance to every employee, and encouraging each employee to talk and participate in various programs is important. Not just employees, but including family members on various engagement programs would be beneficial.
- Promote well-being (Physical and mental):?The current times are challenging as many have gone through tough situations. Many are facing not just physical stress but going through mental stress. Designing programs covering the overall well-being of an employee/family member and offer help in coping with the stress. Addressing this through various programs is vital.
- Pay attention to details:?HR needs to be more and more attentive to every detail – whether it is about individual employee, team, function, a policy/practice/program, collecting & analyzing feedback, or measuring the progress. Being attentive, acting accordingly and appropriately should be continuous and important.?
Disclaimer: Views are personal and are based on the experiences of the author working in various modes of working - working from an office, working from home, and working from anywhere.
