The COVID-19 pandemic, which has left many of us working at home for months, has brought the importance of employee wellbeing to the centre stage of the corporate agenda. Here is how Adda52 is going the extra mile to support its employees’ health, safety, and well-being during this pandemic period.
At Adda52, we truly believe that employees are not just our biggest assets but also our family. We are determined to overcome all the ripple effects of the pandemic together. We are also striving to help our employees and their families by providing any financial, emotional, or social aid if needed.
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the well-being of every individual in the world in some way or the other. Times have become more uncertain, we are all riding on an emotional rollercoaster almost all the time, people have become more fearful of losing their loved ones, employees are finding it hard to focus at work, etc. Most of the workplaces have transitioned into a remote environment in an attempt to implement all the social distancing practices and it has not been easy. The transitioning phase is still going on and it has taken the shape of a hybrid environment for many organizations now.
They say ‘out of sight, out of mind’ but we do not want our employees to feel the same way now that all of them are working from home. In fact, we want them to believe that distance only makes the heart grow fonder. Thus, in these trying times, as HR heads, we must take responsibility for taking care of and nurturing our employees in every way possible.
In most organizations, HR managers are getting extremely concerned about their employees’ mental and physical well-being. They are making constant efforts to keep the spirits of their employees high. In fact, many organizations have laid out new office norms that are virtual-friendly. HR professionals are leaving no stone unturned in making the employees feel motivated, comfortable, engaged, and productive.
Going the Extra Mile
In my experience, I have realized that our actions never go unnoticed – so, if we are working hard to make our employees feel at home, our employees are going to acknowledge that in their own ways. It is easy to address the employees as ‘family’ but the real test happens when we are expected to implement this idea in times of crisis. In those times, ask yourself – are you ready to go that extra mile for your employees, your second family?
When we talk about helping our employees cope with a crisis or any mental disruption, employee engagement is an important factor. If we are keeping our employees engaged and connected, especially in the virtual environment, our… Click To TweetAt Adda52, we truly believe that employees are not just our biggest assets but also our family. We are determined to overcome all the ripple effects of the pandemic together. We are also striving to help our employees and their families by providing any financial, emotional, or social aid if needed. In order to make our employees feel that we are there for them at every step, we started an ongoing Health Drive a few months back. For starters, we decided to take care of all the COVID-related expenses of our employees, from medicines to tests, etc. We also decided to give our full support to our employees in helping them find a hospital bed, oxygen support, and other such resources. The idea was to make our employees feel that they were not alone!
As HR managers, it is extremely crucial to realize that your actions are always going to be louder than just your words. It is all about taking steps, no matter how small they are. Once we start acting towards taking care of our employees, we get loyalty, appreciation and so much more in return – it is always a two-way street! One of the aspects of our Health Drive was setting up vaccination camps for employees and their families. When we expressed that we wanted to be there for our Adda52 family, we were looking for ways to put our expression into action. That was when vaccination got available for everyone above 18 years of age. However, it was not easy to book a slot, in fact, it was extremely stressful. So, we got in touch with some medical organizations and started a vaccination drive at our office premises for all our employees and their family members. We also provided free vaccination for our frontline workers. We are proud to state that the vaccination drive was a success!
Empathy
Now that we have already had a few Health Drive sessions for our employees, we have come to realize that it would not have been possible if we had failed to put ourselves in their shoes in the first place. It is our words and actions that draw a line between sympathy and empathy respectively. When our employees trust us with all their hearts, it is motivation enough for us to work harder towards helping them cope with their anxiety and stress at work or elsewhere.
If you think one of your employees’ performance is drastically off, especially during these pandemic times, do not jump to conclusions right away. Rather, ask them, counsel them, have a dialogue with them, listen to their side of the story, dig deeper. I am sure you will find something there and once you do, it is time to lead them in the right direction.
Empathy comes in a lot of ways – one of the ways is when HR managers are able to identify with, recognize, and unravel the struggles of their employees. One such incident took place when we realized that our employees were facing difficulties to even consult a doctor or a medical specialist in times of need. That was when we decided to get in touch and enroll with a medical app as a part of the Health Insurance plan so our employees could seek 100% free online consultation with different specialists, including psychiatrists and psychologists. We feel grateful that we got a chance to show our love and care for our employees.
Engaging the Employees
When we talk about helping our employees cope with a crisis or any mental disruption, employee engagement is an important factor. If we are keeping our employees engaged and connected, especially in the virtual environment, our half job is done. Recently, we conducted a blissful yoga session for our employees on International Yoga Day. Many employees took part in the session – it gave them a sense of connection and belongingness. In these times of virtual workplaces during the pandemic, that is what will keep the employees going – connection.
Final Thoughts
Change at work can be really challenging… and this revolutionary change in workplaces has definitely taken a toll on the HR department as well. It is no secret that HR managers are always expected to nurture their employees’ well-being but in these critical times, the role of HR has become even more significant. They are responsible for either making or breaking the company or business.
