Last Friday, we celebrated 3 years in business. Building a strong relationship with our team has been vital to our success. The very phrase ‘social distancing’ is a fallacy. We are not being socially distant; we are being physically distant. Now more than ever, people need to come together and working from home does not have to hinder that.
We have put together a shortlist of some useful things we have learnt during this period:
- Utilise one of the many video-calling services currently available. These services do not purely have to be used for meetings and conferences but can help to create a ‘virtual’ office environment. There are meeting rooms which allow private discussions and meetings to be held, with a main room where staff can socialise and seek the help they need whilst they work. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity for our staff to interact on a daily basis.
- In the current climate, keep staff mental health and wellbeing at the forefront of what you do. There are many little ways in which you can show that you care. Sending out E-cards is one environmentally friendly way to show staff that you are thinking of them during important celebrations and occasions. Some staff have needed to drop or alter hours, due to extra obligations during the pandemic. By being approachable and understanding, you relieve some of the added stress they may be experiencing. As a result, you will have a happier and more productive workforce.
- Finally, bring the social aspect of the workplace to the home. During our monthly meeting, we encourage our staff to order in lunch on us. This way we can bring the joy of having lunch together, to the home. We also use this time to do online trivia, quizzes, and games (the favourite so far being online connect four!). There is a plethora of games that can be played online, and it is worth giving them a try. There are even teambuilding activities which have now been brought to the virtual world, such as escape rooms, murder mystery evenings and even remote dinner parties helping colleagues feel connected and part of a team.
KA Engineering Group continues to provide uninterrupted structural engineering consultancy for our clients during these disrupted times. Contact our expert team at: info@ka-engroup.com to learn more and discuss how we can best serve your needs.
