How to keep your workforce happy and healthy when you’re working from home.

So here we are. Welcome to the new working norm. If you are running a business, suddenly the staff you see on a day to day basis are all working from home. As a business owner, this is a stressful time. But it is also important to keep going, lead from the front and motivate your staff to keep them engaged, happy and healthy.

So, to help inspire you. Here are our four tips to help you do just that.

Keep talking.

We are social beings, keeping that contact going is important for your staff to still feel part of a team. It may be a good idea to have daily video conferences at a set time to keep your team engaged and motivated, share ideas, overcome problems and plan the working day.

Balance flexibility and structure.

People tend to have a very different approach to working from home than they do in the office. Believe it or not, without endless meetings to go to, people are generally more productive at home. But as the business owner, it is important for you to promote a structure to help your team adapt. Suggest that they set their alarm and get up, get showered, take regular breaks. But also encourage flexibility to help them adapt. If someone prefers to work 1-8 pm due to family commitments or work Saturday rather than Friday. Let them.

Avoid micro-managing and help build trust in your team.

With your staff out of sight and with contact with them less regular. It can make business owners wonder if their staff are actually working.  But turn this into a positive and show your team that you trust them to do their job. Rather than wonder whether they are bingeing on Netflix.

Wellbeing

As well as work, work, work. Try and bring some of the culture that was found in your office into the working from home environment. Maybe hold a ‘lunch and learn’ session once a week. Hold a Friday afternoon virtual pub quiz and all have a drink to celebrate the end of the working week. Subscribe to an online yoga class and invite all your staff to join. There are lots you can do to help your staff feel better at this uncertain time.

Pride in People.