Summer has been a long one this year, and while it’s nice to have had some time at home to enjoy the sunshine with family, many people have been ready for some normality for quite some time now.
For many workplaces, the autumn will see a return to work, while working parents are also experiencing a bit of a return to normal now that schools have reopened and children are back in full-time education.
There will understandably be some nervousness as people return to the office environment, while those continuing to work from home will still be settling into this new working pattern.
Now is a good time to reengage your team and helping them get back on track for what will hopefully be a successful end to the year for your business. Here are some suggestions for how you can make this possible.
Speak to team members individually
People’s experiences of COVID-19 have varied greatly. While some people have thrived working from home, others have been itching to get back to the office.
There may be others who are as yet unable to return to work because of shielding or taking care of family members. Speak to each of your team individually about how they’re getting on and whether they need any support at this time.
Many people will continue to work from home at this time, and in that case, it’s important to catch up with your team regularly. Video and phone calls with both individuals and as a team can help everyone feel more connected, even if they’re not all in the same location.
Encourage (socially-distant) socialising
While rules around social distancing are ever-changing, there are ways you can still encourage your team to socialise.
Set new goals
September always has a bit of a ‘back to school’ feel, long after you’ve left education. So with it being a new season and a return to some kind of normality for people, it’s a good time to set new goals for your company, as well as individual goals too.
Goal-setting as a team can be a fantastic way for you to bring together your ideas and work together on your direction for the next few months.
A team-building day can be an excellent way for you to brainstorm, share project ideas as well as set goals to see your team through the coming months.
Reward hard work
Working has been a challenge for many during the coronavirus, and it’s important to rewards your team’s hard work and resilience during this time.
As key contributors to your business’ success, you should make sure you not only say thank you, but consider some sort of reward. From financial incentives to a gift in the post, there are plenty of ways you can make employee rewards COVID-19 friendly.
Plan for some better times ahead
There has been a lot of doom and gloom this year, so looking ahead to a future and what will hopefully be some more positive news will be something to reengage your team and get people excited about the coming months.
Why not start with planning your Christmas party? Christmas parties will need some more careful organising this year, but they are always something to look forward to! After a difficult year for all, it will be nice to plan something extra special for your team.
Encourage continued flexible working
After being able to put remote and flexible working into practice this year, more and more businesses are seeing the value in continuing to offer flexible working to employees.
Whether you allow permanent home-working or some kind of hybrid model where some team members go into the office on a rota system, being flexible could help employees find working patterns that are more suitable to their lifestyles, while maintaining productivity.
It’s important to remember that even those working from home can suffer from stress and work pressures. Find ways to help reduce stress amongst homeworkers to make sure it can continue to be a viable solution for your team, both now and in the future.
Help your team stay fit and healthy
The health and safety of your employees remains the most important consideration for your business right now. That means making sure you adhere to social distance guidelines, and making sure you have all of the necessary health and safety equipment on site.
The Health and Safety Executive has some excellent resources for making your office COVID-secure, helping your employees feel more comfortable about their return.
Meanwhile, you can encourage healthier habits following the summer break to help keep other illnesses at bay. Regular exercise is great for staying fit and healthy, and with gyms reopening, you could encourage your team to get active through discounted memberships.
Don’t forget about mental health too – it’s important for your team to know that there is help and support available to them should they need it. Winter can be a difficult time for people in a normal year, so added to the uncertainty of COVID, additional support could be needed.
While there is still a long way to go until things are back to normal, for now, the end of the summer signals a fresh start and an opportunity for businesses to get back on track. Find ways to reengage your team ready for a period of hard work and success for your business.
