No more bagels in the breakroom..
There’re are no more bagels in the break room!
…or social interaction, team building, motivation, appreciation….
Working from home was initially about trying to function and survive but now it is the norm. But, how is everyone doing? Where does your company culture stand?
Employees are feeling more and more disconnected from their previous ‘lives’ back in the office. Meetings that happen on zoom don’t allow for that personal connection when meeting in person. Teams that previously bonded in those minutes before and after a meeting now try to just get things done on yet another zoom meeting. Let’s face it - we are all bored!
Socialization is why many people ‘like’ to go to work. Gathering with work friends for lunch, catching up at the water cooler, and, yes, enjoying bagels in the break room, are the little things that make work fun, and contribute to employees running into the office every day.
So, how can we bring a little of the office into these ‘work from home’ times? Joan Fletcher, president of Winning Ways & leadership advisor to Fortune 500 companies, says, “I’ve been asking leaders, ‘How are you motivating your team while working remotely?’ Many answer the question with hesitation. ‘Um … I guess I’m not.’ They often realize they are forgetting to reach out and connect with their team.” She adds, “..many leaders I work with are exhausted. Their employees are, too.“
Additionally, many marketing & events departments have been downsized or completely furloughed. Who is taking over for the cool stuff marketers did to make work fun and keep teams in touch? While some experts are predicting that the work from home culture will stick after the pandemic, business leaders have a long way to go in creating the office culture in a WFH setting.
Our eXperts here have been sending out TONS of carefully curated Brand Boxes for our clients. At $10, $20 or $30 per employee (the cost of having a lunch in the conference room), employers can pull their team back in and get the ‘zoomed out’ employees a little more tuned in! Sometimes it is the simplest thing that can bring people together:
- Things to have everyone wear or use in a team meeting (hats, sunglasses,
- Snack and treats that give a virtual hug. You send me a brownie - I love you forever ;-)
- FUN branded items that send messages of motivation and a sense of belonging. Don’t just stick your logo on a tumbler - put a fun company slogan, quote or meme. In other words, don’t be boring!
- Kits to get staff out of their chair and preferably out into fresh air. Our eXplore division is an eXpert at getting people outside. Mental clarity and overall well-being are key especially as we head into winter.
- If you haven’t gifted employees with branded corporate apparel - now is the time! The affect spirit wear NEVER wears off.
Lastly - why not just send everyone lunch (or bagels)? Imagine the surprise when lunch shows up at their door just before an all-hands meeting. Zero to hero…just like that!
Whatever you decide to do, be sure to do something, and do it often. You will create employees for life, whether you head back to the office in the future, or stay virtual!
