All Work And No Play Make Us Dull Companies During Lockdown

Without much warning, we have embarked on the largest remote-working experiment to ever take place. Even for those who were used to remote working prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, working from home every single day of the week, and with no definite end in sight, can be lonely and isolating. For all its upsides (such as not having to wake up so early and not having to endure the morning commute) the novelty is perhaps now starting to wear off slightly, causing morale to drop. 

This is no surprise. Humans are, by nature, social creatures, and being physically cut off from colleagues can affect mental wellbeing and, ultimately, job performance. During this time, where uncertainty is the only thing we know for certain, business leaders must keep as much of an eye on employee morale as on the bottom line. 

Stay Connected

It would be nearly impossible to run a remote business without some sort of internal messaging system in place. But the fact that an organization has one, doesn’t mean that staff are actually engaging with one another. Often these platforms are used for functional purposes, but now that they are many people’s only form of communication with their colleagues, they should be utilized to the fullest of their capabilities.

Teams should hold regular video meetings and allow time for catching up. For many, that conference call might be the only instance that day where they’re speaking out loud to other human beings. Ensure that extra time is allocated to allow for some non-work-related chat – it does wonders for team bonding and helps fill the social deficit that many are currently experiencing.

Have Some Fun

Low morale often stems from low mood, so encouraging employees to have fun (at appropriate times, of course) will prove beneficial in ensuring that staff remain engaged and happy.

While it may not be possible to go out for team lunches or hold team-building away days, there are still a host of activities that virtual teams can do. One of the most popular activities – both inside and outside of workplaces – is quizzes. Hosting a virtual quiz has never been so easy and requires very little effort to put together if you have the right virtual tools.

Many organizations are also hosting company-wide watch parties and game-a-thons. While nearly all public sporting events have been canceled, companies have been replacing them with virtual movie nights and setting aside time for gaming competitions. It may or may not be surprising to find that, given the opportunity, many employees would happily play Fortnite against their boss for an hour over lunch.

There are a slew of fun activities, like Pictionary and charades, that make for great virtual alternatives for teams, or even entire organizations, to partake in, and help employees to have fun and stay engaged.

Show Appreciation

It is true – global pandemic or no global pandemic – that being recognized and appreciated for hard work never fails to boost morale. During these times, however, when managers aren’t able to monitor staff as closely, it is vital that employees are praised for the work they’re doing for the company. Doling out accolades and making it known to staff that they are appreciated will help them to remain focussed on their goals and encourage them to, quite literally, keep up the hard work. If someone is struggling and feeling jaded in the current situation, a simple appreciative word may well be the difference between them submitting mediocre work and top quality work. 

This also extends beyond the work that employees do. Events such as birthdays, engagements, religious and non-religious milestones are great ways for employers to show how much they care. It takes very little effort to organize a gift from the company for someone’s birthday or to even hold a virtual engagement party for example. Sometimes, the little things go a long way.

Switch Off

It is very easy when working from home to continue working outside of contracted hours. The mindset of ‘well, I’m awake so why wait until 9am?’ or “I don’t have plans tonight so I can work a little bit longer” are common themes. Every now and then, it might be necessary to start earlier or work later, depending on the demands of the position, but it isn’t a good idea to let this become a habit. Skipping lunch breaks and working until your eyes are drooping isn’t productive and can spiral out of control quite quickly if not monitored. During this strange period, we are all more likely to suffer from burnout because there is so much for us to process, both professionally and personally. 

It’s unsurprising that staff who often work beyond their contracted hours tend to enjoy the job less than those who don’t. They can often hold resentment for the company and ultimately suffer from low morale and decreased productivity. So, while it might be tempting to email your team something at 8pm, just pause and think whether it can instead wait until the next morning. 

By encouraging a good work-life balance, organizations are setting themselves and their employees up for success. If people are consistently working late, it might be that they have too much work on their plates, which, in any case, should be a red flag for employers. By ensuring that staff are taking appropriate breaks throughout the day and taking time for themselves outside of work hours, staff are significantly more likely to stay engaged and focussed on their work, as well as the greater company goals.

It is expected that, once the pandemic is over, the world will see a dramatic shift in the way remote working is perceived, both from employers and employees. This global remote working “experiment” is the perfect time for organizations to mobilize and figure out how best to motivate, engage with, and support their employees, because if this does indeed become the norm, it makes sense to ensure that the right processes and practices are in place right now.