The COVID-19 pandemic has been a truly unique experience for everyone. Personal and work stress are still common for both employers and employees. With any risky situation, employees expect their employer will do what is necessary to keep them safe.
Employers who took swift action at the beginning of the pandemic saw higher employee satisfaction rates and loyalty. Other companies aren't faring so well since workers are quitting in record numbers now.
Your employees are the source of your company's success. Without good, motivated, and skilled team members, your company may not be where it is today.
One of the best ways to show employees you appreciate their hard work is to keep them safe. When your company takes swift action, your employees will see that and respond with loyalty and appreciation, making your company an attractive place to work for existing and potential employees.
Swift Responses Show Safety Concerns
The companies that took swift action in February, March, and April 2020 showed their employees that they cared about their safety and personal health. That alone can make your company a more attractive place to work. It's similar to sending employees home early when you know a massive storm is coming that might make driving home treacherous. You decided to keep them safe.
That's not to say this is an easy decision to make. It may have business implications, just like closing or going remote for the pandemic. But when you do this, employees feel supported and see the sacrifice your company makes to keep them safe.
Remote work became the default at the beginning of the pandemic for millions of American workers. Allowing your employees the freedom to work from home and keep themselves and their families safe goes a long way.
Many companies had trouble making that transition to remote work and failed to lead their team. For some employers, the business cannot operate remotely, like grocery stores or construction companies. Some of those employees may be able to work remotely, but certainly not all. Allowing remote work where you can limit the exposure of every employee, even if some have to be physically present. Even those workers will be happy to see you're taking proactive steps to keep them safe.
An Organized Response Shows Institutional Stability
Companies that did make a smoother transition to remote work may have already had a work-from-home policy in place or allowed employees to work from home one day out of the week or month. Before the pandemic was the best time to create such a policy as it made it simple to flip that switch.
When millions of people were getting laid off, that showed your employees that your company is stable and ready to weather the storm. The added peace of mind for your employees is paramount, helping them maintain loyalty and trust in you as their employer. Your organized and calm corporate response is attractive to new hires and existing employees, who can then worry less. Decreasing worker stress also results in a better overall productivity level, so they can continue performing well despite all that is happening.
Most importantly, you cannot simply discuss your response — you must prove it through your actions. Your ability to be successful in tumultuous times requires trust in your team that they will get the job done, even if they're not physically next to you.
Lean on HR to Reassure Employees
To ensure a suddenly remote workforce is still productive and accountable, you need solid HR support. Not only will HR be able to ensure these policies are in place and adhered to evenly, but they can also handle challenging discussions with your team. Some team members may have serious concerns, and HR will help them feel supported.
But if your HR team is overwhelmed, you may want to consider HR outsourcing. With a trusted HR outsourcing partner, you can relieve the stress on your internal HR team, freeing them up to spend more time caring for your employees and helping them cope with new situations.
Besides that, your HR outsourcing partner can provide your company with better benefits. Since the U.S. healthcare system is closely tied to employment, many American workers get their health insurance through their employer. An outsourced HR partner can provide your team with higher quality healthcare at competitive rates, making HR outsourcing cost-effective for your company.
Demonstrate Employee Importance
Employees desire stability, recognition, and a feeling of value. When your company acknowledges the sacrifices that employees make to help grow your business, that helps them feel appreciated. In return, they remain loyal and more productive.
This mutual respect develops a stronger internal culture that keeps your employees satisfied. Through this relationship, you can trust that your employees will remain loyal to your company and help you create a better place to work for new employees. Attracting and retaining top talent is vital to your company's success. By being an attractive place to work, new hires may flock to your company.
A Solid Company Culture Can Help You Keep Employees in Tough Times
A strong company culture that values employees, both for what they do and their safety, is paramount to its continued success. It is a crucial driver for finding top talent in your industry will let your employees know you value them, that you're investing in them, and you respect their desire for safety. Contagious company cultures will attract new and high-quality employees to your organization. All of this is possible at a faster pace and cost-effectively with a trusted HR outsourcing partner.
