3 Ways To Boost Employee Morale During This Tough Time

There isn’t a business in Canada that is going unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic. So many businesses have had to close their doors while so many others have had to completely revamp the ways in which they conduct their business operations.

Working from home is more popular than ever now. And while there are many benefits to working from remote locations (people being able to maintain social distancing is a big one right now), it doesn’t necessarily help with employee morale. Understandably, moods can be a bit sullen at the moment. As a business owner, one of your most important current tasks is boosting those moods.

Here are three ways to boost employee morale during this tough time:

1. Be visible and vocal.

You’re a leader. At this time, it’s vital to demonstrate your leadership skills. Be accessible so that your employees can ask their questions and have their concerns addressed right away. If you’re unavailable, you’ll end up making members of your staff feel abandoned. Video conferencing is an excellent way to overcome the physical barriers presented by your new working from home situations.

“Leaders and managers must be seen and heard often,” insists Denise Graziano on ChiefExecutive.net, “Embrace Zoom and other technology to make sure your people see you every day (or more when warranted). Silence is not golden; even small updates matter, particularly during a crisis. Prioritize 1:1 and team meetings and check-ins to ensure benchmarks are being met.”

2.  Be flexible and empathetic.

If ever there was time to be understanding, it’s right now. Yes, you still have to be concerned with your company’s bottom line. But the true bottom line is that the health and safety of your family and your employees comes first. If any of your employees is encountering issues, such as being unable to meet deadlines because they’re taken up with child care duties, be sure to communicate your complete understanding and show your support.

“No one knows exactly how a crisis will play out or how long it will last,” Wipfli.com reminds us, “This is no time to enforce rigid procedures governing absence, tardiness or dress codes. You need to be flexible and understanding toward employees who are dealing with personal and work-related upheavals.”

3. Be open and honest.

Your team is going to want to know what’s happening with your business. It only makes sense that they’ll have a lot of questions at this time. Many things about their futures, given the present situation, may seem uncertain. Are their jobs secure? Will they still be receiving their pay cheques on time? It’s your job to be transparent about everything related to the state of your company.

“All three main constituencies—employees, customers and investors—are looking for answers, many of which you cannot possibly have,” says Graziano, “During this period of unknowns, it is critical for leaders to take a consistent, calm tone and measured actions when it comes to longer-range plans. Transparency, even when information is fluid, is a key component of maintaining trust.”

The Canadian POS team remains committed to helping businesses in any way that it can during this tough time. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-877-748-2884 or email us at info@localhost to discuss how our e-commerce or mobile payments solutions may come in handy.