5 things we’ve learnt about wellbeing in the workplace in 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck globally, many companies were forced to adapt, not only how they operate for their customers, but also internally for their employees. Working from home became a new norm, and wellbeing in the workplace was pushed to the forefront. The People team had to constantly adjust to new developments and local government regulations across our nine global offices. It was a learning experience where our core values of “Solve Problems” and “Care Deeply”, guided us in what we did. Here are five takeaways from our experience this year:
1. Adjusting to WFH isn’t easy, even with a flexi work environment
Prior to the coronavirus, a large percentage of our team had been on flexible work arrangement, so the transition to an extended working-from-home arrangement was quite seamless. However as the months drew longer, the extended period of remote working took a physical and emotional toll on our team.
Being mindful of the toll working from home can take, we started a WFH101 doc to guide employees on how to work from home effectively. Topics include setting up work hours and communicating expectations with your manager etc.
2. Engagement needs to be deliberate
With everyone working from home, we didn’t want our CarouFam to feel like they were out of sight, out of mind. In Q1 2020, we sent out quarterly COVID-19 pulse check-ins across our regional teams to understand how each market is keeping, what the greatest concerns are in each local office, and how we can better support them during this time.
These check-ins allowed us to better understand the changes affecting our employees and how we can support them. For example, one common sentiment shared was how much the team missed social interactions from being in the office. Hence, we implemented more virtual engagement initiatives through Kahoot games and challenges on Slack, our primary communication tool.
We also encouraged managers to do regular 1-on-1s to check in on their staff’s wellbeing, as well as peers to grab a virtual lunch together and keep ties close while being safely apart.
3. Wellbeing is holistic
Supporting mental health is important, and this difficult year pushed it to the forefront. Before the pandemic, we started a dedicated wellness programme, called Wellness Wednesday where we come together as a team to focus on our wellbeing, at least once a month, on a Wednesday. This covers topics from physical, emotional, mental to financial wellbeing.
While we did try to cover a wide range of wellness topics across the year, there was a heavier emphasis towards mental and emotional wellness. Some examples include having Mindfulness Coach Maurice Whelan kickstart the mindfulness coaching sessions, our Filipino colleagues sourcing for psychologists to guide managers to be more empathetic and understanding towards their staff during this crisis, and our launch of the Global Mind Challenge, with partner MindFi, in conjunction with Global Mental Health Day. We definitely saw an increase in participation as we continued to roll wellbeing related programs, and as the months of self-isolation persisted.
4. Everyone copes differently
Every individual’s remote work experience is different, depending on their personal preference and circumstances. Some have shared that they can focus better and be more productive in the comfort and privacy of their homes, without colleagues disrupting their train of thought; while others have shared that they miss this very same ease and convenience of being able to tap on a teammate’s shoulder for a quick answer to a question. So different strokes for different folks, really.
The common thread that people really miss about working in the office, (besides the open pantry stocked with snacks) is the social and collaborative element — meeting their teammates face-to-face (F2F), lunching with others, and organic chit-chats while meeting one another along the hallways.
We recognised that a one-size-fits-all model doesn’t work for everyone. So, what we’ve done is to allow folks who are able to focus better in the privacy and comfort of their homes to continue to do so; while those that require a workspace for collaborative-type discussions and social needs, can still head to the office. Of course, bearing in mind exceptions and compliance to local regulations.
5. Nothing is so healing as kindness
In such an unprecedented global crisis, when everyone is kept physically apart and may be experiencing some form of loneliness, there needs to be a deliberate, concerted effort to keep everyone close and united. Care packages have never been a more important tool, to show team-mates you’re thinking of them, in a time where we can’t gather together.
For our teammates who bravely relocated to Singapore this year amidst the battle with coronavirus, it was important to show our appreciation and let them know they weren’t alone during an isolating quarantine period.
After months of lockdown, we thought we’d surprise our teammates with a care package and an encouraging note from our Co-Founders. Many of our teammates expressed how moved and touched they were when they received this package!
Seeing the smiles and happy tears on their faces makes all the work behind this 12-hour endeavour worthwhile. This simple gesture from the heart truly lifted the spirits and emotions of our team up!
Besides care packages, sometimes, a simple check-in from your co-workers, asking “How are you doing? Is there anything we can help you with?” can sometimes create a huge impact. You never know what your coworker is going through at that moment, and sometimes, these little check-ins may just help uplift someone spirit at their most vulnerable point in time.
