As we all know, employees are the most important part of any business. They keep things running smoothly, keep customers satisfied, and keep the business operational. And in today’s busy environment, it’s important to show your employees just how much you value them. This should be a vital element of your employee retention strategy, which in turn will keep the business at peak performance and save the business much-needed funds. So how do you bridge the gap between you and your employees? Here are a few key tips to help make the work place a happier environment with a hybrid model, and prevent the great resignation, using everything from team-buildings to corporate gifts.
Finding The Balance
It’s important to remember that employees are people before anything else – they are friends, family members, moms, dads and children. Not even mentioning all their other roles as employees. And, as such, it’s important to consider their needs as people. Many employees enjoy working from home as this allows them to take on a dual role. With fewer hours wasted away in traffic and getting ready for work, employees can spend more time with their families. And also working on self-improvement. This leads to both a happier and more productive working environment.
However, employees may sometimes be distracted with their home lives. Noisy neighbours, construction, barking dogs and sick kids can take them away from their laptops for longer than you’d like. In such cases, a hybrid model system, as well as personalised office essentials, can be advantageous to both parties – allowing employees the freedom they need for their personal lives and employers the structure they require to meet business deadlines.
Hybrid Work Model
A hybrid work model is a system that allows employees to spend some days working in the office, and other days working at home. Popularised by Covid 19 travel restrictions, hybrid models, when used correctly, can create a win-win working environment between employers and employees. Hybrid working models exist in 4 options, hybrid at-will, hybrid split-week, hybrid manager-scheduling and hybrid mix. The hybrid at-will option allows employees to select which days of the week they would like to work in the office and at home, and is also NetFlorist’s preferred option, with most of our head office carrying this over, even after lockdown. A hybrid-split week model allows the employer to select which days of the week employees work at home and at the office. With a hybrid manager-scheduling option, managers of teams choose working from home and working from work days, and a hybrid mix combines all three options.
Choosing the right option for your company and employees is very important, as this will influence the employee’s work-life balance, company productivity and will help recruit more talent as employees are now looking for hybrid working models as criteria for a new job.
Boost Employee Retention
You may be wondering why it’s even necessary to offer your employees a hybrid model? After all, it wasn’t too popular before the Covid 19 lockdown. Well, a survey conducted in 2022 showed that up to 47% of employees would likely move to a new company that offers a hybrid model (Fowel, 2022) rather than stay at one that doesn’t, which could result in revue loss, due to lack of employee retention. It can cost a business up to 50% of an employee’s salary to replace that employee, and up to 150% to replace an employee in a managerial role (Fiorini, 2022). Apart from the financial loss, it will also take time to find and train a new employee, thus reducing productivity!
Bridge The Gap
So, how can you use a hybrid model system to bridge the gap between you and your employees? A company’s culture is the heart of any business, and as such, it’s important to keep the culture as close-knit as always, which is also very important for a well-functioning hybrid work space. A wonderful way to keep the company’s culture intact, is to incentivise working from the office during certain days of the week. There are many great ways to do so, such as company events, lunches and activities. And centring activities based on the company’s values is even better, think team-building and wider training.
But don’t stop there. Incentivise your employees by celebrating special occasions with gifts and greeting cards for colleagues, or even with staff retention gifts. A corporate gift, of any size, shows that you care about their lives outside of work, whether it’s a corporate birthday card everyone in the office signed, balloons for new-borns, a bouquet of office flowers for a new parent or even a chocolate hamper for a co-worker to celebrate a new marriage. Or, treat them to a welcome gift when they join the company, such as a coffee or tea mug for employees to use at work. This also helps you and your employee foster a good, personal relationship. Which in turn, will create a trusting environment and better work performances.
Work Together, Up Close And Personal
Staying close to employees isn’t only about sending gifts to colleagues. There are many simple ways to open the communication channels while working online. For example, having meetings via applications like Teams or Skype and keeping the video on. This way, both you and your employers will still feel connected. Another way to stay connected is to make sure employees always have a way to reach out. Whether by email, video call, instant messaging or even group chats. By using a group chat, staff members can easily share both work related information and even personal milestones. With modern technology, there is no reason why you and your employees shouldn’t be able to connect.
Happier Employees, Closer Work Environment And Higher Productivity
Focus on fostering good relationships with your employees and bridge the gap, even when you’re not working at the office. From celebrating special workplace occasions to spoiling your staff with employee gifts, like flower arrangements and personalised office stationery, no act is too small. And in turn, this will keep employees loyal to the business and improve productivity. It will also improve the workplace experience, and even the bottom line – it really is a win-win!
References:
Fowell, T. (2022) What is hybrid work and why do employees want it. Available at https://envoy.com/blog/what-is-a-hybrid-work-model/ (Accessed 16 August 2022).
Fiorini, V. (2022) The Real Cost of Losing an Employee. Available at https://bloomfire.com/blog/cost-of-losing-employee/ (Accessed 16 August 2022).
