The coronavirus pandemic has hugely shifted our lives and the ways that our society approaches work in particular. The words ‘New Normal’ has been thrown around more times than we can count, but they do ring true. As vaccination programs are getting underway and the pandemic poses less of a threat to our population, we do need to look towards establishing a ‘New Normal’.
In the context of working, with millions of people shifting to a work from a home setup that has been overwhelmingly successful over the last year or so, companies big and small are moving to a more flexible model of working. Let’s look at how your company can define a ‘New Normal’ culture in 2021.
Be a Flexible Employer
One of the main aspects of a ‘New Normal’ company culture is flexible working practices. If you would prefer to have a base of operations, you don’t have to be completely remote. There are many options available to companies, with things like a serviced office space that can accommodate a flexible team, no matter where you are based. This way, your team can work between an office and home and get into a routine that works around them and your company.
Another thing to consider is timings. The standard 9 – 5 is somewhat redundant, and flexible options are much more popular nowadays. Consider offering a number of different workdays to employees, or allow them to bank their hours on their own time. A flexible model of working raises employee satisfaction and boosts team morale and productivity.
Prioritise Wellbeing
Many large organisations have wellbeing programs in place, but they are often an afterthought or introduced simply at a surface level. The additional strain of the coronavirus pandemic on everyone’s mental health has reaffirmed why work wellness remains one of the biggest priorities for employers, as poor mental health and stress can have significant effects on employees.
Businesses’ duty of care to their employees means that wellbeing in the workplace needs to be something that is not just recognised, but invested in and implemented. You can do this in a multitude of ways, including:
- Offering mental health support to employees
- Building personalised wellbeing plans for each team member
- Bringing on a Wellbeing Lead to oversee workplace wellbeing initiatives
Workplace wellbeing activities include:
- Subsidised or complimentary gym memberships
- Wellness talks and events
- Mindfulness activities
- Massages
- Flexible working practices
- Mentoring opportunities
Have Open Communication and Collaboration
The ‘New Normal’ company culture in 2021 is one that has a human approach. It will recognise that we are all more than simply workers, and will make an effort to create an environment in which employees feel supported, heard and valued. That’s why open communication is a crucial practice to have throughout your organisation to ensure that you establish the culture that you want. We all want to feel happy at work, and the only way we can achieve that is through communicating and working together.
Too often culture is an afterthought, but establishing core values can guide your business and ensure that all activities, interactions and growth periods are centred on those values.
