Workplace culture is more important than ever. After a rough year and a half, many employees have started questioning their current careers and workplaces. Our values and priorities changed in lockdown and more emphasis was placed on a work-life balance.
Organisations need to rethink their company culture and make sure healthy boundaries are in place in order to ensure employee retention and happiness as we transition into a post-pandemic landscape.
Here are a few ways the pandemic changed workplace culture.
The sick day stigma
Sick days have always been a controversial topic in British workplaces. Some still have the traditional attitude that hard workers power through sickness and hunker down. Younger workers tend to have a more refreshed perspective and feel a need for mental health sick days in the workplace.
Poster printing specialist instantprint conducted a survey on 1,000 Brits and found that some workers continued to power through sickness even in the pandemic. Over 20% of survey respondents said it would “take a lot” for them to take a sick day and 21% said they had been calling in sick less since the pandemic. Remote working practices meant employees could work from bed when they were ill in the pandemic; it was much easier to push through when they didn’t have to leave their bedroom.
A focus on employee wellbeing
Organisations need to put inclusion and wellbeing at the heart of workplace culture. Employees need support with mental health, stress, and career development. Remote working has also made it difficult to maintain healthy professional boundaries. Some bosses feel they can contact teams constantly and call them at any time. All hours are working hours when employees work from home, right? Wrong – work-life distinction is vital to wellbeing.
Rebranding
The UK has changed since the pandemic. Companies are pausing to acknowledge the effect COVID-19 had on the world and are rethinking their brand messaging. Some businesses have welcomed this change with open arms and completely rebranded to reflect new values. Some may opt to change their company mission statement and workplace culture. If your business has seen a shift in culture since the start of the pandemic, it might be a great opportunity to update your branding and spread the word with new flyers or posters.
Flexi time
Many businesses have returned to the office now. However, most employers seem to have offered a flexible approach to work so employees can split their time between the office and home. Homeworking has numerous advantages, like less time spent commuting and more time spent with family and friends. Flexi time can allow employees to tailor their work schedule around their physical and personal needs at different points in the day or week.
The business industry is becoming more personalised and adaptable to each employee. Instead of forcing everyone to work in the same way, some organisations encourage their teams to find a routine that works for their lives, boosting productivity as a result.
