The way we think about work has drastically changed since 2020. Over a year ago, lots of countries went into lockdown, and ways of working changed drastically. More and more people are working from home, changing the way they collaborate and work. This has an impact on the well-being of employees as well as the productivity. At the start, we did see a spike in productivity. Fewer meetings meant more time for productive work. Additionally, people started to shift their commute into effective working time. Another way to boost productivity. Now we do see that productivity is decreasing and employee engagement could be a reason why.
Energy is drained by working from home
Working from home requires a lot of energy. Going from virtual meeting to meeting, it seems like a never-ending carousel. Besides that, the focus is also needed on other activities that also need to be finished. Combining these makes a poisonous mixture that can result in a burn-out. This makes it even more important to understand the well-being of your people. Through employee listening, you can gain insights into these feelings.
What does employee listening mean?
Yes, it does sound simple. Listening to your employees, In reality, there are many ways you can execute this. For example, an effective method is having one-on-one conversations between a manager and an employee. Here they have a safe space to discuss their challenges and request help when needed. With small investments you can already mitigate a majority of the challenges, allowing a more satisfied workforce.
Measure the workload
Employee listening is best combined with an analysis of the workload. How much work do employees need to complete? Is this reasonable considering the time available? Balancing this and keeping an eye on their wellbeing will help you create a better and more productive workforce.
Tools to the rescue
Measuring the engagement does not require a crystal ball. You can use the tools available through the Internet. These tools often come with special surveys, dashboards, and other analytical capabilities. Based on outcomes and best practices, they provide you with recommendations on what actions to take. Another interesting feature is the option to track progress as you implement the changes. This allows for continuous feedback and improvement as you roll-out the improvement plan. Conduct a proper analysis when selecting the right package for your situation. You can start with creating your survey and analyse it in Excel or go for a professional tool, depending on the time available and resources allocated.
Effectory
Effectory.com is one of the providers of such tools. With surveys, analytical tools, and methodologies, Effectory helps you get insights into your workforce. They even provide a special COVID-19 survey and program that helps you keep track of your workforce through the pandemic. This is an effective way to keep your remote workforce engaged and understand how they are doing.