{"id":12885,"date":"2021-03-02T21:37:16","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T21:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/?p=12885"},"modified":"2021-03-02T21:37:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T21:37:16","slug":"4-ways-to-help-your-team-combat-covid-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/4-ways-to-help-your-team-combat-covid-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways to Help Your Team Combat COVID Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re a manager of a remote or hybrid team, you\u2019re likely very familiar with the impacts of the pandemic on your staff, especially as we approach a year since the first shutdowns. Remote workers are burnt out, those returning to work are still nervous about the virus, apprehensive to go back to in-office settings. PwC surveys<\/a> found that while employers are ready to bring back their staff, employees want to return to work more slowly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter your situation, guiding your team through this time is challenging and complex. Use these four strategies to help your employees deal with COVID anxiety and pandemic fatigue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Update and Promote New Procedures <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first way to calm worries about returning to work (regardless of when or how it happens) is to update your workplace procedures, then circulate that information company-wide. While it may seem like minor details, your staff wants to know that you\u2019re putting their safety and wellbeing first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need inspiration on updating policies, conduct a bit of research on how other companies handle post-pandemic work. For example, 83 percent of companies are investing more to professionally clean, and 92 percent plan to limit group meetings, according to a recent SERVPRO survey<\/a>. Create a safe environment with new procedures and ease your team\u2019s worries by explaining any further updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Offer Flexible Scheduling <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A bright side to the pandemic is the rapid acceptance of flexible work. Companies have reimagined the modern workplace ecosystem\u2014people work from their home offices, kitchens, and even hotels<\/a>\u2014all with great success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a recent Mercer report<\/a>, before COVID-19 hit, executives believed that only 45 percent of their workforce was adaptable. When forced to go remote during the pandemic, 90 percent of employers said productivity didn\u2019t decrease. And now 82 percent plan to keep flexible work schedules post-pandemic. Quite the change of opinion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This worldwide work-from-home experiment proved companies don\u2019t need a physical office to be effective. Especially when combating COVID anxiety, continuing your remote and flexible work policies will go a long way in reassuring your team of their safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While flexible scheduling might not work for all businesses, you can adopt hybrid solutions, such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n