how to maintain employee morale during layoffs

Rebecca Lundin Jun 18, 2020. an earlier version of this was published in the Portland Press Herald . Not to mention, happy employees are more likely to speak favorably about employers, which means a … By taking these steps, you can dull the pain of large-scale layoffs, maintain employee morale and avoid a PR nightmare like that seen after the BuzzFeed layoffs. During the COVID-19 crisis, changes in customer demand have caused a temporary spike in hiring in areas such as grocery while leading to massive layoffs in sectors such as hospitality. For additional resources on managing a remote team, check out our free guidebook, Pivoting your Business to a Remote Work from Home Strategy during COVID-19. If a new employee receives a promotion over the heads of long-term, existing employees, feelings of rancor will ensue. There has been a sharp dip in employee morale during the COVID-19 and HR is at the forefront of finding ways of boosting morale and keeping employee motivation up. Fortunately, good personal hygiene is one of the best protection against contracting the Covid-19 virus. But what is the best way to recognize employees, especially while workers are remote or social distancing? Meanwhile, under remote work conditions, opportunities to build and maintain positive and supportive relationships with colleagues — which can boost job satisfaction — have dwindled. The key to dealing with low staff morale is managers maintaining a steady and healthy connection to their staff. 10 May 2016. Employees look up to their leaders especially during the time of crisis. Keeping employees happy and productive in a tough economy may not be an easy task, but your business is sure to benefit when you incorporate these tactics for creating motivation in the workplace. It is important to recognize that the militaristic style of leadership and the resulting practices are efficient and effective in meeting the public need for safety, while the business style of leadership and the resulting practices are equally efficient and effective at meeting the public need for service. Managing Employee Morale in the Covid Era. This is especially true for sales organizations. Be Flexible in Employee Performance Reviews. Keeping your employees happy is important for retention, and it does not always require a raise. Summary: As the coronavirus crisis continues, it is crucial to keep employee morale up. One of the most important things you can do during this time is communicate with your employees as often as possible. The latest news and commentary on workplace and employment. Restructures and change are becoming the norm as companies and employees alike adapt to ever-changing economic climates. Having high employee morale is important for companies as it can lead to increased productivity and lower turnover rates. Use these tips to keep morale high and maintain a strong company culture while working remotely. By Prasannata Patwa. 5 Ways to Maintain Morale for On-site Employees During COVID-19. If any of our strategies aren’t working, we want to know. Manage the layoff or closure like a project. To find out more about the importance of giving awards at work and specific tips on how to motivate employees, explore these ten surprising ways to motivate employees and boost morale: 1. Encourage and model self-care. Here are some suggestions to avoid a long-term drop in morale: During the first weeks and months after redundancies, open up communication channels for employees to ask questions and air concerns. Help your employees develop self-efficacy. Building and maintaining employee morale and team spirit can be challenging when everyone is working from a different place. So, as being a people’s person, you need to be calm and composed while keeping constantly with your employees. Take a look at some of the most accessible steps to elevate employees’ morale and happiness over time. Does your frontline team need a boost? Share this Article: The COVID-19 crisis has been tough on our kids. Other times, employers may offer job sharing for some employees, cut back on employee benefits, or shorten the workweek in order to retain employees. Role Of A Leader During Organizational Layoffs By : HR World Insight In order to achieve the set goals for which layoff are being done, its important that leaders take into consideration the impact of it on employees and try to make it look fair. 1. Here's how to write one and what to include. During these times employees are worried about their standing in the company and how the company is dealing with the pandemic. … These benefits are given to employees over and above salaries and wages. Keeping Employee Morale Up During Difficult Times. Contributions will be recalculated to deduct the full amount by the year’s end. Conflicts that are allowed to fester and grow will ultimately diminish productivity and damage employee morale. If you’d like to keep morale high this season, here are some great suggestions to bring some holiday cheer to your team. Melcrum. Enable and encourage your employees to think and act like small business owners. In some cases, employees are not fired, but instead become part-time or temporary workers to trim costs. With these simple ideas, you can improve and maintain your employee morale, which will in turn help your business pull through whatever it is that’s setting you back. Remote working has meant that staff rapport and team morale has significantly decreased. Employee morale describes the overall outlook, attitude, satisfaction, and confidence that employees feel at work. Help your employees develop self-efficacy. Organizational transformations are most successful when workers feel involved, empowered, essential, and supported.Companies can offer coaching programs, personal development tools, and rewards systems to help maintain positive morale. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer as they say. Some employees might enjoy a weekly virtual pub quiz, while others would prefer a more-casual Zoom coffee break in the afternoons. 1. During difficult times like these when so many things are changing, it's necessary to support employees with everything they need to keep their morale high. Layoffs are not the only option for reducing costs during periods of crisis. My employer doesn't give me any time off to eat during my eight-hour shift. Role Of A Leader During Organizational Layoffs By : HR World Insight In order to achieve the set goals for which layoff are being done, its important that leaders take into consideration the impact of it on employees and try to make it look fair. Leaders should encourage staff to keep up the social interactions that would usually happen at the office water cooler, or over drinks. 3. So, try setting up virtual team-building activities to provide opportunities to get that facetime in. There’s concrete evidence that proves it. Like many organizations, we’re trying a lot of new things during these uncertain times. 1. Low employee morale can not only lead to a negative mindset but also reduce concentration while working. Keep communicating with them: Communication is one of the key things that an employer can do for group motivation. Keep lines of communication open. 12 min read April 6, 2020 There’s no two ways about it: leading an organization through a round of layoffs is excruciating. The study recommends that companies focus on encouraging personal agency and that they use tools to monitor and maintain personal engagement. The incident highlights the need to maintain employee morale during periods of uncertainty and change – such as restructures, mergers, and leadership changes. You need to tackle the problems and challenges that you anticipate to occur before, during and after you layoff your valued employees. Common job duties listed on a HR Generalist resume are providing human resources services, recruiting staff, processing employees, updating records, improving employee retention levels, and enforcing safety and health policies. If a staff person with three year's experience is given a $15,000 raise and more senior staffers receive just $10,000, then undoubtedly the morale of the slighted employees will be affected. For instance, a virtual happy hour is a fun way for the team to connect on a more personal level outside the scope of work. In the midst of layoffs, pay cuts, and tight budgets, your team's morale and loyalty is stretched to its limits, while traditional incentives like bonuses and salary increases are unavailable. It is offering voluntary buyouts to employees. Morale, Burn-Out and Panic: How to Keep Your Team Happy During COVID-19 Lock Downs. 5 Ways to Boost Employee Morale after Layoffs. Hearst Magazines, which refrained from layoffs during the pandemic, is pursuing a new financial strategy. When an environment of value and acceptance is generated through consistent recognition and open communication, it’s a win-win situation for the company and its employees. Today’s challenging business environment continues to impact many industries, with restructurings and layoffs creating concern among employees. That’s why employee engagement activities during COVID-19 are more important than ever before. Happy employees are more productive employees. It’s no secret that staff morale affects the company’s success. Focus on career development, solidifying trust, and listening to the staff’s needs. Definitely vouch … Cost cutting refers to measures implemented by a company to reduce its expenses and improve profitability. by Steven A Watson in Tech & Work on June 17, 2003, 12:00 AM PST.