Creating The Best Post-COVID Business You Can

Here’s how you can adapt both your workspace and work ethic to help create a good working environment after COVID

When it comes to the business sector there is a huge focus after COVID on how workplaces are going to cope with the changes brought about by the virus. It is known now that the world is unlikely to go back to total normality and this begs the question of whether or not we should be in offices or at home, 

Office working can still play an important role in our working lives and today we want to talk about how business leaders and owners can adapt both their workspace and work ethic to help create a good working environment after COVID. 

Be flexible 

If there is one thing this pandemic has taught is it’s that you can absolutely be flexible with your staff without incurring loss. It is so important to note that you can allow your employees to work to their own schedules or at home and you won’t damage your company because of it. In fact, many companies find that being flexible and trusting their employees is better for everyone and helps them stay on track. Make sure that you bear in mind the impact that flexibility could have on your workplace and consider allowing more of it. 

Outsource 

For any small business owner or entrepreneur it is important to consider how we can save money going forward in business. One of the easiest ways to do this is to consider outsourcing with companies such as Employer Advantage who will bring you much more specialist services for the lower price. Instead of hiring a team of employees that you don’t necessarily need; consider instead hiring a firm to complete a task for you and once you don’t need their services you can simply end the contract. This can be much more cost effective and easier for you as an employer.  

Hire remotely 

One way to really make a change in your business this year is to consider hiring your staff remotely. This means instead of having an office in the city centre where you house your staff – you can instead have employees based at home all around the country who will work for you in their own space. This is a good way to save a ton of money on office rent and equipment and you’ll be able to speak to your staff remotely via calls to ensure that they are working effectively and that they are happy. One of the biggest benefits of this kind of hiring is that you will be able to choose from a much larger pool of applicants and as a result you may be able to find the best candidates for the roles. 

Consider a shared workspace 

Shared workspaces are a great idea that have come into fruition a lot in the last 5-10 years. Communal offices allow people from all over to come and work in one shared space without the crippling rent of a regular office. In a communal office people can come and go as they please and use the office space and rooms when they need them. If you don’t require a permanent office for your staff this is an option that allows staff who prefer being in the office to have somewhere to go and for those who prefer remote working to stay at home. 

Encourage team building 

One great thing you can do as an employer to help your employees feel happier and more valued is to encourage team building. This could be an activity in the city, a retreat, or even simply a catch up at the pub after work. It is important to try and encourage friendships between staff as this will ultimately improve your productivity and morale in the office. 

Invest in training 

Training is an incredibly important thing to offer your employees – and you must consider investing in their future for a successful company. As an employer, taking an interest in the career development of your workers is important, and it can help them become better employees to you as well as show loyalty to you due to the money you have invested in them. Offering training and offering to sponsor courses is a great way to help your employees improve and it will show them that you care. 

Choose duvet days 

A duvet day is a type of sick day that many companies have started to implement in their workplaces. Mental health is important and a duvet day allows an employer to wake up one morning and call in if they just aren’t feeling it. Offering a couple of duvet days a year is a brilliant idea and it will show employees that you care about their mental health as well as their physical health. 

Technology 

Since the national lockdown in March 2020 most companies have had to rely heavily on technology. Cloud-based services such as Google Drive have been crucial for the productivity of companies forced to move their operations remote. Even after the shift back into office life, business leaders need to keep technology at the forefront of their thinking to ensure they are ready should anything of this scale happen again. 

Health and Wellbeing 

It is a sad truth that up until the pandemic, health and wellbeing was low on the scale of importance for many companies. However with the pandemic isolating people for so long, it is important for employers to support the transition back to the office and provide a healthy and calming workspace. Even a morning chat in the kitchen will be a big deal for your employees, so make sure to encourage this socialisation as they get back to a ‘new normal’. 

Offices will be agile 

As the world comes back to normality and people move back to the office there will be certain guidelines that must be followed. Social distancing will still be advised wherever possible and it is important that you focus less on fixed desks and accept a more agile approach where people can move to work where they feel comfortable. Many co-working spaces already offer this type of working, and it might be time for the rest of us to catch up. 

Allow WFH

Many companies had to completely shift their operations to home during the pandemic and this actually helped them to see the benefits of ditching office life as well as see how well their employees do at home. Many companies will not be going back to the office at all and it’s not hard to see why. With the price of rent and the pressure of a commute it might be better for everyone to work at home. One thing you can implement if you want to still have an office is a working from home policy where people can choose a few days a week they want and work from home to fit around their home life or commitments. Respecting the fact that people have home lives as well as work lives is important and will make all the difference to you and your workers. 

Get savvy with marketing 

Marketing is a great way to get your business back off the ground after COVID – and you need to consider using multimedia tools to get it done. Think about using a mixture of vidoe and image content  for your social media accounts and consider how you can create unique marketing copy for your brand. Be bold and have fun with it, and try to get the attention of your followers. 

We hope this tips and tricks will allow you to create a winning business after the pandemic.

Creating The Best Post-COVID Business You Can appeared first on Mompreneur Media