A New People Test for LeadersThe COVID-19 pandemic has presented a whole new challenge for companies – how to engage employees in unprecedented times. Businesses need to learn how to keep their employees engaged when they are no longer at their regular work sites and when their corporate lives have been turned upside down.
Employees are understandably concerned about the health and safety of themselves and their families. They are under extra pressure as they work at home while often juggling extra parental and household duties.
The future is uncertain in terms of when they can get back to work as they once knew it. And if it will never be the same again, they wonder what the new reality will be like and where they will fit in.
The Good News The good news is that most companies were thoughtful about addressing the basic safety, stability, and security needs of employees during the first phase of the pandemic. According to a recent McKinsey survey, 78% of employees believe that their organization reacted appropriately to the crisis. It is quite remarkable how the urgency and clarity of a crisis can create high performance results.
The Challenge The future is uncertain, the daily work lives of many employees’ have been significantly affected in the last few months, and people have varied expectations about their employee experience.
The Opportunity The crisis has opened the door for companies to strategically rethink the employee experience to better align with shifting people and business priorities. Company leaders can support their employees and keep them engaged during these times of stress and uncertainty by continuing to prioritize, involving stakeholders, taking decisive action, being employee-centric, and creating transparency.
Fully engaging employees is a challenge in the best of times. Now as we transition in and out of shelter-in-place orders, are your employees feeling valued and ready to thrive? | 
