When Covid-19 first began impacting workplaces, we discussed how social recognition could help ease the move to remote working. Now, as the world prepares to head back to a sense of normality, let’s consider how recognition can make the transition back to work as smooth as possible.
1. Reconnect your furloughed employees
In a previous article, we covered recognition’s ability to keep furloughed employees socially and culturally involved with the business community (as much as they wanted to be). Thanks to recognition, being furloughed didn’t have to mean you were isolated from colleagues. A good recognition tool functions anywhere, on any device, with no need to use business technology or connections. Employees can stay up-to-date on their projects, check in with friends and colleagues, and remain part of wider employee social circles, even when they’re not working.
When re-joining the business, employees are bound to find it difficult to get back in the swing of things (particularly for individuals who may have been selected, rather than furloughed as part of an entire department). As employees come back to the office, their involvement with recognition – and feel that they haven’t really been gone – can help smooth the move from out-of-office to normal working. What’s more, employers can use recognition to emphasise the employees’ contributions to the business, helping them feel as though they belong again.