What companies can do to lead the work-from-home(WFH) revolution?

The world around has changed, and how! As we e adapt to the new normal, and companies move into a #WFH model, it is essential that they understand what employees really need to thrive in such a scenario. We know that this is not the usual working environment for many organizations and some may even struggle to keep things running effectively, but the ones who can quickly adapt and move forward will sail through this phase smoothly. There's no doubt that some things will be amiss, like meeting your co-workers, going out to lunch together, or attending a client meeting. One thing is for certain - employees will definitely miss the social interactions they would otherwise have had at work Critics of the work-from-home trend contend that companies will lose their identity and culture.

Apart from doing Zoom or Google meet calls with your employees, it's important to understand their WFH needs and offer them something in a remote work environment that will help them work more effectively. Here are some things you can consider offering your employees to help make their shift from an office environment to a remote working one a lot easier.

Connectivity: With the change in the work dynamics, employees can now from anywhere, even if they may be the most remote parts of the country. What one needs is a stable and working internet connection. Companies could start offering this as one of the benefits and also fine-tune some existing benefits to better suit the current scenario.

Mental and physical wellness: COVID 19 is very much successful in eating our brains out and it's no different with the employees. For beginners, try gifting stress buster balls or fidget cubes. Gift them board games which will encourage them to have some time for themselves and their friends/family. Partner with organizations that support online consultation. Arrange appointments for therapy and provide wellness packages (mix of exercise coaching and diet). This will help to keep their mental and physical health on track.

Online engagement: Start an online book club for your employees, give them interesting challenges which they can take upon their social media or so. Anything virtual works! It can be common interest clubs, fun activities, or just regular coffee catch-ups. Know your employees and tweak your ideas.

Learning and skill development: Give them vouchers for online classes which they find interesting and approve to be useful for them. Try giving them a book a month, this will hit them on a different level especially if they are bibliophiles!

Remote working can be a boon for many, saving time and costs. However, it can also alienate employees and lead to a lack of enthusiasm. So, play the role of a mini Santa by offering things like a Peloton bike, Wii, etc And this case can be based on certain KPI or OKRs dependent on individual performance or team achievements.

Now more than ever, we should decide not to test the commitment of our employees instead,  should frequently connect with employees and reward them with space and supplements beforehand cause hey, we were all the same kids who would go happily throughout the day when we were offered candy at the beginning of the day!