The global pandemic has changed the way we work indefinitely. With more companies closing their offices and implementing permanent remote working initiatives, it is hard to imagine what working from an office all year round used to be like. Not only did the pandemic give us a new world of work, but it also gave us:

– The experience of seeing loved ones dying.
– The emotional trauma of not being able to visit a loved one at the hospital.
– The emotional trauma of not being able to attend funerals and say goodbye to loved ones.
– The anxiety and fear associated with getting Covid-19.
– Mental exhaustion from homeschooling your kids while simultaneously working from home.
– Mental exhaustion from domestically taking care of your home, kids (family) and yourself.
– The financial strain of losing money from postponing functions like weddings, holidays etc.
– The financial strain of paying school fees even though your kids are not attending school
– Mental exhaustion from virtual meetings.
– The feeling of loneliness and isolation from not seeing loved ones and friends leading to poor mental wellness.

The list goes on and on and on… With the mental overload that Covid-19 has showered upon us all, it becomes almost impossible to gauge the engagement levels of your remote working employees. Separated by just a screen, managers cannot determine if their employees are having a bad day, their current emotional state, as well as, understanding why their productivity levels are a certain way. For managers, managing your remote workers and understanding their engagement levels is essential. Employee engagement initiatives help organisations keep their finger on the pulse and actively overcome some of the barriers associated with remote working by supporting employee wellbeing.

Author: Purusha Gihwala