Creating a supportive virtual workplace

Virtual and hybrid work environments have their benefits, but they can also lead to challenges for employees and employers. Some of these include feelings of isolation, lack of in-person supervision, co-worker disconnection and distractions at home. In our new world of work, employers need to mitigate some of these challenges and create a virtual environment that is flexible, inclusive and (yes) structured!
March 29, 2022

Communication

  • Establish daily check-ins.
  • Provide feedback on a regular basis.
  • Provide multiple platforms and ways to communicating (Zoom, Teams, Webex, email).
  • Create policies for urgent vs. non-urgent communication, and respond accordingly.
  • Describe parameters, deadlines and metrics of all tasks and assignments. Remember, “ASAP” means different things to different people, and so does the word “priority.”

Isolation

  • Create group projects and other collaborations that require teamwork.
  • Schedule weekly team meetings for work-related activities.
  • Where possible, create either in-person or online (optional) socials for employees who want to connect (think online trivia).
  • Make sure documents and resources are easily accessible.
  • Take an individualized approach; not everyone will need this level of connectivity.

Supervision

  • How are the key deliverables assessed, and how is employee performance evaluated?
  • Create a formal virtual work policy.
  • Provide transparency regarding availability (use “away,” “out of office,” “offline” statuses) on communication platforms.
  • Offer encouragement and support — especially in situations where virtual work might be new for the employee.
  • Create consistency; foster flexibility.

Scheduling

Consider working with your staff to create a flexible schedule where possible. This can reduce the stress of having both home and work priorities at the same time. According to the Conference Board of Canada, 86% of employers reported having employees who cannot work their regular work schedule due to family responsibilities, and 83% of employers reported providing a flexible working time to accommodate for family needs.