The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered how we work, and employers have had to adapt to new ways of supporting their team’s physical, mental, emotional, and overall well-being. In this article, we’ll explore ten top team member care trends and provide recommendations for employers to create a supportive and healthy work environment.

1. Prioritize Flexibility
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of flexibility in the workplace. When feasible, employers can prioritize flexibility by offering remote work options, flexible schedules, and other accommodations that show they care about their team’s work-life integration. Doing so demonstrates support for the team’s overall well-being while also fostering optimal productivity. This is especially important in the current climate, where teams may deal with caregiving responsibilities, illness, or other life challenges.

2. Promote Work-Life Integration
Employers can support their team by promoting work-life integration. It is vital to create a work environment that allows teams to integrate work and life in a way that works for them and simultaneously cares for the organization’s mission and goals. Employers can provide resources and tools to help their teams manage their time and prioritize their responsibilities, such as time management training or flexible work schedules.

3. Focus on Mental Wellness Support
Mental wellness has become a top concern in the workplace, and employers will want to prioritize this support. Employers can support their team’s mental health by providing access to counseling, offering mental health days, and promoting open communication around mental health issues. Additionally, employers can offer resources and tools to manage stress and anxiety, such as mindfulness training, seated massages, exercise and eating education, financial wellness, or other self-care workshops.

4. Invest in Professional Development
No person comes into the workplace being able to optimally perform all aspects of their role and responsibilities. At a minimum onboarding to an employer’s way of doing things, along with learning the organization’s systems, policies, processes, and procedures are essential to productivity. Moreover, today people care about being a part of an organization where they can continue to grow professionally. Investing in the teams’ professional development is an essential aspect of team care. Employers can provide training and development opportunities, mentorship and coaching, and opportunities for their teams to take on new projects or responsibilities. By investing in team professional growth, employers can help them build valuable skills, enhance customer  service, and contribute to the accelerated growth and success of the organization.

5. Show Recognition and Appreciation
Showing recognition and appreciation is essential to team care. Employers can verbally recognize team members’ contributions and express gratitude, provide bonuses and other incentives, personalized gifts, celebrate milestones, or increase paid time off work. Recognizing accomplishments creates a positive work environment and fosters a sense of loyalty and commitment among the team. The most effective way to show appreciation and recognition will depend on the individual team member and their preferences. Employers should personalize their recognition efforts and consider what will be most meaningful to the team and individuals. Showing appreciation and recognition can increase team member engagement, job satisfaction, and overall wellbeing, contributing to higher performance, positive customer experiences, and business scaling faster.

6. Foster a Culture of Trust and Transparency
Employers can foster a culture of trust and transparency by providing regular updates on the company’s goals and progress, encouraging open communication, and creating opportunities for team engagement, innovation, and collaboration. This also supports team retention and a positive employer reputation. Employers should create an environment where their teams feel valued, appreciated, respected, and trusted and where transparency is encouraged. When teams feel valued and included in decision-making, they are more likely to feel engaged and committed to their work.

7. Offer a Meaningful Benefits Package
A meaningful benefits package can go a long way in showing a team that their employer cares about their wellbeing. One best practice is to ask the team for insights to identify what benefits matter most to them. In addition to traditional benefits, we are finding that teams are also interested in a more modern approach to benefits that may include unlimited paid time off, pet insurance, health and wellness stipend, student loan repayment assistance, paid paternal leave, financial wellness programs and education, voluntary benefit options, work from home technologies and resources, and paid volunteer time.

8. Prioritize Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are essential components of a healthy and productive workplace where everyone feels supported. A diverse workforce brings a variety of perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table, which can lead to better problem-solving, innovation, and decision-making. When teams feel included and valued for their similarities and differences, they are more likely to feel engaged and committed to their work. This can lead to increased productivity, job satisfaction, overall wellbeing, better customer experiences, and greater success for the employer. By prioritizing DEIB, employers can also attract and retain top talent from various backgrounds and perspectives. Additionally, DEIB strategies, systems, initiatives, and training can improve the organization’s reputation and brand image. People want to work for employers who care about and are committed to DEIB. Training leaders and the team on topics to include self-awareness, unconscious bias, microaggressions, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, generations in the workplace, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, othering, dialogue verses debate, and collaboration, are examples of good subjects to help a team gain insight about self and others to support better outcomes in the workplace for all.

9. Implement a Workload Management System
Employers can consider implementing a workload management system that allows for more efficient and effective task delegation. This can involve assigning tasks based on the teams’ strengths, skills, and interests, streamlining workflows, and prioritizing tasks. Employers can also provide their teams with the necessary resources and tools to complete their tasks, such as software programs or equipment, to ensure they are not overburdened with manual tasks or inefficient processes. By implementing effective workload management strategies, employers can create a workplace culture that supports their teams’ well-being while ensuring that their organization operates at optimal levels of productivity and efficiency.

10. Workplace Communications
To effectively communicate with a team, employers should consider using a variety of communication channels that cater to different learning styles and preferences. For example, some team members prefer face-to-face interactions, while others prefer written communication. Employers should also ensure that their communication is clear, concise, and easily understood by all team members. This can involve using plain language, avoiding jargon, and providing context or background information when necessary. Additionally, employers should actively listen to their team and take their feedback and ideas into account. This can create a sense of inclusivity and belonging, as the team feels that their voices are heard and that they are an essential part of the company. Employers can use technology to facilitate communication, such as instant messaging platforms or project management software. This can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of communication, especially in remote or hybrid work environments. By using a combination of communication channels and techniques, employers can create a workplace culture that values and prioritizes transparent and open communication, leading to improved team care and overall business success.

About HR Anew
At HR Anew, we understand the importance of team member care and well-being and specialize in creating customized, innovative, and forward-thinking solutions for employers. Our team of experts co-collaborate with you to develop personalized strategies and programs that meet your organization’s and your team’s unique needs. We offer diverse solutions, including recruiting, leader and team development, DEIB programming, team member engagement programs, team relations, HR management and advisory services, workplace and DIY HR portals, and monthly masterclasses that HR Anew’s CEO and guests facilitate.

We’d love to collaborate with you if you want to take your team member care to the next level and create a supportive, healthy work environment.

Contact us today or anytime to learn more about how we can support your team’s wellbeing and accelerate the growth of your business, at https://hranew.com/contact/.