Apr6

Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 4: How can Employers Support their Workforce?

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Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 4: How can Employers Support their Workforce?

The Covid19 Coronavirus is spreading fast and has reached global pandemic levels. It doesn’t look like it’s going to let up anytime soon and more and more countries go on nationwide lockdown. To mitigate the spread of the virus, the most sensible precaution is to self-quarantine and practice social distancing. So for everyone’s health, working from home is going to be the new normal.

This is why a lot of businesses are encouraging their employees to work from home. Not a lot of businesses have the capacity to allow their workforce to work remotely though. So some might be making huge adjustments to the work from home setup. 

To keep the economy running, the workforce has to be operational. For employers, it has to be business as usual. That means adapting to online ways of working and taking steps to support a remote working workforce. 

While running a team from home, employers need to evaluate and recalibrate their remote working strategy. From time to time. Plan to do regular “health checks” to see if your business continuity plan is still aligned and working. Do you need to assess your readiness for supporting work from home employees? Here are a few questions to ask:

How are the employees working from home?

  • Do they have the devices that will enable them to work from home? (laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc)
  • Do they have the correct digital tools? (Enterprise apps, Learning systems, Collaboration suites, etc.)
  • Do they have a dedicated workspace or are they just making do with working off a side table? (Quiet space, spare room, etc.)
  • Do they have a stable network? (Hardwired internet connection, mobile data, etc.)

What else do they need?

  • Send out an online survey (which they can complete before a deadline)
  • Send them private feedback forms (which they can choose to answer anonymously)
  • Encourage them to send real-time messages for suggestions on how you can help them

How do we improve collaboration?

  • Use project tracking and management tools (Wrike, Trello, Zoho Projects, MS 0365, etc.) and make sure to invest in the right collaboration software (one that doesn’t have a steep learning curve and is practical for the company – in short, you don’t need all the bells and whistles of collaboration software so carefully consider the features you need)
  • Encourage innovation and idea-sharing 
  • Deploy Subject Matter Experts to teams 
  • Use a common language (especially if you work with different departments or lines of business)
  • Encourage real-time project updates and feedback
  • Celebrate wins, big or small
  • Facilitate continuous communication (instant messaging or video conferencing)

How do we improve communication?

  • Encourage feedback and discussion (now is the time to over-communicate, not only to keep the workforce focused and productive, but also to encourage social contact – it can get lonely in self-quarantine sometimes)
  • Use the right tools (small business unified comms like Office 365, Slack, Zoho Meeting, BlueJeans, Zoom, GoToMeeting, Google Hangouts, etc.)
  • Hold regular meetings (morning check-ins, water cooler discussions, end of day virtual huddles, etc.)

How are you supporting your work from home team? Let us know in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

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Mar30

Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 3: How to Stay Healthy While Working from Home

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Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 3: How to Stay Healthy While Working from Home

As the pandemic situation worsens, a lot of employees are being told to work from home to limit social interaction and help #flattenthecurve. While many of us are taking vitamins and boosting our immune system like crazy, we might forget that our mental health is also important.

Our health can take a downturn when we’re cooped up in a house for a long period of time. We are social creatures, and keeping a social distance is highly unnatural for us. However, it is essential during these times. In this light, here are some important mental health practices that you can do while you’re on self-quarantine:

Setting a schedule and taking breaks
Now that most of us are working from home, it could be hard to draw the line between work and personal time. The line where work ends and your personal time begins can be blurry. It is extremely important for you to assign a “core schedule”. This is a period of time where you start work and stop working (for example 9am to 6pm). Stick to this work schedule as much as you can. Set yourself an alarm for a “hard-stop” where you must walk away from work and leave it for tomorrow.

Remember to schedule breaks throughout your workday. Just like on-site work, two 15 minute breaks and a lunch break can refresh your body and mind and improve your productivity and focus.

Sleep
The blurry boundaries between work and personal time can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule. You might not be able to leave your work stress at the office because home is now the office. To combat this, you must practice proper sleep hygiene. Studies show that having a consistent routine of waking up and going to bed at the same time each day, helps regulate your sleep schedule. Also, don’t work from your bedroom so that you don’t associate it with work. Have a separate work area. You’re also probably chugging a lot of coffee so watch your caffeine consumption. Experts advise to stop drinking coffee at least seven hours before bed.

Exercise and fitness
It is scientifically proven that too much sitting can lead to a lot of health complications. So, try to pencil in workouts into your work from home schedule. Take advantage of online workout classes. Don’t forget to set yourself a reminder to get up and stretch once every hour.

Stock your pantry with healthy snacks and meals. You can’t go wrong with leafy greens, whole grains, and fresh fruits and veggies. Stock up on foods that are fortified with vitamins A, B, C, and minerals Selenium and Zinc. Take note that you cannot get Vit D from supplements. You can only get it through sun exposure which could be extra challenging when you’re cooped up at home. If feasible, open a sunny window for a few minutes to get some sun exposure.

How do you stay healthy during a lockdown? We’d love to hear your staying healthy tips. Let us know in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Mar23

Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 2: What You Need To Know To Start Working From Home

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Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 2: What You Need To Know To Start Working From Home

The global pandemic has now affected the way we work. Since major cities encourage self-quarantine, many employees have, by now, been given the go signal by their employers to start working from home in order to practice social distancing. 

Now, a lot of on-site workers are very excited to experience the comforts of working from home and the schedule flexibility that comes with it. Little do they know that it takes more than bringing home a laptop to get the hang of working from home. You are going to need self-discipline and laser focus to stay away from the 3 WFH temptations: the fridge, the bed, and the tv.

Kidding aside, on-site workers are going to have to get used to a few changes in their daily routine. While a work from home set up offers more time since daily prep and commute are taken out of the equation, remote workers might just find themselves trying to fill that void with activities to keep them “busy for the sake of being busy”.

If you’re new to working from home, here are a few things you should know:

You have to get into the right mindset 

Many people have this idea that remote workers lounge all day in their pajamas and work off of their kitchen tables. This is not true. When you work from home, you have to make the mental shift from personal time, to work time. That means dressing up for work and having a designated workspace. 

Create a workspace

As mentioned, a dedicated workspace is important for you to be able to get into a productive and focused mindset. That means not working from your bed or off the kitchen table. If you have the space, plan to set up a home office. If not, designate a quiet and clutter-free space away from distractions.

Have a core schedule

The topmost complaint of remote workers is that they have a hard time unplugging from work. This is because when you work where you live, it’s hard to know when your shift ends and your personal time starts. Those lines blur at times when you’re too busy to notice. This is why it is important to stick to a routine and assign start and stop times for yourself. Set an alarm for a hard-stop and walk away from work. It can wait for another day.

Stay connected

Use technology to your advantage and stay connected with co-workers. Take note that chat and instant messages need an extra layer of clarity as people won’t be able to see your body language and hear your tone of voice. 

Have you just recently started working from home? How are you finding it so far? What tips can you give employees who are new to remote working? Let us know in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Mar17

Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 1: Myth Busting and PSA

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Coronavirus Quarantine Preparations Part 1: Myth Busting and PSA

As of writing, most of the major cities, capitals, and even nations are locking down due to the coronavirus or Covid-19. Countries such as France, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, and the very hard hit, Italy are all on country-wide lockdowns as the death toll climbs. Land, air, and sea travel in and out are prohibited.

Naturally, this worldwide pandemic made people scared to go out in fear of contracting the virus. Many Americans have already received updates from their employers advising them to work from home and schools have already canceled classes. So, most of us are all quarantined in our homes. Panic, isolation, plus very easy sharing methods in social media make a perfect recipe for fear-mongering. This is why a lot of fake news permeates the social media scene.

As a public service, The Help will be sharing some coronavirus quarantine preparations to help you and your family get ready. In part 1, we share facts to help dispel the myths that are circulating on the interwebs. These facts are all sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Myth: Antibiotics can prevent and treat Covid-19
Fact: Antibiotics do NOT work on viruses. They only work against bacteria. Since Covid-19 is a virus, antibiotics WON’T work in preventing or treating it.

To date, there is no medicine specifically approved to prevent or treat Covid-19, yet. For people who have already contracted the virus, antibiotics can be used to treat any bacterial co-infection as part of supportive care.

Myth: Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will kill the new coronavirus
Fact: Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will NOT kill the new coronavirus. You can use chlorine to disinfect surfaces and 70% rubbing alcohol to sanitize your hands when soap and water are not readily available.

Remember that these substances are still harmful when ingested at full strength. So don’t get them in your eyes or mouth.

Myth: Covid-19 can be transmitted through mosquito bites.
Fact: Covid-19 CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites. Covid-19 is spread through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. So avoid close contact with people who are coughing or sneezing.

It is a good idea to practice social distancing, which is maintaining at least a six-foot (approx 2 meters) distance between yourself and others. No cheek to cheek kisses, no hugs, no handshakes. Avoid crowds and large gatherings such as weddings, concerts, conferences, sporting events, and mass transit.

Myth: Hot weather kills Covid-19
Fact: COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in areas with hot and humid climates. Actually, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS regardless of climate. Hot weather cannot kill the virus, nor can cold weather and snow.

Frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water is still the most effective way to protect yourself against the virus.

Have you heard anything that turned out to be fake news regarding the coronavirus? What’s the real deal? Let us know in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

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Mar2

When a Vacation can’t Cure a Burnout from Work

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When a Vacation can’t Cure a Burnout from Work

Have you ever woken up on a Monday morning and exclaimed to yourself – “oh no, not again!” It starts off sinisterly, like on one unassuming Sunday afternoon. Our heart starts to fill with dread at the thought of coming to work tomorrow. And when tomorrow finally rolls in, you drag yourself out of bed and try to fake energy and enthusiasm with a cup of coffee. You somehow manage to get yourself to the office and hunker down to work but lose your focus and get annoyed at the slightest work interruption.

If this keeps happening, then it’s no longer normal work stress. It is a burnout. You might not believe it, seeing as you love your job so much. But even those who have passion for their jobs are not immune to experiencing burnouts. If you’re one of them, you are not alone.

A Deloitte marketplace survey says 77% of 1000 respondents experience employee burnout at their current job. In a culture where busy is a badge of honor and constant exhaustion is the new normal, it is no surprise that many employees are wildly careening towards a big crash n’ burn. So how do you get yourself back on track? Here are 3 tips to “cure” a burnout, realistically.

Get your time back
Being busy leaves us with no time for self-reflection. So you work your way through the day and power through without a second thought about how you are feeling. You then slowly but steadily move out of sync with your emotional state. Over time, your emotional tank gets by on being half full (or almost empty) and that is a sure way that leads to burnout.

Don’t wait until your tank is empty before you practice self-care. Pause and take a physical and mental break. Reflect on how you’re feeling. Are you running on fumes? Refuel your tank by getting food, taking a break, packing up for the day, writing a to-do list, or just deep breathing for a while.

Detach yourself from work
When you leave the office at 6pm, are you done for the day or do you take work home? Being constantly connected means you never miss a thing, but it also means you never truly leave work behind – you just change venues. If you take work home, check your email during weekends, work on that project while on vacation, or answer business calls in the car, you’re constantly working without breaks. So why do you wonder why you’re so exhausted?

Learn to set personal boundaries. Know when work is over and personal time begins. Set hard stop times. And please, for the love of all that’s fun, mentally detach yourself from work at the end of each workday and take your weekends back.

The incredibly satisfying art of doing nothing
Technology is an amazing thing. We now have an app for everything. This is why we never get bored. If you own a smartphone, you’ll always have something to do. Check your social media feeds, watch the news, play a game, pay your bills, shop online, plan your next vacation, listen to music, or even take online courses. There is no shortage of things to keep you busy. No one is really doing nothing. We’re all busy doing productive or quasi productive things, especially on our mobile devices. But even if we’re doing these things to pass the time, it really doesn’t help us with much needed physiological and psychological replenishment. So do yourself a favor, schedule a time in your busy workday to just nothing for at least 5mins. Your brain will thank you.

How do you beat work burnout? Let us know in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today.

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp