The COVID-19 Era: A Guide to Keeping Your Staff Together While they Are Working So Far Apart

The Edge for October 2020

We asked business executives in New Jersey how their organizations are motivating employees, maintaining morale and keeping their teams in synch while they are working remotely. There is no one answer. The good news is, there are many answers. Here is what they said:

Hold Virtual Happy Hours, Baby Showers and Award Ceremonies

We’ve held virtual happy hours, baby showers and virtual award ceremonies featuring employees cheering for their co-workers. We regularly email a President’s Message to ensure a single voice and focus for employees. We also initiated a phone tree where members of our senior management team call supervisors to find out what challenges they are facing personally and professionally. It has been productive on both sides, leading to insights on flexible work, childcare stress and other matters.

– Debbie Albrecht, Vice President & General Counsel, American Water - Eastern Division

Host Virtual Water Cooler Conversations

We host virtual water cooler conversations twice a week with themes ranging from crazy hat day to share your favorite quarantine cuisine. Monthly birthday celebrations, which traditionally feature serenades and cake, are now celebrated via video. To help reduce stress, a virtual meditation program is available to all associates.

– Mike Munoz, Market President, AmeriHealth New Jersey

Set up Tents Outside for Employees to Gather Under

We encourage virtual social events and we rented two open-air tents, which were placed directly outside of our office for our people to gather under to socialize or to work. We sent gift cards to employees this spring in honor of Employee Appreciation Day, and we gave every employee $75 dollars to spend on technology to make life easier while operating offices and classrooms in their homes.

– Vito A. Gagliardi Jr., Managing Principal, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, PC

Reward Employees with Gift Cards and Spot Bonuses

We conduct virtual events such as work-from-home photo contests, happy hours, scavenger hunts, meditation & yoga, trivia contests and more — generally during business hours. We have found these very engaging at all levels. We encourage the daily use of cameras on our Jabber calls and team Webex meetings. Further, we continue to reward above-and-beyond staff efforts with gift cards and spot bonuses.

– Diane Wasser, Partner-in-Charge of the NJ Region and Partner-in-Charge of the Pension Services Group, EisnerAmper

Encourage Employees to Get Outside and Play

We are encouraging our people to use our wellness benefits to break up the steady diet of Zoom meetings and virtual experiences. Our wellness program can help fund things like golf or just about any healthy, outdoor activity. It’s a flexible program that is available to every Deloitte employee. There are also things we are doing to help build rapport and maintain our culture in a virtual environment, such as Zoom happy hours and birthday celebrations.

– Paul Krieger, Managing Partner for New Jersey, Deloitte

Provide Virtual Entertainment for Your Team and their Families

We conduct ‘virtual water cooler’ and ‘hallway conversations' on Zoom, and we are introducing HMHWeek filled with virtual comedy, concerts and even a cooking show from my kitchen! Our 35,000-plus health care heroes can safely participate from their homes, with loved ones, and feel the love and appreciation they deserve.

– Robert C. Garrett, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health

Send Cards for Milestones, Anniversaries and Great Work

At Bank of America, we recognize the importance of supporting our employees and boosting team morale, especially as many teammates continue working remotely. We encourage leaders and employees to send recognition cards for milestones, anniversaries or great work that should not go unnoticed. Many employees are parents, caregivers or students, so providing them with the resources they need to establish and maintain a healthy work-life balance is also critical during this time.

– Alberto Garofalo, New Jersey Market President, Bank of America

Create a Newsletter to Highlight Family Milestones and Outstanding Work Accomplishments

We frequently communicate with employees about how important their role is in ensuring safe water for hand washing and good hygiene during the public health emergency. For those in essential positions, our concerns were focused on keeping employees and customers safe. We provided masks, sanitizer, PPE and specific return-to-work guidelines. We suspended in-home service appointments to reduce employee exposure. Our human resources department was available 24/7 to address employee questions and concerns over COVID. We send periodic video update messages from our President and CEO Dennis Doll thanking employees and encouraging their commitment to our mission and values. We also distribute our “Keeping us Connected” newsletter to highlight family milestones, outstanding work accomplishments and inspirational quotes.

– Bernadette M. Sohler, Vice President – Corporate Affairs, Middlesex Water Company