When the pandemic hit the world in 2020, it led to organizations all around the globe quickly shifting to the remote work culture. As much as working professionals have enjoyed working from home in the pandemic, it has eventually led to the feeling of isolation becoming predominant.

With businesses trying to stay afloat during these tough times, employees are forced to work tirelessly even beyond the normal working hours, leading to a poor work-life balance. The result? Employees feeling more fatigued than ever even though the travel fatigue has been completely eliminated from their lives.

Considering remote work is the new normal, business owners need to help their employees deal with this unprecedented situation in order to ensure their well being for the coming future. Here are five ways to re-energize your employees and support them in overcoming the pandemic fatigue:

1)    Set realistic expectations:

Let's face it - the times are tough and businesses need to do everything in their power to keep productivity high. But discharging this onto the employees and creating undue pressure is counter-productive. This will only lead to a decline in their performance.

Instead, set realistic expectations that employees can fulfill. To increase business productivity and support employees in their work, opt for tech tools that will automate manual tasks. This will relieve employees from performing tedious tasks and prevent business outputs from declining.

2)    Focus on employee needs:

In this phase, a lot of employees feel stagnant. They feel their growth has been halted due to pandemic. Many have lost the opportunity of a promotion too due to the dip in the business revenue.

By investing in employee learning, you can help contribute to their growth. Thankfully, most employee training software, including the very popular Paycom, allow you to conveniently deliver training to employees remotely in order to nurture them and enhance their skill set.

3)    Put in efforts to connect:

While staying in different geographical locations can prevent managers from understanding what's actually going on, it is crucial to work towards building connections. By practicing active listening, managers need to take the first step towards supporting employees. 

Managers can spot signs of depression, anxiety, or just weariness only by constantly staying in touch with employees and genuinely listening to them. This will also help employees know that they can approach someone in times of need. 

4)    Adapt to the situation:

The pandemic has brought to light the need for employers to seriously take into account employee mental health. This requires them to adapt to the situation and make some changes to the way the company functions in order to foster a sense of well being. 

These changes include giving employees the freedom and flexibility to plan their day. With this autonomy, employees can feel empowered and focus on their well being in times of fatigue instead of pushing themselves to work because managers demand it.

5)    Infuse optimism by celebrating:

In these tough times, employees need a sense of hope and the feeling of achievement to stay engaged. Continuing the usual business processes without taking a moment to celebrate can lead to employees feeling disconnected from the company culture.

Managers must acknowledge employee efforts and encourage them by public recognition. By celebrating small and big wins, it is possible to infuse optimism in the work environment. To compensate for the lack of social interaction, bringing everyone together just for birthday celebrations also can do wonders.

Conclusion:

Over time, the work from home culture has changed from fun to lethargic. A lot of employees are feeling disengaged, but with the right measures it's possible to thrive, and not just survive.