Client newsletter | Keeping in touch | 30/03/2020
Dear all,
This week we gathered information to see how local companies are managing in the new world we now live in. We thought it would be great to hear your ideas and thoughts about how we can make the most of our new working practices. Almost all companies are now working from home, and where people are office based it will be with a minimal skeleton staff.
Keeping in touch
Keeping everyone connected, up to date and informed has proved to be the number one priority for all our contacts. Regular meetings are key with the use of Microsoft Teams and Zoom, now a daily part of our lives.
Another contact said they all attend the conference call with a funny hat or something to make your colleagues laugh. Many of you said that these connections are especially important for people who live on their own as they miss the daily office interaction.
Morning coffee breaks via Skype, threads on Chatter, and completing small challenges/quizzes for more informal conversation works well.
WhatsApp groups are great for smaller companies breaking up the day with fun comments and videos. Larger companies have set up department WhatsApp groups.
The facility to divert calls between people is also a great for keeping people connected. We are using an app to allow this to happen from our phone provider. It was quick and easy to set up with the main number remoting to our phones with the facility to transfer calls.
The mobile apps are bespoke to the Voice over IP phone system that you use. Other VoIP services also offer mobile apps such as BT and Vonage, and again if you have their phone system in your office, you can download their apps form the app stores, and get the password form your provider.
Tea making for colleagues is currently a thing of the past and water cooler moments a distant memory!
Staying healthy
If people are working in the office, there are very strict procedures in place to protect them with strict hygiene methods in place. One client keeps a register to know who is in and asks everyone to wash hands on entering and exiting the office. Split shifts are in place, so minimal people meet, and this enables the opportunity to clean between shifts.
Everyone seems to be exercising or walking or cycling. Joe Wicks has never been so popular and there are fantastic exercise videos out there, all free! Fresh air was mentioned many times as an essential for wellbeing. Many people are sharing fitness plans. Useful to know there is a Wellbeing channel on Slack charting exercise which is great. One of our clients has set up coordinated walks (going out at the same time but not in the same place) called Power Hour. One company have set up a plan where people call and check on elderly and vulnerable
Staying happy
One of our clients uses the House Party App scheduling a game they all play every day. I think Conference Call Bingo is a great idea and I’ve enclosed it here. Judging by the videos coming through our natural sense of humour is one of our greatest strengths. I have laughed so much at the funniest jokes and marvelled at the creativity of people. My favourite is the Corona Virus version of Bohemian Rhapsody, check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/gert.snyers/videos/10218376613741012/
Enjoy!
Wishing everyone a great weekend!