As more businesses and organisations work remotely, with teams and individuals scattered geographically, and in some cases, across the globe, there is the risk of workers feeling isolated, unengaged and demotivated. Depending on personality type, isolation and remote working suits some people more than others. But introducing non-optional virtual coffee breaks may help to bring back a vital sense of team and togetherness.
“I'm encouraging the team to have virtual coffee breaks, which means a video call with a colleague to have a catch-up. Preferably via Microsoft Teams but they can use WhatsApp, Facetime, Messenger or something else if they prefer. It’s good for mental health and to chat about something other than work,” says Shaun Wilders, Managing Director at Cultrix.
Cultrix recognise the value of connecting with colleagues in the only way that’s possible during COVID-19 and using technology to enable them to do that. Like many other organisations utilising video conferencing platforms to connect staff, they know that colleagues who feel engaged, involved and supported work better together, have more energy and enjoy a more well-rounded working atmosphere.
Some businesses have gone several stages further with virtual coffee breaks, making them non-optional and pairing people up with someone different each week, so that employees don’t just spend their time chatting to the same friends. Some have also created a ‘drop in’ room in Google Hangouts so employees can visit and chat to whoever happens to be in there.
In an attempt to make the virtual coffee breaks more fun, and less ‘work-like’, some employers have encouraged employees to discuss hobbies, play games, share recipes and even take turns in giving video tours of their home. A leader of each video call is assigned who then sets the topic for the following week’s call, which gives everyone time to think about what they want to say, with each person having a turn to talk and listen to everyone else.
Tactics used to get everyone involved are shown to have success in engaging those employees who wouldn’t normally speak during a group call. For instance, some employers ask for each video conference call to end with each person sharing an insight or taking the opportunity to apologise for something. For some businesses it’s about maintaining the organisational culture that maintains the right productivity levels and the associated wellbeing that goes along with that.
Each organisation is different and continues to find their own way with remote working and the employee engagement and wellbeing practices they choose to employ and develop. But, certainly for now, it looks like virtual coffee breaks are here to stay and will continue to be an area to watch as employers introduce new and different ways to implement and conduct them to engage with a remote workforce.
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