How to be a Better Employer in 2021
2020 was a tough year for businesses around the world. Only a handful of companies did well due to the pandemic. The rest are barely hanging on. Some businesses even had to close due to the increase in expenses, and lack of profits. If you’re among the lucky ones to have survived 2020, you should promise to be a better employer in 2021. You need your employees to do well. They’re the backbone of your company. These tips will help you improve as an employer.
Expand healthcare coverage
This pandemic placed many people at risk. The virus alone is already fatal. It was worsened by the lack of comprehensive health insurance. Some people would have survived if they had enough money to go to the hospital and seek medical attention. Some of them thought they will be okay, up until it was too late to do anything about the condition. If you want your employees to stay longer with you, make comprehensive health insurance a part of the benefits.
Be more flexible with work hours and conditions
The pandemic also forced us to work from home. It’s not the most ideal work setting, but we made it work. It shows that employers have to be more flexible moving forward. The strategies used to keep the business running during the pandemic should stay. There’s no point in going back to the past where everyone went to work even if it’s not necessary. It might also be time to consider a 4-day workweek. It’s not the number of hours, but the quality of work done.
Encourage people to take a sick leave if needed
Don’t be too strict when employees ask to go on a sick leave. Some of them worry that they work get paid if they decided to be absent. It’s also the reason why the virus spread quickly. Many employees continued to work in an office even if they already felt sick. When they ask to stay home and work from there, you should approve it.
Don’t overburden your employees
The virus isn’t the only reason why employees can get ill. Stress can also be a significant reason. Make sure you don’t burden your employees with work. Be realistic in setting deadlines. Reassign tasks if you feel like one employee already has a lot on the plate. Everyone deserves a break, and the lack of it could result to stress.
Learn how to say thank you
There are many reasons to be grateful for 2020 even if it seems like the worst year ever. You can give that gratitude back to your employees. Increase their wages. Offer more welfare benefits. Also, don’t forget to say thank you. It’s a simple gesture that can go a long way. They will appreciate your kindness. It also makes them feel motivated to work harder.
You need to change the way you lead. Be open to suggestions and try your best to improve.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://unsplash.com/photos/376KN_ISplE
2nd image from https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/what-to-expect-from-your-employers-health-plan-in-2021
