In recent years, companies like Zoom, Google, and Slack, have shaped workplaces across the globe, enabling companies to virtually collaborate like never before. Calendar meetings are scheduled online, documents are shared team-wide, virtual meetings and seminars are held over Zoom, and so on. With these constant advances in the digital space, it was only a matter of time before workplaces went remote—however, nobody could have predicted the remote boom we’d experience when Covid-19 hit.

Whether businesses were prepared or not, everyone had to adapt overnight to a new work-from-home normal. This left HR and company heads vulnerable to the unpredictable changes that were about to take place at the root of their company culture.

While mixed emotions swirled through companies, leaders were forced to step up to the plate to reassure and reunite employees that were suddenly divided. Despite all the uncertainty, over the past ten months, companies big and small have proven themselves to be highly adaptable. The way company cultures are shaped and the way communities are maintained have forever been changed. Here’s what we’ve learned so far about healthy company cultures while working from home:

1. Continue in-office traditions and formalities

One way to smooth over the transition from working in the office to working at home is to continue the practices of in-office formalities. For instance, when onboarding a new employee, carve out time on your team’s schedule to get to know the new member. Whether it’s during office hours, or a post-work happy hour, making time to integrate your new hire as part of the team should be a priority. Doing so will go a long way in making the new member feel like their addition is valued, while reminding the rest of the group that they are a part of a team, despite working solo at home.

Additionally, scheduling quarterly employee check-ins has become increasingly important. These one-on-one meetings don’t need to be all about work. Take time to get on a personal level with your employees and check in with their well-being. Working together to find ways to improve their overall productivity will benefit the company long-term, while prioritizing their individual needs. For many people, working from home can exacerbate underlying feelings such as isolation. However, taking time to speak candidly with your workers serves as a reminder that they’re not merely cogs in a machine, but valued people.

2. Set expectations for instant messaging

While working from home, it’s no surprise that the use of instant messaging tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack has grown exponentially. IM’ing is without a doubt the most efficient way to converse with colleagues and collaborate on projects, but it can be distracting when chats are used as hubs for GIFs, jokes, and discussion on what to have for lunch. As this is often the case, it’s easy for the line between professional and casual to get blurred. To reap the social benefits of these tools while still maintaining a level of professionalism and productivity, it’s best to set some ground rules for your company—without killing the buzz. Be clear in explaining when IM or email is preferred and consider creating a specific channel for company “water cooler talk.” It might also be beneficial to occasionally monitor chats to ensure no workplace bullying or harassment is taking place. After all, it is still HR and management’s duty to ensure work is a safe space for all employees, even outside of the company office.

3. Prioritize work-life balance

Many people are saying they’re more inclined to work longer hours or hold more flexible schedules since working from home. As great as this sounds for companies, it now places an emphasis on helping employees maintain work-life balance. The reality is that a lot of people working from home these days have kids that are home too! If you have children, you know that working from home with kids is extra challenging! In addition, compartmentalizing every-day life stressors has become increasingly difficult. However, despite the difficulty, it’s important that we all continue to prioritize ourselves and our mental health. Anyone in this position should feel empowered to be honest with their boss and their family about what they need to not just survive but thrive day to day. Two possible approaches are to allow your kids to make more choices for themselves or to create a schedule for breaks together. No matter what works best for you, be sure to communicate with your coworkers so you’re all on the same page. If you’re someone struggling with balancing your work life with your kids’ lives, check out this article from TheMuse for more helpful tips.

In Summary

As expected, the transition from working in-office to working remotely has come with some growing pains, but it goes to show if we all come together to pivot and refocus our energy, amazing things can happen! To recap the key takeaways on nurturing healthy company cultures while remote: continue to meet virtually as a team and one-on-one so everyone feels they are important; create guidelines for IM’ing but remember it’s okay to have fun; and be understanding of people’s individual needs while working from home. Cultivating a company culture doesn’t happen overnight, but it is well worth the time and effort as it’s proven to work wonders for long-term company success. Be mindful that culture isn’t necessarily a tangible element of a work environment, so it can easily be looked past and forgotten. Don’t fret - just remember that forward progress is not a straight line and often comes with setbacks. If you ever find your employees in need of a morale boost, go back to the basics with these fundamental practices.