Employees of Acuity Insurance were once able to blow off steam with the help of a 65-foot Ferris wheel, drinks and food family-friendly events twice a month thanks to CEO Ben Salzmann.
These types of social events have long been used to keep workers engaged and boost morale, but it appears that those days are over for now.
Now, companies are looking for new ways to keep workers connected and productive throughout these uncertain times.
“Some of [the best companies for work-life balance] have really great paid-time off policies, flexible working schedules, good parental leave, sabbaticals and gym credits,” said Amanda Stansell, senior research analyst at workplace website Glassdoor.
According to data from Glassdoor, Acuity is ranked among the top companies for healthy work-life balance, along with SurveyMonkey, Slack Technologies and others.
While there are varying approaches to maintain employee engagement during these times, one of the most consistent strategies is to ensure that workers take time off. Without being able to take a true vacation or having fear of losing their jobs, employees have been working more than ever before. This could quickly lead to burnout and other mental health issues.
Research from MIT Sloan Management Review indicates that offering flexibility, especially for working parents, has also been one of the more popular solutions.
Companies have started reevaluating their priorities to ensure that employees’ mental health is cared for. For instance, SurveyMoney said it has added internal programming that combats isolation, burnout and anxiety.
