How are you supported if you're now working remotely?

[hairycabbage]

Our entire team are now working remotely and I'm looking for some top tips on making them feel supported and valued during this period of uncertainty and anxiety.
So far we have a daily video conference check in call with no agenda, just chatting and socialising virtually, and a daily one to one conversation with everyone.
Workloads are also decreasing (but jobs are secure). Does anyone have any tried and tested methods for team building activities online? I'm thinking online quizzes, competitive games etc. They can access lots of CPD resources but my main aim just now is to make them all still feel like part of a team with support networks around them.
Any tips would be much appreciated- I just want the team to be happy and secure in work if not in the wider world!

[Beachcomber]

We have a whatsapp group that we all post stuff on, mostly tech issues, questions, the odd joke.

Other than that we get nothing really. Been in lockdown for 2 weeks (France) and had 1 staff meeting and 1 brief phone call from my line manager.
My job is possible to do from home but it's very challenging. I'm feeling demotivated and very negative towards the company and my boss. We are obviously just all expected to bust a gut in order to keep things going with no real support.

So it's great that you want to keep the team spirit going. Games and stuff sound nice but what would help me the most would be sincere thanks from my boss for everything I'm doing to keep his company afloat and recognition that my job is very difficult to do right now.

[slug]

@Plural. Small HEI...Inner City London?

[MedSchoolRat]

My boss is encouraging but his usual absent self.
We get pointless emails from senior management.

Recently I had a job which was very hands-on management, true 'team' feel.
I kind of think the silly stuff would just irritate me.
Black humour is the only thing I enjoy right now.

[daisypond]

Absolutely none of that. We have been set up to work from home and we continue as normal. Our work activity is tracked and logged. We have to account for every minute. We in no way could play games etc. There are tech issues, which the tech team sort, so in that sense there is more down time. But those should get ironed out.

[evilharpy]

Oh and a whatsapp group that started as a business continuity thing but is now almost solely used to circulate COVID-19 memes.

[evilharpy]

We have a daily optional Teams call at lunchtime and take it turns to do a little quiz or some sort of entertainment. It’s really nice. Even though it’s optional everyone joins in.

Also if we need a coffee break we might see who’s online and call them on Teams to have a virtual coffee and natter.

We also get regular comms from line managers and higher up the food chain reminding us that nobody is expected to give 100% of usual output, take breaks whenever, go and do the school stuff or spend time with children, whatever we need to keep ourselves sane. This is really being emphasised and I know for some of us it’s a huge relief.

[DonnaDarko]

I worked from home already and we:

Have a weekly company meeting
Have daily team meetings
Use Slack religiously for anything that comes up during the day, and also to send each other playlists, GIFs, anything. As long as people are still being productive, we don't mind what's being shared or discussed. Just keep it clean! Lol
Monthly 1-2-1s

[Plural]

@slug I think you work at the same place as me...

[KatherineJaneway]

@BeardedMum

I haven't personally set up a quiz, apologies if I gave that impression. We as a team have a daily catch up but I know colleagues who had a virtual pub quiz. Some of my team and I had a virtual lunch this week and on the first Friday after lockdown we had virtual drinks in the afternoon.

[5littlespeckledDogs]

I think the best thing my boss has done is to make it very clear we can take breaks and adapt working to how it suits us, no need to sit in front of your laptop 9-5

What about a low stakes drawing competition? Make it the 'best' drawing of something with your left hand or with your eyes closed to make it clear that is not actually about artistic ability for those who hate drawing!

The house/car/boat/outfit I'd buy if money was no object? For the house you could share Rightmove/Zoopla listings (obviously not if someone is in the middle of a stressful cancelled move!)

I love the idea of taking it in turns to choose a song.

I agree that it's important to make it clear it's voluntary so anyone who hates that kind of thing can opt out. It's not usually my thing but I've actually appreciated it more recently, if only because it gives me something else to think about and talk about than food availability or the news.

[slug]

We have a meeting every morning. It's one person's job to play DJ ie post a YouTube link to watch before the meeting starts. I have a fairly young team but they are shockingly ignorant of music. Gradually I'm educating them So far the biggest hits have been The National and Sigor Rod. I'm saving the weirder industrial stuff for more desperate times

The senior management team have Friday lunch on google hangouts. We just eat and gossip, no work talk at all. Yesterday's conversation centred around exercise options and the joys of not wearing a bra for a week.

We just started using teams a few months before the lockdown so we're still finding our way. My favourite example so far is "Pets at [institution name]" which is almost entirely populated with pictures and videos of our pets

[BeardedMum]

@KatherineJaneway, do you have any links to quizzes you do with your team. I would like to do similar but not sure how to get started.

[BeardedMum]

@kath

[KatherineJaneway]

I think everyone reacts differently in situations like this so I'd set up some quizzes and games etc but be clear that attendance is voluntary.

[FairyBunnyAgain]

I manage a remote team within a larger team.
There is an online chat for the larger team and I or one of the other managers post something to start the conversation every morning.

Then for my team there is a work related video chat once a day. Then everyone just gets on with what they have to do, there is no longer set hours so the people with young D.C. can manage their workload as best they can.

We don’t have long chats or play games when in the office so I am not starting that now.

[strawberrylaces29]

Some of the posts on here are brilliant ! Wish I worked for a company like that x

[Cherryonthetop2019]

We’ve had nothing. No teams meetings, no calls not even a fucking email asking how we are feeling and to let us know we can call for a chat. There is a team group chat but I dont feel it offers support, it’s more for us to say we are online. I’m really new in my role and I’m feeling really down about it. I’ve been at home 2 weeks and feel forgotten to be honest.

[february08baby]

Why not advise them to do some free online learning or something, to keep their skills fresh and learn new things they could apply in the workplace?

[hairycabbage]

I definitely wasn't thinking of anything that extreme, more online scrabble or similar for people to dip in and out of when they feel like it! Nothing compulsory, cheesy or time consuming.

[elQuintoConyo]

Absofuckinglutely Bernadette hence the breathing into a paper bag in my previous post! I'd hate this. But it's not my company, and someone asked me what an online gymkhana would entail.

[Eeyoresstickhouse]

Can't you just leave them be? Yes I can be an antisocial bugger but do you really need a daily video conference call? Once a week is surely enough.

Our company have mooted about virtual coffee mornings etc...... they are my idea of hell.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

elQuintoConyo

Fuck that for a laugh.

[elQuintoConyo]

Sir
Find a picture of a blue frog
What's the longest anyone can breathe under water?
How much is a 1hour helicopter over new York?
What's the capital city of X country?
What's the Basque word for 'robin'?
What city was Monopoly originally based on?

Etc.

Odd questions to get people to skip about. Otherwise in your house:
Find a blue book.
Find a red dock.
Count your loo rolls.
Climb your stairs like a dog.

• Photo/video proof for everything!
  
  Xanxangorri = robin

[SirChable]

What’s an online gymkhana, @elQuintoConyo ?

[hairycabbage]

To be honest, I'd be quite happy tucked away by myself and only communicating when needed. However, they are a sociable bunch and jump at any opportunity to chat online, share funny videos etc and if I can keep that momentum going with some games/ quizzes/ friendly competition etc then I know they would appreciate it.