Reinforcing company culture through employee employee appreciation

HOW CORNERSTONE’S LEADERSHIP KEPT THEIR REMOTE TEAM CONNECTED

One of the greatest challenges that organizations have faced over the last few months is finding ways to increase employee engagement while working remotely. Most businesses incorporated virtual platforms in lieu of in-person meetings or traditional conference calls, so team members could still see each other on camera while sharing their ideas; but sometimes that’s not enough. Regardless of your organization’s culture, if your employees feel disconnected, productivity suffers.

Why Employee Engagement Matters

When the stay at home order in Illinois was implemented, Cornerstone Benefits Management’s President, Andrew Hailey, quickly recognized that the care of his staff and staying engaged at a distance would be a top priority for the foreseeable future. One of the many steps Hailey took to ensure his employees felt connected and engaged was to send each of them a #BetterTogether Box to their homes with contents that were tailored to ease the stress of such a drastic change to their work environment. Every “Recharge. Refresh. Refuel.” box contained a selection of healthy snacks, which included; Prevail Beef Jerky, Way Better Chips, Crêpes à Latte’s Hug in a Mug coffee, assorted Mighty Leaf Teas and a special message from the Leadership team thanking employees for their efforts and resilience in unprecedented times. What may seem like a small gesture to some, made a big impact on employee morale. Many of the employees responded to Hailey with notes of appreciation and found a renewed enthusiasm to keep taking care of clients and moving the company forward.

How Can Companies Continue to Foster Employee Connections?

While many organizations would have stopped at one round of #BetterTogether Boxes, Hailey wanted to reinforce Cornerstone’s supportive culture by sending his team another wave of boxes to welcome them back to the office at their new location. This time 40+ employees received a customized “Rise & Grind” Box which included fresh ground coffee, fruit snacks, Mighty Leaf Teas, Powerful Oatmeal, and a personalized note with the message: “We Are Stronger Together!” Also included was a 30-page book titled The Mission Begins created by the Leadership team, which showcases Cornerstone’s mission and culture.

Why is Employee Engagement Important?

Although our world has changed and will continue to evolve over the next few months, there’s one thing that will never change: the importance of employee engagement and appreciation. No amount of screen time can replace the value of face-to-face human interaction or the lasting connections that are made during spontaneous conversations at the office. However, reminding your employees that they are appreciated through shared experiences – even from a distance—can be very powerful.