Among the many changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is a drastic shift in the way companies work, forcing businesses to accelerate digital transformation to enable and connect a workforce that is largely working from their homes.
For the first time in years, professionals who have traditionally spent long hours at the workplace have had to create for themselves a comfortable place to work at home, turning dining tables, old study desks, and even beds into their “home office.”
This is the case for employees of TELUS International Philippines (TIP), leading provider of customer experience (CX) and digital IT solutions. Even as some businesses have resumed more normal operations, TIP has adopted a blended set-up, where only a small percentage of the workforce reports to the office at any given time to ensure physical distancing is maintained and health and safety measures are strictly followed. The majority of the workforce works from home.
“Since our team members have worked from home for months, those who are starting to come to the office may be surprised to find protocols that they aren’t used to,” said Andrew Araneta, Site Senior Director for TELUS International Philippines’ McKinley Exchange offices in Makati.
Aside from strict physical distancing at TIP sites, temperature checks and regular deep cleaning of facilities are just some of the protocols set in place to ensure the health and safety of team members.
“Whatever the work set-up is, we want to bring peace of mind to our team members, whether they work remotely or onsite. We encourage them to establish routines that help transition between both set-ups,” he adds.
Here, team members share how they found a “sweet spot’ where they can be most productive as they adjust to TIP’s hybrid workplace.
Sweet spot TIP 1: Set up greener spaces
Plant-loving online communities are sprouting up all over social media. While it’s a good side hustle for many, jumping on the bandwagon to start your plant collection can greatly improve the ambience of your workspace and also contribute to your good mood. It’s better if you can set it up in a small corner where air circulates freely so, even when you work the night shift, it feels cooler and calmer.
Ria Ferariz, TIP team member, says: “It’s true that tending to plants can be relaxing. There is a good flow of energy and it easily brightens up my work area.”
Sweet spot TIP 2: Know and manage your internet connection
Not all homes are blessed with a strong internet connection. Know where the internet is spotty and where the connection is strongest, especially for activities like video calls that need a reliable connection.
Since the start of the community quarantine, TIP provided internet connection subsidy to maintain productivity for those who are working remotely.
“I created a workstation in the corner of my room where our internet connection is strongest,” explains Paulo De Torres from TIP’s HR team. “I also make it a point to tell my housemates whenever I have important video meetings, so they don’t eat up the bandwidth by watching Netflix at the same time.”
Sweet spot TIP 3: Find fun ways to manage home and work life
Much like at work, everyone at home is a stakeholder with their own respective needs and habits. This is especially true for employees whose children may compete for their attention in the middle of a looming work deadline.
“What I do is explain to my kids why it is important for Mommy to focus on work during certain hours without making them feel that they are not part of it. Sometimes, I ask them to be my officemates, provided they stay on their side of the office as they attend their online classes,” said TIP team member Ana Carlos. “There are days when I have to make compromises such as a promise to watch their favorite movie with them during my break or help them with homework if they give me the time I need to finish my tasks. It helps that my team also understands my responsibilities as a mother.”
To cater to different interests of team members, various special interest groups at TIP take advantage of online quiz sites like Kahoot! or applications like Houseparty to mount virtual get-togethers and enjoy each other’s company.
Sweet spot TIP 4: Take periodic breaks and vacations
Whether at home or at the office, it’s important to remember to take regular breaks from tasks. According to a study[1] conducted by health and hygiene company Essity, those who take time off and savor their meal breaks are able to recharge and power through their tasks better than others. Physical movement between screen time is encouraged, such as stretching to reverse the effects of sitting for long periods and to help improve blood circulation.
Taking vacations, or staycations in this case, is also very essential and something that TIP encourages their team members to do. “It is important for us to remember that vacations and time to detach from work are vital in enabling us to sustain performance, productivity, creativity and prevent burnout,” said Araneta. “Any athlete would tell you that recovery is an essential part of peak performance, and the same principle rings true for everyone. That’s why we encourage our team members to talk to their leaders and plan their vacations so they take time off when it makes sense and matters most for their personal wellbeing.”
