# The pandemic means that it’s time to double down on our commitment wellbeing and employee engagement Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2020-10-15 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Why Cutting Employee Engagement Budgets is a Mistake Meta Description: Learn why cutting employee engagement and company culture budgets during tough times can be detrimental long term, and how to implement cost-effective URL: https://financedigest.com/the-pandemic-means-that-its-time-to-double-down-on-our-commitment-wellbeing-and-employee-engagementhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/untitled-design-2020-10-15t104739-1736838806077-compressed.jpg) _By **Julie Cameron,** Managing Director of [DRIVE Engagement](http://www.drive-engagement.co.uk/)_ Times are tough, business uncertainty is at an all-time high and budgets are tight. But now is not the time to cut employee engagement and company culture budgets. Certainly, as a result of the pandemic many organisations may be inclined to cut certain functions within their business to reduce their overall costs. Rather unfortunately however, some of the first [functions that are typically reduced in organisations consist of marketing](https://www.financedigest.com/multi-functional-point-of-care-testing-market-growth-analysis-opportunities-trends-developments-and-forecast-to-2028.html "Multi-Functional Point Of Care Testing Market Growth Analysis, Opportunities, Trends, Developments, And Forecast to 2028"), training, employee engagement and the company culture budget. However I truly believe that cutting these functions could just about be one of the worst things a company can do right now. A knee jerk reaction to cut these functions may well free up some cash in the [short term](https://www.financedigest.com/ifrs-15-moving-away-from-short-term-fixes-is-vital-for-effective-compliance.html "IFRS 15: Moving away from short-term fixes is vital for effective compliance"), but it is likely to do far more harm long term to a business. In fact, the way a [firm manages](https://www.financedigest.com/asset-management-firms-are-using-ai-to-deliver-higher-returns-for-investors.html "Asset management firms are using AI to deliver higher returns for investors") their cost decisions now will determine how well they sustain performance during this crisis and indeed, emerge out of it. During these difficult times, it is essential to focus on longer term rational strategies which will [sustain a business](https://www.financedigest.com/nfts-live-streams-sustainable-businesses-and-social-shopping-what-to-prioritise-in-commerce-this-year.html "NFTs, live streams, sustainable businesses and social shopping – what to prioritise in commerce this year"). Not only does this make good business sense, but this will ensure the longevity of a [business’s most important](https://www.financedigest.com/software-to-display-your-businesss-important-information.html "Software to Display Your Business’s Important Information") asset; it’s people. Now is the time for businesses to double-down on their commitment to health, wellbeing and employee engagement. Those [businesses who focus on techniques to give all employees a real voice and allow them to find solutions to the everyday problems they face](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-overcome-the-challenges-faced-by-women-in-business-4.html "How to overcome the challenges faced by women in business") themselves, and as a team, will certainly win out during these unprecedented times. But how can this be done, especially without [breaking the bank](https://www.financedigest.com/breaking-out-of-the-banking-bonus-cycle.html "Breaking out of the banking bonus cycle")? It all starts with collaborative [problem solving](https://www.financedigest.com/solve-a-problem-you-know-and-live.html "Solve a Problem You Know and Live"). We believe that finding improvement themes, efficiencies and [cost savings](https://www.financedigest.com/saving-on-water-bills-more-than-just-a-drop-in-the-ocean-for-businesses-facing-the-cost-of-living-crisis.html "Saving on water bills: More than just a drop in the ocean for businesses facing the cost-of-living crisis") is the responsibility of everyone within a workplace. By facilitating structured opportunities, a firm can provide all employees with greater autotomy to drive the company forward by collaboratively problem solving, rather than [feeling like the company](https://www.financedigest.com/shipping-companies-feel-the-heat-as-investors-shun-coal.html "Shipping companies feel the heat as investors shun coal") is pushing them along or worse, that they are unable to make a valid contribution. Not only will this engage each and every [team member](https://www.financedigest.com/playground-xyz-appoints-new-team-members-as-it-solidifies-its-position-as-a-leader-in-the-attention-space.html "Playground xyz appoints new team members as it solidifies its position as a leader in the attention space"), it will give them greater confidence in their abilities and bring them all closer together. It will also improve the [bottom line](https://www.financedigest.com/how-high-performers-can-increase-a-bottom-line.html "How high performers can increase a bottom line") too as they find solutions to the everyday problems within the company that are so often missed by the leadership teams. And it’s this kind of bottom up engagement that really is win-win too, because it continues to pay [back](https://www.financedigest.com/why-well-look-back-on-2022-as-a-defining-year-for-fintech.html "Why we’ll look back on 2022 as a defining year for fintech") year after year, therefore making it entirely free to implement. Quite clearly employee motivation and staff morale has been [impacted by the pandemic](https://www.financedigest.com/wework-rival-iwg-quarterly-revenue-dips-on-prolonged-pandemic-impact.html "WeWork rival IWG quarterly revenue dips on prolonged pandemic impact"). With everyone [working from home](https://www.financedigest.com/working-from-home-heres-how-you-can-save-money-on-your-auto-insurance.html "Working From Home? Here’s How You Can Save Money on Your Auto Insurance"), social distancing or indeed, on furlough, many employees have started to feel cut off from their peers and line managers. This is especially true if these employees are used to [working closely in an office or manufacturing environment](https://www.financedigest.com/the-benefits-of-creating-a-great-working-environment.html "The Benefits of Creating a Great Working Environment"). This alongside the increased anxiety around health, family and [finances is all causing a big](https://www.financedigest.com/trade-finance-the-small-brush-to-paint-the-big-picture.html "Trade Finance: The Small Brush to Paint the Big Picture") dent in overall employee happiness and their motivation. Regular [communication is essential](https://www.financedigest.com/business-texting-an-essential-communication-tool.html "Business Texting: An Essential Communication Tool") to avoid this impacting the company culture. This will give employees a sense of unity, allow more clarity around the wider [business and reassure them that they are valued](https://www.financedigest.com/three-ways-data-unlocks-business-value-for-financial-organisations.html "Three Ways Data Unlocks Business Value for Financial Organisations "). Certainly, maintaining morale and unity during this [time will be paramount to foster a more resilient](https://www.financedigest.com/building-economic-resilience-in-tough-times.html "Building Economic Resilience in Tough Times") team and maintain an engaging culture long term. As we continue through this [‘new normal’](https://www.financedigest.com/how-banks-can-triumph-in-the-new-normal.html "HOW BANKS CAN TRIUMPH IN THE ‘NEW NORMAL’"), how a business resets (and indeed communicates this) is a good opportunity to incorporate plans to reaffirm company values and work culture too amongst team members. What is required, now more than ever, is meaningful intrinsic motivation of all team members, no matter what their role. Likewise providing an opportunity for employees to get involved in a team strengthening activity designed to reinforce brand values and give fresh focus, will help reconnect employees. And let’s face it, it’s also likely to provide some light relief from the inevitably more regimented [way we’re all going to have to go about our daily roles and responsibilities for the foreseeable future](https://www.financedigest.com/contactless-payments-the-way-of-the-future-or-security-scare.html "Contactless Payments – The Way of the Future or Security Scare?"). There really is no better time for leadership teams to champion and instigate a stronger engagement mindset initiative and truly drive the [work culture](https://www.financedigest.com/smart-working-versus-presenteeism-enabling-productivity-in-a-post-pandemic-hybrid-work-culture.html "Smart Working Versus Presenteeism: Enabling Productivity in a Post-Pandemic Hybrid Work Culture") forward. Now is the time to re-affirm [business culture and drive](https://www.financedigest.com/the-collective-power-of-partnerships-integrating-payment-solutions-to-drive-business-success.html "The collective power of partnerships: integrating payment solutions to drive business success") employee engagement longer term. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---