Prior to the pandemic, it was already clear that one of the key leadership qualities that sets great bosses apart is empathy — the ability to understand and care about others’ emotions. Empathy has become even more important amid the coronavirus crisis, with managers needing to focus more on their employees’ physical and mental well-being and pay a great deal of attention to their personal circumstances to help mitigate stress and nurture resilience.
If You’re Tracking Employee Behavior, Be Transparent About It
Maintaining a corporate surveillance program that operates only in the shadows might nab the occasional miscreant, but it does little to promote positive conduct or to deter inappropriate use of corporate assets when employees are working from home. A more balanced approach should include clear communications with employees explaining the reasons for, and existence of, corporate monitoring programs. Being transparent about how you’re monitoring employees should be consistent with a transparent culture and a relationship of trust. Helpfully, this also aligns with the underlying legal framework in the U.S., which is premised on concepts of legitimate interest and notice, and is strengthened further when employees provide their consent to be monitored.