United minds' (re)boot camp eases transition to the future of work 

Published

United Minds, a Weber Shandwick consultancy, today announced the launch of (Re)Boot Camp, a customised re-onboarding experience that prepares leaders, managers and employees for new ways of working. (Re)Boot Camp features virtual events, workplace walkthroughs and customised training modules on a core set of topics, including:

  • Familiarising employees with changes in strategic direction necessitated by COVID-19
  • Introducing new operational protocols, like health screening and sanitation procedures, for those who are returning to the workplace
  • Re-skilling managers to handle new responsibilities, such as fostering mental and emotional well-being for employees and building inclusive teams
  • Helping hybrid (on-site and remote) teams learn how to work together effectively
  • Modelling new employee behaviours to build personal resilience or learn new ways of serving customers or clients

Virtual tours provide employees with a see-for-yourself look at the new socially-distanced office environment and safety protocols in action, helping to assuage employee concerns before they return to work. Additional content includes “day in the life” video captures of employees who are first to return. During the first week back, on-site concierge teams can help reduce anxiety and improve the re-entry experience by directing traffic, answering questions and ensuring the seamless adoption of new protocols and processes. Throughout (Re)Boot Camp, participants have on-demand access to experts in organisational change, public health, workforce inclusion and more.

 

“Leaders across the globe are facing what is arguably the biggest change management exercise in history, and those who navigate it successfully alongside their teams will emerge stronger,” said Kate Bullinger, president, United Minds. “Now is the time for leaders to carefully consider what the future of work looks like for their organisation from the perspective of their employees first. Businesses are facing high expectations to lead through this crisis, channel their values and rebuild better.”

 

Employee anxiety is running high, according to recent survey data from Weber Shandwick, United Minds and KRC Research. Nearly half of U.S. employees are concerned about the future of their companies and their jobs, and nearly half of those temporarily working from home are afraid their employer will bring them back to the workplace before it is safe. By proactively including leaders and employees in discussion and preparation, (Re)Boot Camp can help organisations acclimate teams to the new spaces, protocols and behaviours required for work going forward.

 

For organisations that are making changes to business strategy as a result of COVID-19, (Re)Boot Camp also helps businesses introduce new plans so that employees understand and invest in the path forward. As businesses continue preparing for the operational and logistical challenges of re-opening, or settle into longer-term work-from-home arrangements, ensuring both safety and emotional well-being will be crucial. According to the research, 80 per cent of employees believe their employers need to make changes before they feel comfortable returning to work.

 

“Organisations and their people have experienced a dramatic disruption on many levels and risen to the occasion,” said Sarah Clayton, executive vice president, United Minds. “By bringing together all of the ‘day one’ work – across facilities, operations, HR, communications and strategy – into one single, seamless programme, (Re)Boot Camp helps employees more easily absorb all of the upcoming change and make the critical pivot from the past to the future. This may be the most important onboarding of their careers.”

 

More and more consumers are paying attention to the employer-employee relationship, suggesting that internal actions also drive reputation. According to the research, a majority of consumers (78 per cent) say they prefer to do business with companies that treat employees well during the pandemic and put safety first, which highlights the external stakes to a successful re-entry.

 

(Re)Boot Camp is part of the Workforce Re-entry specialty United Minds launched in partnership with Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate to help businesses manage the many dimensions of preparing employees for the future of work.