Furloughed employees are “desperately missing” being at work and want to help colleagues steer their businesses through the Covid-19 crisis, according to a leading high street retailer.
Speaking on a Travel Weekly Webcast, Nick Marks, joint managing director of Baldwins Travel, said: “Some of our staff are desperately missing work and we really miss them. We are doing video messages from our closed user group Facebook page to tell them how we’re doing and being really open and honest with them – and that we just can’t wait to have them back. We are trying to keep them in the loop as much as everyone else.”
He said furloughed staff had sent boxes of cakes and treats to their colleagues who are still working.
“They were basically saying ‘thanks for working so hard for us’. I just love that this is happening internally within our teams. Even though they have been furloughed, they are all without doubt just wanting to get back asap and just trying to do what they can to help.
“They ask all the time what they can do to help. Obviously we can’t accept it, but it’s so heartening to hear.”
Advantage Travel Partnership leisure director Kelly Cookes said: “Your furloughed employees are playing as important a role as the people that are still in the business. That’s a really important message that we have put out. And we’re doing things to keep them engaged. So we do social activities. We have Friday night zoom drinks and quizzes, and they can of course join all of that.”
She added: “We’ve also done quite a big focus on wellness both internally for our team and also for the members and we’ve created some resources around learning, so there are loads of free learning opportunities available both within travel and outside.
“You know you can learn to be a graphic designer and all sorts of stuff online now? So I think it’s just about keeping them engaged and keeping talking to them. And really reminding them that they’re still part of the team.”
