Companies help employees transition to working from home
 

[April 03, 2020]   A State Farm Public Affairs Specialist, Daniel Losk, has many local connections. Losk said “We’re all having to make some adjustments in this new work-from-home environment. First and foremost, State Farm is committed to the health and safety of our employees and the communities where we live and work. We are balancing those health concerns with our obligation to serve our customers.”

To keep those working at home more engaged and connected, State Farm is currently doing a Spirit Week. Losk said, “The intent behind Spirit Week is to provide all State Farm employees and agents an opportunity to virtually ‘check in’ with one another. Participation is 100% voluntary.”

The company “is committed to improving the work environment and engaging associates so they can be their personal best.” Losk said, “One way to do that is to bring some fun and energy into the work day.” For example. Wednesday, April 1 was Virtual Food Day. The challenge is [to] make a creative snack/meal with what you have in your cabinets/cupboards right now and post with the #OurStateFarm and (star) rating.”

One State Farmer who has been participating in Spirit Week is Lincoln resident Tammy Hassebrock, a Senior Line Producer of Creative Services for State Farm. Hassebrock said that working from home as the new norm was challenging at first.

Hassebrock said once she was able to retrieve all the necessary equipment and her ergonomic chair from work, it made set-up a lot easier.

Now that she works remotely, Hassebrock said, “I’ve moved from a paper planner to a digital one. All my meetings are online through Skype for Business.”

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To stay engaged with her team, Hassebrock has been using both group texts and internal social networking tools.

With working downstairs instead of having the 35-minute commute, Hassebrock does not have to get up so early either.

During Spirit Week, Hassebrock said they have been posting pictures of their new desk, new “coworkers” [often children and pets], what foods we’re eating, crazy hair day and pajama day. Hassebrock enjoys seeing “how everyone is working through this while still serving our customers.”

Hassebrock’s son is also at home right now. She said, “Luckily, my son is 11 and self-sufficient and respectful when I’m on a call for work. He has kept busy with packets from his teacher, FaceTiming with his friends, Zoom meetings with his teachers and classmates, readings and video games.”

One of Hassebrock’s biggest concerns is how the animals will adjust once they are not home all day every day.

Otherwise, Hassebrock has been adapting well to this new norm.

[Angela Reiners]