Why a culture of humanity is so important for companies – especially during a crisis

By Claudia Hartwich

The current situation challenges all of us - on a social, a personal, as well as on an economic level. But during this pandemic, we are not only affected, we are also involved. Our actions determine its course.

Of course, during these weeks and months we think first of all of the people who are facing the consequences of Covid-19 every day: Doctors, nurses, supermarket workers, and many more who keep public life going. But each and every one can help to mitigate the impact of the pandemic as best as possible.

Learning from each other and take care of each other

Unfortunately, there are no guidelines, manuals, or guidebooks for this. This crisis is something new for all of us. We cannot rely on our routines from the past, nor can we carry on as before. This is the reason, why I decided to write this post and to get more actively involved on LinkedIn: In the current situation it's more important than ever that we learn from each other and exchange ideas. That we show our human side, that we ourselves live what we expect from others: openness and the feeling that we are not alone in this extraordinary situation.

Today I would like to tell you how my colleagues at Microsoft Germany have supported each other over the past few weeks. We have found new formats which enable us to be there for each other, even when we are physically separated. I am sure that this sense of community and humanity is particularly evident in many companies right now. So please share your stories and moments with me!

How employees help each other and what companies can do

We already implemented the concept of trust-based working time at Microsoft several years ago. Working from home is not new to us. However, the current situation demands a lot from us as well. Our home is no longer just a place to live, but also a workplace, a playground, and a classroom. This is not only challenging, it is sometimes even overwhelming.

I was deeply touched by an initiative of our Employee Resource Group Parents@Microsoft: A colleague from our Customer Success Unit created a virtual fairy tale hour. The children are having fun - and the parents are getting a short relieve in their home office. Our Employee Resource Groups, such as Parents@Microsoft, have proven to be even more valuable during this time. They are bursting with ideas and inspiration for childcare or home schooling. And they provide information about offers that can help colleagues in the current situation.

Of course, not only employees can help each other, the employer can make a contribution as well. At Microsoft, we in the HR Leadership Team, have decided to provide even greater flexibility in switching between work and childcare during daycare and school closures. Employees currently have the option of a paid "parental leave" period of twelve weeks to care for their children. The decision, whether they wish to take this time in a continuous period or spread it over a longer period, lays by the employees.

The crisis acts like a magnifying glass - even on the corporate culture

It is still too early to talk about the consequences of the crisis and what lasting changes it will leave behind. But my impression in recent weeks is that the crisis is like a magnifying glass. We can observe that digitization in Germany is still lagging in some areas, such as education.

But we can also see how important corporate culture is in such uncertain times. Values such as humanity and solidarity will not only help us to master the challenges in the working environment of the future. Now we are seeing what strength those values can give us even during a crisis. It is the community of employees that makes a company strong.

How do you help each other in your companies? I’m looking forward to your inspirations and ideas.