Job satisfaction and fellowship during COVID-19

Job satisfaction, whether you work from home or are physically at work, I sense both  colleagues and I myself have suffered since COVID-19 took over in March 2020. We have a big task in restoring job satisfaction and thus the good fellowship when we are all physically back in Flakkebjerg and Foulum. 

Carrying out critical tasks has required physical presence and without the great efforts of these colleagues, we would never have succeeded in carrying out and completing the trial and project work. High praise to those colleagues who have had to work under new conditions as well as strict COVID-19 guidelines.

Working from home has worked. All tasks are solved, and we have even managed to send in a lot of new project applications. For some, working from home has given time for peace and contemplation, which is not always the case with physical presence in the workplace. But working from home requires something different from all of us in terms of collaboration and nurturing the fellowship. The disadvantage of working from home is that the daily sparring disappears and thus the risk that the good fellowship also disappears. It is therefore incredibly important that sections and groups hold virtual meetings, preferably without a fixed agenda and in a more open forum where everyone shares what is important to them. This is to get a better feeling with each other and what each one is working on at the moment.

COVID-19 has affected everyone to a greater or lesser degree, and it is important to remember that working from home is just as important as being physically at work. It is therefore essential to have social support in colleagues and leadership, and to be aware of each other. It promotes well-being and work motivation.

When you sit alone - it can be in the home office or physically at work, you can experience that you are alone with the difficult and routine tasks. It can make it harder to maintain motivation. That is why it is extra important to have a virtual/physical shrug and recognition of each other's efforts.

The fact that job satisfaction is under pressure is due not only to COVID-19, but also to TECH's finances and the announced savings in AGRO. Last but not least, the closure of the canteen at Flakkebjerg is also a shard in job satisfaction, which is being intensively worked on to improve.

We have always had a great workplace with lots of job satisfaction and good fellowship, which I hope despite COVID-19 and poor finances can be restored when we are all back in the workplace. I am sure that you - all my good colleagues - will help to restore job satisfaction and good fellowship. See you soon at work.