CSR initiatives | How Samsung used 'love letters' to boost wellbeing

Employee wellbeing has been a focal point for HR leaders since the coronavirus pandemic hit. As staff continue to work from home, away from their teams and regular day-to-day interaction, the morale and wellbeing of staff has unsurprisingly taken a hit.

Recent research by Vision Direct has highlighted this plight, as in its study of 2,000 employees, 41% shared that they now feel more anxious and isolated than ever before, after already spending months at home indoors. Following the news of the three-tier system to curb the spread of the virus, these fears have once again been exasperated as staff worry they will be locked down.

With the traditional way of working in the office looking further from reality, employers have started to roll out initiatives to boost wellbeing virtually. One business that is pushing this is Samsung, who has developed ways to connect people as coronavirus continues to cause difficulties. In particular, the firm has concentrated on how the crisis has impacted vulnerable communities and has adapted its employee volunteering programme so that it continues to work remotely.

Speaking about the adaptation, Jessie Soohyun Park, Samsung’s Head of CSR, told HR Grapevine that the initiative allows employees to feel like they are helping regardless of where they are based, which can boost morale, engagement and wellbeing. “Volunteering from home offers a simple, safe and flexible way to make a big difference to good causes across the UK and Ireland. By matching a wide range of employees’ relevant skills with charities’ needs, businesses can support essential services at a time when they are needed more than ever,” she said.