As the pandemic forces most of us to stay at home, losing touch with the friends you used to see on a daily basis and missing out on the activities you were used to doing could be a bit disconcerting. Then there's the feeling of being all alone.

To help team members who may have fallen into their slump of loneliness, AEV HR doubled up on efforts to create a welcoming safe digital space for A-People to stay connected and reach out to when they need it. An online internal campaign called #LetsStayConnected was launched and taps all available communication channels to engage and check-in on Aboitiz team members in various ways.

The #LetsStayConnected campaign is made up of different programs that provide different kinds of support to team members during this pandemic. From promoting lifelong learning to nurturing emotional wellness and keeping physically fit, the campaign’s holistic approach aims to address the needs of the A-People in this trying time.

Gain a new skill with #LearningLunes

What better way to start the week than by learning something new? To foster our #StudentAlways mindset, AEV HR shares learning platforms, books, and materials at the start of each week. A number of #LearningLunes sessions, which discussed Continuous Improvement and Digital Marketing, were livestreamed through AGORA 2.0. Other Mondays were set aside for team leaders who shared a list of books or online courses that resonated with them and which they hoped to impart with A-People.

A-Clubs are also doing their part by sharing their expertise! Sew Very Happy Club gave a tutorial on DIY reusable face masks; the Bon A-ppetit club hopped on the latest coffee trend with a tutorial on how to make dalgona coffee; and Likhaan showed how to grow a little herb garden from the comfort of your own home.

I look forward to #LearningLunes webinars to kickstart my workweek. It's the timeslot when I enjoy hearing from other team members and getting a glimpse of their expertise and passions. The  learning experience is best shared with my work teammates giving us topics outside of regular work, or how we can apply best practices to our deliverables.
- Gil Gonzales, Aboitiz Foundation

Learn how to manage stress and anxiety in different ways

Going on individual  learning journeys also means giving extra care and attention to one's emotional well-being, punctuated by these times when much remains unclear.

Through a series of curated programs and wellness activities to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that our team members may be feeling.

The first program was an hour-long online session on AGORA 2.0 with psychiatrist Dr. Joyce Maglaque, who discussed stress management and shared the roots and causes of related feeling, the body's and the brain's reactions to these situations, and how to alleviate these negative feelings.

Read also: A-People Learn About Managing Anxiety Under A Pandemic

A breathing and meditation session was held after work hours to further soothe the anxieties of our A-People. Led by Neil Salang of Awake.Ph and YogaPlus, team members learned a few stretching exercises and breathing techniques. The session showed the power of the mind and how we have control over our thoughts and feelings.

There is also regular online counseling session for those who need to let out their feelings and thoughts on their situation and relieve them of stress and anxiety. Teri Lee Symaco, a registered counselor, is available Monday to Friday for team members.

Staying connected  with my teammates through video calls, workout sessions, trivia nights, and other activities helps me stay productive and mentally healthy, and helps ease the anxiety brought about by our current situation.  By constantly checking in with each other despite the distance, we demonstrate how much we care about one another. I’m thankful to be a part of a company that makes proactive efforts to bring its employees together amid these uncertain times. - Aly Virrey, Aboitiz InfraCapital

Physical activities were also held for those who like to keep it moving. A barre class was led by Barre3 PH instructor, Jem Vivo of Aboitiz InfraCapital. A-People who love to dance can attend an E-Zoomba class that is held every Tuesday, in partnership with AboitizPower and the Aboitiz Dance Society.

Be part of A-Community that cares

To provide team members with a deeper sense of community, the A-Community Support Group was established in AGORA 2.0 with each group comprising of team members residing in a certain area or city. This is a more personal approach to hearing out their struggles and sharing information in their respective cities.

Currently, a total of 16 city-based group chats have been established where team members can swap localized concerns, pass around tips and tricks for best time to do grocery shopping, and navigate checkpoints and certain roads.

Thoughtfulness goes a long way

Being out of touch from teammates may deal a heavy blow on an individual used to workplace interaction which may create a sense of loneliness and even work-related burnout.

Every week, a reminder is sent to team members to encourage them to check up on their teams during their video meetings. By checking in on one another, we are able to strengthen employee engagement despite the distance.

Throughout the ECQ, our team has been meeting at least twice a week just to check-in on one another. While work is usually 80% of the agenda, tuning in on each other's personal lives and well-being just as we would had there been no lockdown makes living through these hard times more bearable. In fact, we even had our own fund-raising trivia night for our ates and kuyas! When the mood seems to be down, it always helps to strike a conversation about the littlest of things - someone being in a different room for every video call, someone didn't cut his hair for 8 weeks, someone has pink curtains/blinds, and someone has a treadmill that he's never used! - Rendell Ng, AEV

Adjusting to the new normal

As the pandemic persists, the Aboitiz Group commits to do all that it can to protect the goose and its team members. Although we may be physically apart, the group has not let up on its efforts to keep us socially connected for as long as we can to keep ourselves safe and healthy. #LetsStayConnected and together, we can get through this as #OneAboitiz.