As the coronavirus continues to keep many American offices closed, companies are struggling with not only how to manage an entirely remote workforce---but also how to keep those employees engaged.
Employee perks like free coffee, snacks and Happy Hour beers have become increasingly common in the workplace, and especially so at startup companies. Now, with millions of workers fully remote, a mid-day snack is whatever you can find in your pantry, and on-tap cold brew is replaced with whatever K-Cup brand is on sale at your local grocery store.
But Chicago startup Crafty is working to bring some of those conveniences back to employees, and help companies better connect with their workforce during this unprecedented time.
Crafty, a startup that provides food and beverages to offices and company events, is set to launch a care package offering that will allow companies to send boxes of goodies to all of their employees---wherever they're based around the world. The care packages include things like healthy snacks, local coffee and teas, and the ability for executives to send personalized notes to employees. It currently has $50 and $30 per box options.
The idea is to provide employers with another way to engage with employees beyond Zoom meetings and weekly emails.
"How do we help employers engage and show appreciation for their employees when they’re not in front of them every day?" Crafty co-founder Ishan Daya said of the initiative. "Rather than just being like a traditional box program, we really wanted to think about it as a care package, and the idea that the employer cares and the employer is thinking about you."
Daya said Crafty is planning to offer the care packages to its existing customers as early as this week, and eventually plans to sell the service broadly. Some of Crafty's in-office customers include WeWork, Yelp, PayPal and Sprout Social.
The new offering comes at a pivotal time for Crafty, as many of its customers no longer need office snacks and coffee during the nation's ongoing social distancing requirements. The startup said the coronavirus has had a "material effect" on its business, but declined to provide specifics on revenue. However, co-founder Chris Ritter said the care packages are more than just a temporary measure to increase sales---they will continue to be part of the startup's offerings as companies across the country increase their remote workforce beyond the coronavirus crisis.
"We don’t think this will go away once employers are sending people back to the office," Ritter said. "We think [the care packages] can be a really viable revenue stream, not just in the near term but also in the long term."
The startup envisions that its care packages will be used for things like morning video coffee meetings and energy bars after Zoom workout session---all in an effort to keep people engaged and provide some of those same in-office perks while everyone works from home.
"Employers are still investing in the employee experience," Ritter said. "Seeing the reaction of employers wanting to care for their employees, that's been incredibly inspiring to see."
