In a workplace marked by uncertainty and lack of boundaries, employers need to be extra vigilant about the health and well-being of their workers. But what does that support look like in action? Leaders can boost morale and productivity when they show they care, and respond with empathetic and effective solutions.

In a panel conversation at From Day One’s conference in Dallas this month, five industry leaders talked about the innovative approaches their companies are using to bolster a healthy hybrid workplace.During the discussion, moderated by Will Maddox, managing editor of D magazine, the leaders acknowledged the tensions that accompany hybrid work–and suggested tools to mitigate them. They highlighted the importance of having candid conversations, offering benefits that enrich their employees’ lives beyond the workplace, and letting the work itself aid in decision-making.

In sprawling companies like American Airlines, there is often a stark difference in job positions, from jet mechanics to marketing executives. Additionally, many large companies see mini-cultures develop based on teams or location. How can leaders create unity among a large workforce with vastly different experiences and responsibilities?

Ashley Heis, director of employee experience at American, said that a positive culture must include an individualized approach. She said, “First, it's having clarity on expectations in your role, connecting that to the business, and how you aspire to the higher purpose,” she said. “The second thing we really focus on is engagement, understanding, and having empathy as a leader. Just because you’re in the same group doesn't mean that that particular work environment works best for you. Finally, we really stress open and consistent communication, and to maintain that connection.” She said that this approach seems to work for all team members and groups, regardless of the nature of their role.

Taking a per-person approach, practicing empathy, and communicating clearly were common themes among the panelists. Eujin Ahn, director of learning and development for One Medical, a primary-care provider, added that a positive culture is centered in the idea that clarity is a form of kindness. He said, “Clarity-is-kindness is basically an employer or manager being able to provide upfront, ‘These are the expectations. This is what we really want to see from you.’ And asking, ‘How do we work through this together?’ Letting it be a conversation. We also take into account the entire person. Our values are human centered, and we always want to measure with a compassionate lens.”

Heis agreed and added that candid conversations are crucial when it comes to implementing policies and procedures. She shared that at American Airlines, many of their global initiatives came from the ground up. During one particular focus group, employees shared stories of their most challenging days–times of natural disasters and loss of life. The common lesson of their stories: Because the teams rallied together, the most challenging days became their best days. “That’s ultimately how we came to our purpose,” she said. “We distilled these stories into one phrase: We focus on ‘moments that matter.’ I share that because that is a great example of how we took something so simple, but so meaningful, and scaled it–because we listened to our team members.”

Companies that are more tech-based, with larger numbers of remote associates, are promoting work-life balance by offering benefits that support all aspects of life. Dasha Crosby, senior VP and HR lead for Citigroup, talked about her company’s recent launch of a tuition-assistance program, which will help ab out 38,000 employees continue their education goals with no out-of-pocket expenses. Citi also offers a 12-week sabbatical program. She said, “Through all the pain and suffering of the pandemic, what we learned is we have to take care of ourselves as a whole. And we are asking at Citi, How can we really invest in our employees as a whole?”

The focus on caring for the whole person amplified the fact that remote workers often have a lack of boundaries when it comes to taking time off. PTO is a popular benefit, but the ‘always on’ culture fed by the pandemic means it goes unused or it’s used ineffectively.

Rilee Buttars, CEO and co-founder of Dónde, created her company to help solve this very issue. Donde’s goal is to fix PTO by offering travel benefits. Buttars said, “Let’s think about this idea of taking a break. What can it do for your productivity? What can it do for your engagement and satisfaction as an employee? Let’s put the company at the center of that conversation and make them the hero because we can’t have employees feeling so burned out. Productivity and the ROI of coming to work and feeling good about it–that needs to happen.” Buttars cited a trendy word for the growing practice of workers adding leisure time to their business trips: bleisure travel.

Another aspect of the rise in hybrid and remote work is that on the employer’s end, there is sometimes a tension felt about having office space or physical locations. Many companies are struggling to justify the costs of physical locations for a largely remote workforce. How can companies balance this while still caring for employee morale?

At Dallas-based Builders FirstSource, the largest U.S. supplier of building materials, management decided to take a highly flexible approach. Amy Messersmith, the company’s chief people officer, said, “We took the opportunity to reevaluate our physical footprint in our headquarters location. After two years, it’s clear that there are some roles that can be done very effectively in a hybrid status or completely remote status. We saw no degradation in our productivity. In fact, in many cases we saw our team’s productivity go up.” The company offered their remote employees the option of office space, either on a permanent basis or as-needed, she said. “We decided to let the work drive the decision. I think those tensions can be resolved with honest conversation and listening to our people.”

Christina Cook is a freelance writer based in Dallas. She writes about a variety of topics, including art, film, and live theater. Her 2017 children’s book, Your Hands Can Change the World, was a regional bestseller, and she is the founder of the hyperlocal arts blog Dallas Art Beat.