Keeping employees engaged in an office environment is challenging enough but keeping your team motivated when they are working independently is another thing altogether.
That being said, remote workers can be more productive, engaged and happier than their office-attending counterparts, but only if you put practices in place to make them so.
From using the latest technologies to stay connected, to fostering social interaction, to asking for regular feedback, keep reading to discover five ways that you can drive remote employee engagement in your company.
1. Keep them in the loop
One of the main drawbacks of being a remote employee is feeling disconnected from other employees and from any developments within the company. Remote workers cannot catch up over the water cooler or call across to the desk opposite them in the same way that traditional workers can, so you need to make sure you make up for this shortfall.
One highly effective way to do this is through the use of intranet software such as this one from Simpplr which promises to simplify communication and align distributed workforces.
2. Foster team connections
Remote workers can often experience loneliness, especially if they have previously worked in a busy office environment, so you need to make sure you find ways to combat this.
From organizing virtual team building activities to planning regular video chats, you need to be consistent in your efforts to make all your employees, remote or otherwise, feel a valued part of your business.
3. Ensure a healthy work/life balance
Although it may be tempting to contact your remote workers whenever you need their expertise, you need to make sure you are respecting their time by setting up healthy boundaries between work and home life.
You should also take the time to discuss their workload on an ongoing basis to avoid burnout or feelings of frustration.
4. Ask for feedback
This is important not only for remote workers but for all employees, if you want your team to work to the best of their abilities and remain engaged, you need to listen to what they have to say.
There are several ways that you can get feedback from your employees including sending out surveys, asking them during their appraisals and holding regular staff meetings where everyone can voice any concerns they may have.
5. Focus on employee recognition
Statistically, remote workers put in more hours than office workers, so you need to make sure you are giving them the recognition they deserve. This doesn’t have to be a monetary reward as research shows that official praise can work just as well in keeping employees happy and motivated.
Why not create an online recognition platform, which every employee has access to and are able to comment on, and provide recognition in real time?
The trend of remote working is only set to grow stronger in the next few years, so as a business with remote workers, you need to stay on the ball if you want to keep them engaged and feeling a part of the team.
Remember that all of the above needs to be ongoing if you want to keep your best talent and promote a happy and engaged workforce.