Tips for Keeping Your Remote Employees Engaged

These days, employees are working from home more than ever. COVID-19 has created an environment in which traditional offices are often unfeasible. Even as Coronavirus restrictions ease, many organizations will continue to allow employees to work remotely or on a split home-and-office schedule.

For many, working at home is a new experience, one wrought with different distractions and challenges. Employment engagement is always a concern for employers, and it becomes increasingly so in the new virtual work world.

While times may be changing, there are ways to make sure your team stays focused and productive. Read on for ways to keep remote staff motivated and engaged.

Establish Clear Guidelines

Understanding expectations and establishing a routine will help remote employees stay productive. Consider creating a work policy that clearly outlines your expectations. It can cover work hours and availability, privacy and security, meeting schedules, equipment and tools used, useful contacts (such as accounting and HR) and more. Tailor it to suit your business.

Balance Autonomy with Accountability

While it's important to set expectations around remote work, consider the unique needs of your remote workforce. Some employees may work in different time zones; others may be most productive outside of the traditional 9-to-5 schedule.

While it makes sense to book meetings during standard hours, allowing remote workers flexibility with independent work can produce top results. It also builds trust and encourage work-life balance for healthy, happy employees. At the end of the day, if quality work is being produced, flexible work hours can benefit everyone.

If you do notice a drop in production from a team member, communicate with him/her in a sensitive manner. There may be a problem at home or an issue with adjusting. Together, you can devise solutions to get back on track.

Provide the Right Tools

Trying to get a job done without the right resources is frustrating and results in wasted time. Consider these options to avoid downtime:

• IT issues are a productivity killer. Make sure your employees have high-quality hardware and reliable broadband at home. It may cost more initially, but it will save on costs in the long run.
• Use collaborative software and tools. Look into project management platforms like Asana, cloud-based storage and file sharing options (Google Drive, OneDrive, DropBox), video conferencing tools (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams) and communications platforms like Slack. Choose the ones that work best for your company.
• Provide support! Getting up-to-speed on new software or the ins and outs of virtual communication doesn't come easy to everyone. Make sure to help out, whether via documentation, training or both.

Always Communicate!

It's more difficult to create a team dynamic when employees work remotely. Feeling disconnected from the company and fellow employees can zap engagement. In order to create cohesion, consider these steps:

• Maintain a schedule of regular calls and meetings. These can cover specific tasks, general check-ins and project collaboration. Include both one-on-one and team meetings
• Make sure to set up video calls for face-to-face time. Much of human communication is nonverbal, and video calls are more personal than phone calls
• Communicate in real time. Chat programs like Skype for Business, Slack and Google Chat are faster and more casual than email, and they encourage conversation and responsiveness

Nurture Personal Connections

In addition to keeping communication lines open for work, add a personal element to the mix. Working at home without the social aspect of an office setting can feel isolating and lonely. When remote employees interact on non-work subjects, it helps to create a sense of true connection. Have fun!

End or begin meetings with casual conversation about anything from weekend plans to pets to an upcoming vacation. Create a virtual 'water cooler' room in your chat platform for casual conversation and small talk. How about setting up a weekly coffee break or after-work wine or beer tasting? The options are endless.

It's also important to show remote teams members recognition of and appreciation for their hard work. This may be monetary, a small token or gift or simply praise for a job well done on a personal level or to the larger team. Acknowledging effort reinforces engagement and company loyalty.

Measure Engagement

How do you know your remote team members are feeling the benefit of your engagement practices? It's worthwhile to ask for feedback to determine what's working and where there's room for improvement. You can do so through virtual one-on-one meetings or anonymously through online employee surveys. This will help you stay in tune with their unique challenges and needs.

With an inclusive approach that cultivates communication, it's possible to keep remote staff engaged and enthusiastic. For strategies on how to effectively manage remote employees and create a cohesive team, contact us at info@kjco.ca.