How to Maintain Employee Engagement Remotely

Remote work has been on the rise for years and continues to grow. Since working remotely is here to stay and has undeniably become the future of work, it’s essential to stay up to date on the best practices, the most important one being how to engage remote employees. Engagement isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach or something that’s done once in a blue moon. When it comes to keeping employees engaged, especially remote workers, it’s a constant task to nurture and develop. Here are some things to focus on to help you keep your employees interested and engaged while working remotely.

Use the Right Tools 

Your teams should be using the right tools to communicate and collaborate effectively. Chat and collaboration tools make managing remote teams a lot easier, all while promoting productivity too. It’s not just important to have these tools but to utilize them consistently to help you create clear and open channels of communication. Video calls are great for team meetings but having channels for team chats, one-on-one dialogue, and real-time updates are also essential.

Increase engagement by sending company updates, creating group chats, celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries, and getting feedback from employees by sending out polls and surveys. This helps keep remote employees engaged and encourages two-way communication. Finding the right tools that work for your organization will make engaging remote employees easier than ever.

Internal Communication

When it comes to engagement, by now, you know that communication is crucial. In order to ensure you reach every employee, you must create an effective communication strategy. Here are some ways to promote internal communication:

• Hold weekly check-ins. 
• Establish monthly, quarterly, and annual performance goals.
• Set clear expectations and requirements.
• Create group channels for one-to-one chats, team meetings, video calls, or open forums for sharing feedback and ideas.
• Ask and give feedback on projects, strategies, and more.
  
  

By constantly asking for feedback and encouraging two-way communication, it gives you a chance to acknowledge concerns and fix problems right from the start. Establishing consistent forms of communication engages your employees and makes them feel heard and a part of the company. 

Give Recognition

Remote workers tend to put in more hours than their in-office colleagues, but they often don’t feel part of the team. One solution is to make employee recognition a priority. Showing your appreciation is a simple yet effective way to really motivate and engage your remote employees. Studies show that workers are less motivated by financial rewards and are more motivated by the “little things” like acknowledging their ideas, giving opportunities to grow, and more responsibility. Monetary benefits are still significant, and alongside employee recognition, it’ll help ensure your remote employees are engaged. Regular recognition from both peers and managers makes employees feel more connected, appreciated, and valued.

Support Your New Hires

Studies reveal that the majority of new hires feel less equipped to do their job compared to tenured employees, and because of that, new hires need extra support when working remotely. To make the process easier and more comfortable, managers should provide additional training, communication, and resources to help better support new remote employees throughout the onboarding process. This means making sure employees have everything they need to start working, including:

• Information like login credentials and document access.
• Clear training on processes and technology.
• Tools, equipment, and resources to do their job well.
  
  

Encourage Health and Wellness

Your employee’s health should be a priority because at the end of the day if your employees feel under the weather, they won’t be able to perform at their highest level or at all. Maintaining a work-life balance is important, especially when working remotely and lines between the two become blurred. Encouraging your employees to take sick days, breaks, and vacations will help avoid burnout and help them recharge and feel better. By prioritizing health and wellness, you ensure that your employees return to work in optimal shape. 

One of the best things about remote work is the flexibility it offers employees. While you may need to have set times around meetings, give your employees autonomy around when and how they work the rest of the time. By trusting them to get the job done, you build trust between employees and managers, which is crucial for employee engagement and satisfaction. Flexibility also enables employees to develop a working cycle that better suits them, creating a healthier work-life balance.