Due to the pandemic, scores of companies have assigned employees to remote work. But that is just the first step. Many workers have no experience working outside the workplace. Everything is new. But just because such employees are out of sight doesn’t mean you should take a hands-off approach, even if they’re producing.
To keep newly virtual employees from feeling adrift, isolated, or no longer part of a team, you’ll need to dig deep to support them, even if your company is facing financial challenges. Remember, just because employees aren’t onsite doesn’t mean you don’t need to keep them happy and engaged.
Here’s what you need to know about recognizing remote employees.
For one thing, COVID-19 notwithstanding, the number of “telecommuters” had been increasing anyway. Remote work has been the wave of the future for some time now. In fact, the number of employees who work remotely has risen by 115% over the last decade. The danger is that, according to a Pulse questionnaire, these employees are more apt to feel disengaged and leave the company. And with all the distractions of home, it’s easy to feel disconnected.
Simple recognition is key. This kind of support can go a long way toward showing employees that you still value their contributions and care about them as people. Doing so will also fortify your professional relationship with your employee.
And don’t shirk when it comes to total rewards just because your employee is offsite. Wages, benefits, etc. are just as important to these staffers. It may behoove you to get a consultant’s help.
Here are some ways you can use recognition to make sure employees stay involved during the pandemic.
In the “old days,” you could celebrate a workplace achievement by arranging an after-work affair or having an in-house luncheon or other celebration. You cannot stop acknowledging such wins, so that means using technology like Zoom and Skype to recognize your employees and so that everyone can be together.
What with technology, giving back is a snap these days. And we all know that there are many charitable efforts that need support. So, it’s a good idea to recognize such employees. Not only will you be encouraging other employees to help charities as well, but you’re helping society.
To help your workforce adjust to their new way of working, you likely will need to reinforce certain behaviors. You can do that through recognition. If an employee continues to meet deadlines, say, and is as responsive as always, drop them a detailed note expressing your appreciation.
Going through a company system such as Slack or other platforms ensures that everyone sees an employee’s recognition and acknowledgment, which has the extra benefit of motivating other employees to follow suit.
If an employee meets a goal or does something else that is recognition-worthy, give them a shout-out right away to make it more meaningful. It’s crucial that you keep track of and acknowledge what your employees – even those working remotely – are up to.
This is a good way to recognize and reward remote workers from a distance. You can pay for online courses, perhaps, at a time when such employees may feel as though they’re not growing professionally.
Now that you have some ideas about how to recognize remote employees, you can work on making sure your organization is in shape to weather the storm that is the pandemic. Just remember that a happy workforce is crucial to business growth.
