12 Tips for Elevating Remote Employee Engagement

Employee engagement has been a hot topic recently, and it only becomes more important when you consider the engagement implications for remote employees. Engaged and present remote employees have the capacity to add so much to your business. It often benefits employees personal lives, thus increasing their holistic well-being, giving them the satisfaction and well-being to really thrive in your business on their own terms.

But unengaged remote employees can sometimes feel a sense of dissatisfaction that, if unaddressed, can have major implications on their perspective on their work, and the organization as a whole. 

In order to ensure your business is doing everything it can to keep remote employees engaged and satisfied, our team has provided 12 tips for increasing employee engagement with the remote members of your team.

1. Foster Open Communication

Open communication is crucially important for remote teams in business. Use multiple channels like video calls, instant messaging, and email to ensure that employees feel connected and informed. Encourage regular check-ins with their managers and reports and create an open-door policy where team members can voice concerns and suggestions for improving their remote work experience.

2. Provide the Right Tools and Technology

Equip your remote employees with the necessary tools and technology to perform their tasks efficiently. This includes collaboration tools like Slack, project management software like Wrike or Asana, or any tools they would need for their home office. Encourage remote employees to ask for anything that they need, and be willing to be open to equipment or systems they need to be successful. It's their office after all!

3. Offer Flexibility

Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of remote work. Allow employees to set their schedules around core hours, providing them the freedom to balance work and personal commitments effectively. Try to set expectations about what daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly expectations are, and try not to micro-manage the employee's work time and schedule if they are meeting all of those required expectations.

4. Recognize and Reward Efforts

Recognition and rewards can significantly boost morale and engagement. Implement a system for acknowledging achievements, whether through shout-outs in meetings, or tangible rewards like gift cards. It's important for employees to feel a part of the larger team and organization and, even though they can sometimes feel physically removed, they still need to be acknowledge for their efforts.

5. Encourage Social Interaction

Promote social interaction among remote employees through virtual coffee breaks, team-building activities, and online social events. This helps build a sense of community and reduces feelings of isolation. Try not to let managers 'force' their teams to do different team-building events, but ask employees what they would like to do most, and give them an avenue to create those experiences for themselves, and help make those things happen with any administrative help they would need (even if it costs a few bucks)

6. Focus on Professional Development

Offer opportunities for professional development through online courses, webinars, and workshops. Encourage employees to chase after learning paths that align with their career goals and provide time and resources for continuous learning. A great way we've seen some of our clients incorporate remote employees into professional development processes is taking their team to a conference or convention once a year, that way the entire team can be together for a few days and the company can reiterate its commitment to helping them grow!

7. Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Encourage employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance by setting clear expectations about work hours and availability. Promote the importance of taking breaks and using vacation time to avoid burnout. Just because a team member is working from their home, doesn't mean that the stresses and anxieties of work aren't the same as in-person employees.

8. Solicit Feedback Regularly

Regularly ask for feedback from your remote employees to understand their needs and any frustrations. Surveys, polls, and one-on-one meetings are great ways to gather insights and make necessary adjustments to improve their experience in your company.

9. Create Clear Goals and Expectations

Goal-setting and benchmarking is arguably more important for remote employees than it is for any other type of employee. Having thoughtful, intentional conversations about what the goals a KPI's exist for their position can both help the employee perform to the level they expect of themselves, but also helps the manager by not needing to micromanage a remote employees working habits and rhythms if they are hitting their goals.

11. Promote Health and Wellness

Promote health and wellness by offering wellness programs, fitness classes, and mental health resources. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle can improve overall well-being and productivity for employees whether they are remote of in-person. Axios HR offers great benefits for our clients that gives them access to benefits packages that they might not be able to afford on their own. 

12. Build a Strong Company Culture

Even in a remote setting, it’s crucial to build and maintain a strong company culture. Communicate your company’s mission, values, and vision regularly. Foster an inclusive environment where every employee feels valued and part of the team.

Conclusion

Engaging remote employees is a difficult task, but can supercharge your teams productivity if done right. Trying to take onboard some of the advice given here by Axios's HR experts can help you better manage remote employees and increase employee productivity and satisfaction across your entire organization.