After the pandemic’s emergence, the business industry switched to remote working.

Employees started telecommuting, and people realized how traditional office-based systems could easily be replaced with a better alternative, i.e., the work-from-home culture.

Statistics by Zippia indicate that one-fourth of the American workforce currently works from home, and these numbers shall continue to increase.

But how do you keep remote employees engaged at work? This article explores some suggestions for managers.

We know that working remotely can be more productive than office-based workers. Moreover, some 40% of employees claim they’re more productive when working from home. But this socially distant working culture also has drawbacks, e.g., isolation, confinement, and the absence of face-to-face interactions.

Here Are Twelve Prime Steps To Keep Remote Employees Engaged:

A manager can overcome these demerits by keeping workers engaged via the following suggestions. So, read these suggestions carefully and implement them in your office to keep remote employees happy.

1. Use online tools

Effective communication makes your employees virtually well-connected with each other. And many tech tools are available to make them more engaged and motivated.

We’ve been using Zoom and its several alternatives to interact face-to-face digitally. Moreover, apps such as Dropbox help employees share documents and remain well-informed. Similarly, Slack and Trello make it easier for workers to manage projects, monitor their progress, and stay familiar with future tasks.

2. Hold fun events

Workplaces should also involve celebrations, festivals, and get-togethers to hone teamwork among colleagues and make them know each other better. Companies around the world have started once again to organize team-based events.

You may also consider hosting holiday parties for remote staff; just find a reliable event provider to organize these gatherings. These service providers make office parties a celebratory experience for everyone, thereby boosting employee engagement.

3. Offer competitive compensation

Thirdly, motivating virtual workers isn’t that difficult if you compensate them properly. Studies are already showing that remote employees earn less than traditional employees. So, compensating your telecommuting workforce can easily motivate them to stick with you.

Remember that a worker who works from home performs far better than an office-bound employee. So, compensating these telecommuters handsomely is a financially reasonable decision to be made by your company.

4. Encourage workplace friendships

It’s been observed that workplace friendships motivate workers to stick with the company for a long time. Even remote employees can become friends while working online.

Using apps such as Zoom and WhatsApp can turn two met-at-work strangers into bosom buddies. Allow employees to chat freely with each other (without crossing professional boundaries) to bolster the workforce’s productivity. So, encouraging workplace relations can easily enhance employee engagement at work today.

5. Gamify your organization

Recently, gamification has become a popular strategy in schools and offices to keep everyone more engaged. It means introducing game-related elements (such as point-scoring) in real-world scenes.

A business manager, for instance, can organize team-based competitions. Employees can earn points for being productive and redeem these points in the form of rewards.

These healthy competitions in the office can hone the workforce’s motivation and motivate your virtual staff to work harder.

6. Trust your employees

What does it mean to trust one’s workers? It means trusting them to get the job done right. When an employee has been delegated a task, it’s important to trust that person to finish the project.

When the boss consistently interferes with the project, employees lose their self-esteem and feel unmotivated to do the task right. Sadly, remote employees complain about their bosses doubting them. A distrustful manager cannot motivate a team of people working from home.

Read these findings:

7. Encourage peer-to-peer feedback

Employee development isn’t possible without giving and receiving feedback. This feedback can hone an employee’s performance, guides them, and make the workforce more efficient. But peer-to-peer feedback can be even more effective because it involves colleagues coaching each other.

When employees are mentored by their colleagues, they become more invested in their work, thereby getting more productive. That’s why managers should promote peer-to-peer feedback.

8. Give proper recognition

How do you appreciate an employee or recognize your workers’ efforts? Paying them higher can help you win them over and convince them to work even harder. But there are other ways to recognize a remote e employee’s efforts, i.e., simply thanking them for their efforts and praising their diligence.

Give them personalized recognition. For instance, you can praise them by name in a Zoom call if they like public displays of approval. Learn what sort of approval motivates a worker.

9. Value their opinions

Appreciate your employees and make them feel valued. Workers are more invested in organizations where their ideas are listened to, and their contributions are respected.

Even small gestures matter! Small acts of dismissal can just as easily disengage employees as small acts of approval can motivate them. That’s why many companies celebrate a worker’s birthday to make that person know how we cherish their presence in the office. When workers are valued, they feel more engaged at work.

10. Encourage employee wellness

Never neglect the well-being of your workers, even if they’re working remotely. It’s because they’re unable to perform well if they’re incapacitated. But how can you keep workers healthy when they’re distantly located? Well, offer incentives to your employees for prioritizing self-care.

Stay connected with them and educate them about the importance of sleeping properly. Monitor when workers are online and discourage them from working late for you. Encourage a work-life balance.

11. Foster career growth

Young workers want managers to invest in their career advancement options. It’s estimated that 9 out of 10 millennials expect their bosses to offer them ongoing education opportunities. So, offer them mentorship opportunities and peer-to-peer feedback options.

12. Hold virtual meetings

Now, this one seems like a no-brainer. Effective communication isn’t possible unless you hold regular meetings with your employees. But remote employees deserve virtual meetings or Zoom calls.

That’s how employees can interact face-to-face with their employees. But it doesn’t mean your workers should interact digitally only for work-related purposes.

Instead, have them gather around online for recreational purposes too. Let them bond and find a reason to stay at your office.

Conclusion

2022’s coming to an end, and COVID’s impact slowly recedes. Or does it? Statistics show that 55% of workers today want to work from home at least three days a week.

Business managers, therefore, are worried about keeping remote employees engaged. How can you prevent isolation from affecting a workforce’s productivity? Well, we have discussed some methods to motivate your employees.

They all revolve around communicating with them, listening to their thoughts, and ensuring their health to keep them properly productive.

Host holiday parties for remote employees virtually to give your staff a bonding experience with other folks from the office. Recognize their efforts and appreciate their contributions to the company’s successes.

Offer them career growth options as well as competitive compensation to attract fresh talent. Respect your employees, make them feel valued, and gamify the network to boost productive competition.

Your employee-engagement-boosting efforts may be better if you are leveraging online tools correctly.

Read Also:

• How Remote Work Can Benefit Your Small Business
• Employee Training Videos: Practical Guidelines And Tips
• How To Choose The Best Company Gift For Your Employees