Fostering a remote work culture

How to help employees working from home feel connected

The drastic uptake in remote work saved many employers during the pandemic. However, as normality returns and offices open again, the workforce is divided. Some staff flock back to the office, desperate for social interaction and a dedicated workspace, while others long to be back at home with their family and home comforts. The result? Many businesses are left grappling to save what was once a flourishing company culture.

If this sounds familiar, then fret not. There are various solutions, some of which can be easily implemented straight away. They will help get your organisation back on track, sharing the company vision with a sense of pride and empowerment as we move through this new age of working.

Clear Communication, Frequent Feedback

Keeping an open line of communication is essential, regardless of location. Ensure your team feels they have a voice, have regular check in meetings and provide each member with the tools and support necessary to perform well remotely. Employees should feel they can express queries or concerns honestly, and that their feedback is being heard. This increases morale and improves the relationship between management and team levels.

Any feedback, regardless of whether one works from an office or from home, should be honest and constructive. This can become more challenging when managing staff working remotely. An effort should be made to show your remote team that you acknowledge their contributions, as well as continuing to identify and improve any areas that may be underperforming. Positive feedback is often forgotten with remote working. Ensuring feedback is provided frequently will increase employee engagement as there is a clear understanding of performance expectations.

Communication isn’t only verbal or written nowadays. Virtual communication, while possessing many benefits, can be just as easily misinterpreted as the tone of an email. It can be difficult to convey a sense of urgency or intended humour digitally. Regular video calls with team members ensures everyone is clear on expectations and keeps the team on track. Try to discuss aspects during the call that are non-work-related, or at least have a positive note. Start of weekly calls by inviting team members to share any good news they have, work related or otherwise, forming bonds that extend beyond KPI’s or project work.

Empower your Employees

Research shows that employee engagement improves when organisations and staff share a common purpose, out with their regular project work. Companies and staff who have a shared interest in sustainability, for example, share a stronger connection as they work together towards a common cause.

A great way to empower your employees to share their concepts, concerns and opinions is through a mentor program. A mentor is different from a manager. Implementing a mentor programme provides a collaborative environment, improves staff relationships, and helps integrate new starts into the team.

Overall, a successful organisation should strive to ensure their employees feel valued and appreciated. Flextime policies, giving your employees the autonomy to choose working hours that best suit their lifestyle will increase their well-being, therefore improving overall performance, retaining existing staff and attracting new talent.

Collaboration Tools

Clear and quick communication is key for remote working. Instant messaging tools such as Slack and Teams bridges the gap where emailing falls short. One can easily see whether a colleague is available regardless of physical location and offers the opportunity to have non-work-related chats. This is something often missed by remote workers and a contributor to deteriorating mental health in those working from home. Give your employees a space to talk about whatever is on their mind, as you often would in person, not solely regarding work.

For those working with a hybrid solution, a scheduling system such as ‘PlanDay’ can help to organise teams and collaboration. One can have scheduled workdays yet remain flexible without drastically affecting anyone else’s working week. All availability is easily displayed on a shared platform. This can be taken further by larger organisations who may wish to build an entire social network for collaboration, in which software such as ‘Zoho Connect’ can assist.

Exploring the best online storage solution is also paramount to successful remote working and online collaboration. Cloud based storage tools such as Google Drive, One Drive & Dropbox give users the flexibility to easily store, share and access document, spreadsheets and presentations.

Company Traditions & Celebrations

Birthday cake, Friday beers, half day Wednesdays (perhaps a bit too optimistic here); fun company traditions in the office are a common and proven way to boost morale. It’s important to continue these celebrations online too. Remember to post ‘Happy Birthday’ on slack or teams, hunt for a humorous GIF, perhaps even send your employees a pizza or a birthday treat to their remote location. Keep your culture intact and increase strong bonds by ensuring your remote staff feel just as included as those in the office.

Whether it’s just a quick instant message to praise an achievement or implementing something like an ‘Employee of the Month’ programme, achievements should be celebrated. Let your employees shine while increasing productivity at the same time by creating a platform or system in which team members can celebrate each other accomplishments. Company pride boost morale and productivity.

All that being said, nothing quite beats in person celebrations. Make time to get together with your remote staff, as improving connection to co-workers and the company will ensure your staff will ensure your staff stick around for the long haul. Although not feasible for every company, one should consider an annual company retreat, one of the more effective ways to spend quality time together and build stronger bonds. Team retreats can be an opportunity to discuss company goals and collaborate, but they should also incorporate fun activities and time to relax with their colleagues away from work. It also gives your staff something to look forward to all year round.

If you would like further advice or to discuss your companies workplace culture please feel free to get in touch.