More and more businesses are turning to remote work as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe in an effort to keep their employees safe. One of the biggest challenges facing remote teams is figuring out how to keep employees engaged during remote work.

According to Buffer, one of the most difficult challenges for remote teams is employee engagement. According to the study, remote workers are more likely to feel isolated and disconnected from their coworkers, which can lead to lower productivity and job satisfaction.

Managers must actively work to keep their remote employees engaged during remote work. Employee engagement is an important factor of every business because it is linked to retention, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. Therefore, even when they aren’t present in the office, you need to discover strategies to keep your remote employees interested and connected to the business.

In this post, we’ll examine employee engagement in relation to remote work, discuss some employee engagement strategies for remote workers, and look into strategies for fostering a sense of community among remote workers. We’ll also examine how remote working affects employee engagement and talk about various solutions that can boost remote workers’ engagement.

Employee Engagement with Remote Work

For many employees, remote work might be a great option, but it can also cause a sense of alienation and disconnect from the business. Those who are used to working in an office setting, where they frequently have the chance to engage with their coworkers and managers, may find this to be particularly true.

Providing opportunities for professional development is an important aspect of learning how to keep employees engaged during remote work. This can entail giving them the required tools, like a laptop and a steady internet connection, as well as outlining the rules and requirements for their work. Flexibility in terms of work schedule and location can be a positive impact of remote working on employee engagement.

Additionally, it’s critical to maintain open lines of communication and guarantee that remote workers have the chance to interact with their colleagues and managers. Regular check-ins, team gatherings, group conversations, and the use of collaboration platforms like Slack or Google Meet are all possible ways to do this.

It is critical to ensure that your remote employees feel valued and included in addition to providing the necessary support and resources. Recognizing their contributions and accomplishments, as well as providing opportunities for professional development and advancement, may be part of this.

Another important aspect of remote employee engagement is ensuring that remote employees feel connected to the company’s culture and values. This may entail sharing company updates and news on a regular basis, as well as ensuring that remote employees are included in company-wide events and activities.

Overall, keeping employees engaged with remote work requires a combination of providing the necessary support and resources, cultivating a sense of connection and community, and ensuring that remote employees feel valued and included. You can ensure that your remote employees are engaged and motivated even when they are not physically present in the office by taking these steps.

Employee Engagement Ideas for Remote Workers

Maintaining employee engagement can be difficult when your employees work from home. Here are some suggestions for keeping your remote employees engaged and connected to the company:

1. Regular team building activities are a great way to learn how to keep employees engaged during remote work: These activities can help remote employees feel more connected to their coworkers and the company. These activities can be as simple as a virtual coffee break or happy hour, or as complex as virtual trivia or yoga sessions.
2. Encourage socialization: Encourage remote employees to interact with their coworkers and form relationships outside of the workplace. This could be accomplished through virtual lunch breaks or other informal gatherings.
3. Provide training and development opportunities: Allowing remote employees to learn and grow can help keep them engaged and motivated. Consider providing online training courses or workshops for professional development.
4. Incorporating regular recognition and appreciation for remote employees can help with employee engagement with remote work. Recognize and thank your remote employees for their efforts: Recognizing and thanking your remote employees for their efforts can help boost morale and engagement. Consider sending personalized notes or small gifts to express your gratitude.
5. Create an inclusive culture: Ensure that all remote employees, regardless of location, feel included and valued. This may include ensuring that remote employees have equal access to resources and opportunities as in-office employees, as well as promoting an inclusive and diverse culture.
6. Encourage work-life balance: It’s critical to recognize that remote work can blur the lines between work and personal life, leading to burnout and decreased engagement. Encourage your remote employees to take breaks and prioritize their health, and be understanding of the difficulties they may face while working from home.

By implementing these remote employee engagement ideas, you can help keep your remote employees engaged and connected to the company even when they aren’t physically present in the office.

How to Make Remote Employees Feel More Connected

Feeling connected to the company and their coworkers is an important aspect of employee engagement. Here are a few ways to make your remote employees feel more connected:

1. Encourage regular communication: Effective communication is key in figuring out how to keep employees engaged during remote work. Consider scheduling regular check-ins, team meetings, and group chats to foster a sense of community and collaboration.
2. Use video conferencing: By allowing remote employees to see and interact with their coworkers in real time, video conferencing tools such as Zoom or Google Meet can help remote employees feel more connected to their coworkers.
3. Foster a sense of community: Giving your remote employees a sense of community can help them feel more connected to the company. Consider establishing online forums or discussion groups where employees can discuss work-related issues and share their ideas and experiences.
4. Encourage virtual face-to-face interactions: While remote work can be isolating, there are steps employees can take to feel more connected. Encourage virtual face-to-face interactions, such as virtual coffee breaks or happy hours, to help remote workers feel more connected to their colleagues and the company.
5. Foster a culture of inclusion: Make sure that all remote employees feel included and valued, regardless of their location. This may include ensuring that remote employees have the same access to resources and opportunities as in-office employees, and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity.

Impact of Remote Working on Employee Engagement

Depending on how it is implemented, remote work has the potential to increase or decrease employee engagement. On the one hand, remote work can boost employee engagement by giving employees the flexibility and autonomy to work in the way that suits them best. It can also boost job satisfaction and productivity by allowing employees to work in a more comfortable and familiar setting.

A study published in the Harvard Business Review, for example, discovered that remote work can lead to increased productivity because employees can work without interruptions and distractions. Another study discovered that remote work can increase job satisfaction because employees have more control over their work environment and schedule.

However, if not properly managed, remote work can lead to a decrease in employee engagement. This can be due to a lack of communication with coworkers and managers, a lack of support and resources, or a lack of clear guidelines and expectations.

A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, for example, discovered that remote work can reduce job satisfaction if employees feel isolated and disconnected from their coworkers and the company. Another study discovered that a lack of clear communication and expectations can reduce employee engagement and productivity.

To ensure that remote work has a positive impact on employee engagement, it is critical to provide your employees with the necessary tools and support, as well as to foster a sense of connection and community. This could include giving your remote employees the necessary equipment, such as a laptop and a reliable internet connection, as well as clear guidelines and expectations for their work. It’s also critical to maintain open lines of communication and provide opportunities for remote employees to connect with their coworkers and managers through regular check-ins, team meetings, and group chats.

Tools to Engage Remote Employees

Creating opportunities for communication and interaction is crucial for employee engagement with remote work. Many tools and technologies are available to assist in engaging remote employees and fostering collaboration and communication. Some popular choices are:

• Slack: It is a real-time messaging and collaboration platform that allows teams to communicate. It’s an excellent tool for keeping remote employees connected and up to date on company events.
• Trello is a project management application that allows teams to track and manage tasks, projects, and goals. It’s an excellent tool for keeping remote workers organized and on track.
• Zoom: It is a video conferencing application that enables teams to hold virtual meetings and collaborate in real time. It’s an excellent tool for keeping remote workers connected and engaged.
• Asana is a project management software that enables teams to track and manage tasks, projects, and goals. It’s an excellent tool for keeping remote workers organized and on track.
• Google Meet is a video conferencing tool that enables teams to hold virtual meetings and collaborate in real time. It’s an excellent tool for keeping remote workers connected and engaged.
• Intouch Engagement is a communication tool or platform that is designed to help organizations connect with and engage their community. It allows users to share news and information and also provides features that encourage community engagement and interaction. It is intended to enhance organizational culture by fostering connections between members of the community. It can be used to stay connected with people all over the world. Feel free to contact our community experts to learn more about Intouch Engagement.

Conclusion

Remote work can be a good solution for many employees, but it is critical to find ways to keep remote employees engaged and connected to the company. You can help ensure that remote work has a positive impact on employee engagement by providing your remote employees with the tools and support they need to succeed, encouraging socialization and training and development opportunities, and fostering a sense of connection and community.

Managers must be proactive in fostering a sense of connection and community among remote employees to maintain employee engagement with remote work. It’s also critical to assess how your remote work policy is affecting your employees on a regular basis and make changes as needed. This could include conducting surveys to gather feedback on what’s working well and what could be improved, as well as checking in with your remote employees on a regular basis to see how they’re doing.

Finally, the key to keeping employees engaged while working remotely is to ensure that they feel supported and connected to the company and their coworkers. You can help your remote employees feel engaged and motivated even when they are not physically present in the office if you have the right tools and strategies in place.