Are you finding it difficult to keep your remote staff motivated and engaged? As the workforce landscape continues to evolve, remote work has become increasingly common, and sometimes even the primary way some companies operate today. While remote work offers many benefits, such as flexibility and increased productivity, it also presents unique challenges for employee engagement. Further, research from Gartner in April 2023, shows that employees are 12% more likely to leave their workplaces if employers don’t establish explicit hybrid work norms. But fear not! We have compiled a list of the top 10 employee engagement ideas for remote employees. Read on to learn how you can boost engagement and create a more connected, motivated remote team, while building more commitment to your company.
Recognition and Rewards Programs
Remote staff often miss out on the informal employee recognition and feedback that comes from in-person interactions. Implement a recognition and rewards program to acknowledge and appreciate hard work. This could include regular shout-outs in team meetings, virtual badges or stickers, or even virtual gift cards. Recognizing remote workers’ contributions can go a long way in boosting their motivation and engagement.
Virtual Coffee Chats
Encourage virtual coffee chats between team members using video calls to increase social interaction. These informal connections help replicate the watercooler conversations that often happen in the office. Individuals can share ideas, collaborate, use this time to catch up, or discuss non-work-related topics or things happening in their personal lives. It helps people connect on a personal level and fosters a sense of belonging among those working on remote teams.
Professional Development Opportunities
Invest in the professional growth of your remote staff by providing them with opportunities for learning and development. Offer online training programs, webinars, or workshops relevant to their goals and interests to enhance their professional lives. Not only does this increase their skills, but it also shows that you are invested in their career growth and development, which can boost their engagement level and loyalty.
Virtual Town Halls
Organize regular virtual town halls or all-hands meetings to keep your remote employees informed about company updates, goals, and progress. These meetings provide a platform to ask questions, share feedback, and stay connected with the company’s vision and direction.
Employee Surveys
Conduct surveys on a regular basis to gather constructive feedback from remote workers about their experiences, challenges, and suggestions. Use this feedback to identify areas of improvement and make necessary changes. Involving remote employees in decision-making processes and addressing their concerns can make them feel valued and engaged.
Health and Wellness Initiatives
Remote staff may face challenges in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and building healthy habits. Promote health and wellness initiatives, such as virtual yoga or meditation sessions, wellness challenges, or mental health resources. Encouraging people to take care of their well-being can result in higher engagement and productivity.
Flexibility in Work Arrangements
Offer flexibility in work arrangements to accommodate different needs and preferences. This could include flexible working hours, compressed work weeks, or the option to work from different locations. Providing flexibility shows trust and respect towards remote staff, which can improve their engagement and satisfaction.
Virtual Employee Resource Groups
Create virtual employee resource groups (ERGs) for remote staff based on common interests, backgrounds, or affinities. ERGs provide a supportive community where people can connect, collaborate, and share ideas. They can also help foster diversity, inclusion, and belonging, which are critical components of employee engagement.
Communication and Collaboration Tools
Invest in reliable communication platforms and collaboration tools that facilitate seamless communication and collaboration. These tools enable remote staff to stay connected, share ideas, and collaborate on projects efficiently, creating a sense of teamwork and camaraderie.
Virtual Team-Building Activities
Just because your team is working remotely doesn’t mean you can’t foster team spirit and strengthen company culture! Organize virtual team-building activities that involve the entire team, such as meaningful volunteer opportunities, online games, trivia contests, and virtual happy hours. These activities provide opportunities to interact and bond, promoting team cohesion and a sense of community.
One remote employee engagement idea is to hold a MATTERbox food packing event. These easy to implement events can be done for remote staff, hybrid individuals, or those working in person, or a combination of any or all of these work styles!
MATTERbox packing events offer multiple benefits for employee engagement. Firstly, they provide a break from daily work routine and allow employees to engage in a fun and fulfilling activity, fostering team building and camaraderie among employees, leading to improved relationships and a positive work environment. Additionally, MATTERbox packing events offer an opportunity to give back to the community, boosting employee satisfaction and sense of purpose at work. MATTERbox packing events are customizable to align with a company’s values, mission, or specific causes important to employees, making them highly effective for staff engagement. They can also incorporate competition, recognition, and rewards, making them an enjoyable experience. Furthermore, these events can be inclusive, involving employees at all levels of the organization.
The evidence of the positive impact of MATTERbox packing events on engagement is supported by real-time feedback provided by participants. Through survey tools, actionable insights reveal that these events lead to more engaged employees and may even help reduce turnover. Benchmark engagement scores from MATTER surveys show high agreement among employees regarding the positive impact of volunteer events on the community, pride in working for a company that supports volunteering, increased job satisfaction, and enhanced loyalty towards the company.
Employee Engagement Ideas for Remote Employees = Win-Win
In conclusion, remote work presents unique challenges when it comes to creating and sustaining a strong company culture of engagement. But boosting employee retention and positive team morale, by finding ways to incorporate employee engagement activities for remote workers, is a must! Let MATTER help you with your virtual team building through a fun activity that leads to happier employees and a stronger culture. Reach out today to learn more about MATTERbox packing events and we hope you have discovered how employee engagement ideas for remote employees can help strengthen commitment, employee morale, and reinforce your company values.
