Recently, the shift from working in the office to working from home has been abrupt. This sudden shift in work setting can leave many employers and employees unprepared for the challenges this could pose.
Aside from the lack of face to face interactions and the convenience of talking to your employees whenever you need to, working remotely can also keep them isolated from each other. It can be hard to keep them engaged and motivated in this setup.
However, as a business owner, it is in your best interest to maintain your company and keep your employees happy. One way to do this is through employee engagement. To keep your staff engaged and connected, here are five simple solutions you can try.
Conduct regular check-ins
Conducting regular check-ins are one of the many ways you can emulate face to face interactions. This can be in the form of one on one meetings with your employees, or as a group to check-in with their progress at work. Either way, constant communication is the key to staying connected and engaged with your team while working from home.
It is important to conduct these meetings at least once a week. Doing this helps you assess the situation of each one, whether it concerns their work or personal life. In these unprecedented times, a lot of stressors can lower employee morale and make them less productive at work. Regular check-ins help reduce that gap.
Use effective team collaboration tools
Working from home requires the use of effective and efficient team collaboration tools. Because you can’t talk to your teammate instantly like you could have in the office, a platform for team collaboration is crucial. This platform can easily keep track of projects, deadlines, and deliverables from everyone involved in the project.
One way to implement this is through an intranet. An intranet can effectively host collaborative platforms, document managers, and communication channels that streamlines the workload among the team, even with everyone working from home. Ensure your intranet has all the features your staff may need to stay engaged and productive.
Implement an employee reward system
According to Monster, 69% of employees are experiencing burnout while working from home. You can counter this by implementing an employee reward system. This reward system can be about their daily tasks or for leisure. A reward system can help boost their morale and keep them motivated.
For instance, you can conduct weekly quizzes, trivia games, or any other fun activity with a prize. You can reward employees for simply attending, as well as give out prizes to the winners of every game. This is an effective way to keep everyone engaged, motivated, and relaxed while working from home.
Online team buildings
Online team buildings operate on the same concept as the usual team buildings. The only difference is the platform, though the end result remains the same; to build rapport and trust within your employees.
Hosting online team building events can definitely shorten the gap of remote work among your staff. Doing this would not only be a welcome change of events from the monotony of desk work, but it will also keep your employees connected. This is especially helpful if your company has a lot of new hires.
Send thoughtful or fun care packages
One of the benefits office workers enjoyed in the past was the abundance of freebies they got, whether for a meeting or company event. Sending thoughtful or fun care packages recreates that feeling in your staff. It also makes them feel cared for. After all, nothing says ‘I care and think about your wellbeing’ than sending a care package.
All of these solutions can be implemented through a comprehensive intranet system. Ensure your intranet has the right tools and features to keep your team connected while working from home.
Boost employee morale and maintain the productivity of your employees through any of these five simple solutions. Nothing promotes employee retention more than compassionate employers who truly care about their staff. Especially in these trying times, a little compassion and communication goes a long way.
