How to Treat Your Remote Employees Like They’re in the Office
Posted August 24th, 2016
As the percentage of the workforce that works remotely continues to increase, it can be challenging to help keep them integrated with the rest of the team. In order to forge the positive relationships necessary to keep business moving forward, while also asserting that the remote employees are just as critical to the team’s function as those in the office, certain steps should be taken to promote this connection.
Include them in the Decision Making Process
If you are making a decision based on input from the members of your team, be sure to include the input of employees working remotely as well as those working in the office. It can be easy to forget how the changes may affect the employees that you don’t see every day, but their input can be just as valuable to a team’s overall success as any other member.
In order to keep them involved, make sure your meeting technologies are designed to be friendly to remote employees. This can include investing in web-based conferencing technologies to allow remote workers the opportunity to actively participate in discussions, as well as using communication tools that promote accessibility throughout the work day.
High quality communication tools allow team members to communicate in a way that is natural and fluid, allowing ideas to develop organically while promoting the sharing of important information.
Promote Social Engagements
Remote workers who are based out of their homes often miss the social interactions that come with a more traditional work environment. In order to help encourage them to participate in the more social aspects of the workplace culture, be sure to include them in invitations to gatherings that may occur within their local area.
In cases where remote employees are separated by a significant distance, consider connecting remote employees to others working in their area, or provide a mechanism to allow them to use certain co-working spaces on a regular basis to add a different level of interaction to their daily routine.
Remain Connected
Most supervisors are automatically privy to certain information regarding the lives of their team members through the daily chatter that occurs naturally. Remote workers often miss out on opportunities to discuss current circumstances that may impact their work performance. In order to stay on top of any relevant developments, it is important to check in on a regular basis in order to discuss any challenges or concerns a remote employee may be experiencing.
Additionally, it is important to make sure that remote employees feel as valued as those who work in the office. This can include making extra efforts to compliment them for a job well done or to make sure accomplishments and achievements are properly recognized. If a team member in the office would traditionally have certain accomplishments acknowledged in front of the group, then it should be the same for remote employees. Making the effort to acknowledge them through web-based staff meetings can help promote a sense of belonging between remote workers and those in the traditional environment.
If you are looking for additional ways to integrate your remote employees in with the rest of your team, or are looking for a new remote team member, the professionals at Bayside Solutions are here to help. Contact us today!
