For many businesses up and down the country, remote working was introduced as a precautionary measure to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic. However, the benefits associated with this approach to working are clear. Not only can it save your business money, but it has also been known to increase productivity, efficiency, and workplace satisfaction rates across the board.
Whatsmore, a recent study has found that employees are now calling for a hybrid model to be introduced within the workplace. This is because a “hybrid model can help organizations make the most of talent wherever it resides, lower costs, and strengthen organizational performance.”
However, if going remote (full-time or part-time) is part of your business plan, you cannot allow employee wellbeing to be sidelined just because you aren’t meeting face to face each day. Doing so could lead to disaster for your business, resulting in high turnover rates.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to take better care of your remote workers!
Provide them with access to the right tools and equipment.
Whenever an employee enters the office, they’ll have access to everything they need to get the job done right – from technology to a comfortable chair. However, there’s a high likelihood that they do not yet have a similar setup at home. As a result, you should help your employees design the perfect home office by providing them with a budget to spend on office equipment. For example, instead of encouraging them to work from their sofa, you should cover the cost of Drafting Chairs. Drafting chairs have an ergonomic design, maximizing comfort throughout the day.
Focus on communication.
Effective communication is vital in any workplace, in regards to both the task at hand and employee bonding. Of course, this means that there are certain challenges associated with going remote, as it’s a little harder to communicate from behind a screen. As a result, you should invest in a range of communication strategies that ensure your team continues to feel connected. For example, you could still host in-person events once a month, where the team can interact in person.
Take on feedback.
As an employer, your team may not always be willing to approach you directly with complaints for fear of losing their job. As a result, this can make it harder for you to identify why your team isn’t excited about work or make changes. Thankfully, you can combat this by asking for feedback regularly, perhaps through an anonymous form. This will enable you to identify remote working pain points and find suitable solutions as a team.
Continue to support employee growth.
When an employee signed up to work for your company, they likely did so as they believed you would provide them with an opportunity to grow and develop professionally. If you want to maintain good employee retention rates, then you cannot allow this growth to be stunted based on the fact they are working from home. As a result, you should present them with plenty of career development opportunities, such as online learning courses and assessments.
