Many companies now allow, and even encourage, remote work after seeing how beneficial it can be for both the business and their employees. Remote work has also allowed businesses to source talent from all over the world, something that would not have been possible with employees coming into the office. The remote work experience employees have directly affects not only their productivity but also their personal lives. It is also a key indicator of employee satisfaction and turnover. Businesses have to ensure that their employees have the best experiences no matter where they work from. Here are a few strategies to help with that.
Design Messaging Systems that Support Remote Employees
Loneliness and isolation can crop up if employees feel like they are working in a vacuum. To ensure this does not happen, businesses have to set up ways for remote employees to stay in touch with other employees. These messaging systems should also be intuitive to use and encourage communication instead of hindering it.
Having a system that lets employees know when they have received a message is great, but it should not be too intrusive or distracting. The messages themselves should also be short and to the point, with managers encouraged to only communicate exactly what they need to and nothing else.
Encourage Activities Not Related to Work
Remote employees are usually at risk of working too much because of a poor work-life balance. Many remote employees find it difficult to separate their work from their personal lives, something that can have a detrimental effect not only on their work but also on their personal lives.
It is therefore crucial that managers encourage their employees to take up activities that have nothing to do with their jobs so they have an interest or interests that are separated from their work. Doing so helps reduce instances of employee burnout as well as both physical and mental stress.
There are so many things employees can take up as hobbies or external interests. A great example is gaming because almost everyone can find a game they will like that takes them out of the work mindset.
For employees interested in gaming, getting a 24″ inch gaming monitor coupled with a sufficiently-powered PC would be a great idea. Managers might also find that the new setup helps improve productivity and output since these setups are usually more powerful than what most people already use for their work.
Create Collaborative Work Environments
Working together is always much better than working alone. This also applies to remote work. Make it possible for your remote employees to collaborate and work side to side with in-office employees. Make it easier for them to access all the resources they need to do so.
Businesses can do this by having secure servers and collaborative services that allow and encourage rather than hinder remote collaborations.
Conclusion
All indications point to remote work being a significant part of the future. Businesses would do well to invest in their remote employees, encouraging them and giving them the tools they need to not feel isolated while ensuring and even encouraging collaboration and streamlined workflows no matter where employees are located.