With the Covid-19 regulations, most companies continuously shift from the brick and mortar structures to online workspaces. Managing remote employees can be challenging if the HR team is disorganized. There is a need to establish the required elements to enhance the smooth running of business operations and to engage remote employees.
Here are 5 virtual HR initiatives to engage remote workers.
Develop a Remote Work Playbook
Shifting from a physical to a virtual work environment can be challenging to both the employees and the management team. Your HR team should establish regular working hours, meetings, and communication channels. Besides, your HR should develop problem-solving initiatives in case the remote employees encounter difficulties. In the end, proper planning will reduce confusion and increase employee engagement.
Incorporate Routine Virtual Employee Coffee Breaks
In an ordinary work environment, employees engage in quick coffee breaks where they interact. These breaks play a significant role in advancing employee engagement and performance. In this case, your HR team should set aside 15 to 30 minutes for the remote employees to engage in virtual small talk as they take coffee.
Additionally, your HR should regularly schedule these breaks and set ground rules for the interactions. These aspects will make them orderly, resulting in employee rejuvenation. Ultimately, your employees will remain positively engaged and boost productivity.
Embrace Fun Virtual Meetings
Virtual work environment incorporates virtual face to face meetings. However, virtual meetings can be boring and reduce employee engagement if they are done wrongly. For instance, if these meetings are so many, your employees may not be excited about them. Therefore, there is a need for your HR team to limit these meetings and apply other forms of communication like emails where necessary.
Additionally, the meetings should not be led by one individual as this can lead to monotony and low participation. Your HR department should embrace inclusivity when scheduling virtual meetings. For instance, different remote employees should get opportunities to lead some virtual conferences to enhance their engagement.
Your HR and other planners should also inform remote employees about the virtual meeting's agenda and purpose. Such information will contribute to their preparation before they commence. Besides, the information reduces confusion among the employees as they offer the necessary contribution and feedback. In the end, the employee contribution enhances maximum worker engagement.
Team Building
Remote employees may feel disconnected from both the company and the other employees. The loneliness is due to the distance barrier that hinders physical connections. Isolation of remote employees is the basis of low worker engagement and productivity. Therefore, your HR team should promote virtual team building to promote employee interactions.
Your HR team building exercise should involve the employees’ wishes and preferences. The exercise should incorporate brainstorming sessions to enhance its effectiveness. Activities such as workshops, online board gaming sessions, and question sessions should be part of the employee bonding. These events enhance the unity of the employees regardless of their geographical locations. Eventually, the HR team building promotes employee engagement even in the remote workspaces.
Virtual Recognition and Knowledge Sharing Sessions
According to Forbes, recognition of employees' hard work and commitment contributes to your company's success. Identifying both the positive and negative attributes in the employees' performance plays a significant role in boosting employee engagement. Since remote teams meet virtually, your HR team should create virtual recognition programs to encourage the remote workers to do their best.
Apart from recognition, the HR team should use these virtual exercises as the basis for knowledge and skill sharing. Poor performance can be used as learning opportunities for remote employees to minimize errors in the future. Besides, the remarkable performances of specific employees should act as stepping stones to enhance the learning culture. In the end, these online sessions contribute to employee engagement and productivity.
Final Remarks
Employee engagement is a core factor in your company's success. Your HR team plays a significant role in fostering remote worker engagement. Without the right strategies, remote working can fail, leading to avoidable losses in your business. Given this, your HR should incorporate various initiatives to achieve remote worker engagement and company success. Your HR should develop a remote work playbook, incorporate routine virtual employee coffee breaks, and embrace fun virtual meetings. Also, they should engage in team-building and develop virtual recognition and knowledge sharing sessions. Ultimately, these initiatives will boost remote workers’ engagement for the success of your business.
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