When employee recognition is absent, morale takes a nosedive and productivity suffers.
With many people working from home for the foreseeable future, demonstrating that appreciation can present a challenge. Fortunately, remote employee recognition spans a wide gamut, affording you the opportunity to give back to your employees in a variety of ways.
Regardless of the size of your team or your budget, here are some ideas to celebrate the hardworking people who add so much to your organization.
Start by choosing to go the extra mile. Making your employees feel valued is a vital component of a strong business model. To have an impact, those gestures can’t feel hollow or meaningless. A bland email about a work anniversary, for example, isn’t going to win anyone over. Instead, step up your game and send a thoughtful, handwritten thank you note to their home. Because employees in a remote work environment can’t sense your appreciative cues as readily as onsite workers, you have to take some extra steps. Going beyond their expectations can have a dramatic positive effect on the overall morale and engagement of your employees.
Decrease feelings of isolation by fostering a community vibe. Much of the focus on remote work is placed on how staff members interact with management, but that’s only one aspect of employment. Another significant part of the traditional work experience involves the office community. You can create a virtual community by organizing online chats, facilitating video conferences, and encouraging workers to share ideas and communicate through social media groups. When there’s active involvement in a community, feelings of separation and disconnection decrease.
Organize work-free virtual gatherings. You may be physically apart, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting together for some fun every now and then. Host periodic virtual breakfasts, lunches, or happy hours using Zoom or JoinMe. You can even have food delivered to your team members as an added treat. Uber Eats for Business and GrubHub Corporate are two of the many companies that offer group catering and delivery for remote staff. In addition to celebrating team wins and individual accomplishments, use these get-togethers to build a stronger connection with your staff members.
Make it personal. Group communication has its place, but one-on-one phone calls and online chats create a different level of individual recognition that allows you to focus on each person. Keep the conversations casual and informal, and strive to learn more about your remote employees during this time.
Send old-school thank you notes. In a world filled with emails and online chat, there’s something very special about receiving a physical letter or package in the mail. Send each member of your team a handwritten thank you note and get specific about their individual contributions. If budgets allow, you can even include a gift card to recognize personal events or professional successes. While Amazon is one great choice and has just about every item you can think of, other companies offer something a little different, such as:
- Instacart (grocery delivery)
- Lululemon (comfortable athletic apparel)
- Book of the Month Club (for avid readers)
- Best Buy (electronics)
- Chewy (pet products)
- Universal Yums (treats from different parts of the world)
Be consistent in your recognition efforts. Positive reinforcement needs to be delivered regularly to keep employees engaged and motivated. Whatever efforts you choose to make, they should not be a “one and done” deal, nor should you limit them to work anniversaries and birthdays. In the realm of appreciation, spontaneity has its place, too.
Remote employee appreciation begins with awareness. Take a step back and reflect on how your staff has helped the business succeed.
Then, turn that appreciation into tangible ideas that your team members will enjoy. You might be surprised at how small gestures can dramatically enhance your company culture.
Whether your employees are working down the hall or across the country, showing your sincere appreciation is important. If you’re seeking more clever ways to recognize your remote workers, The HR Team is here with the resources you need. Please contact our experienced professionals to learn more.
About The HR Team: Founded in 1996, The HR Team is a Maryland-based human resources outsourcing firm committed to developing strategic, customized solutions that respond to the unique needs and cultures of organizations of all types and sizes. Available as a one-source alternative to an in-house HR department or on an à la carte project basis, the company’s flexible service models address the full spectrum of HR needs that many organizations struggle to address. The HR Team helps clients achieve their highest level of success by providing value-driven human resources services that leave them time to focus on what they do best: directing business growth and profitability. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, the firm serves all of Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. To learn more about The HR Team, call 410.381.9700 or visit https://www.thehrteam.com/.