Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in January 2017 and has since been updated to incorporate new research and remote employee gift ideas.
Not long ago, sharing news with your team might’ve involved a quick in-person huddle. Today, many (if not most) of those same types of meetings require audio, video and screen-sharing technology because of remote work. According to a 2020 survey of CEOs, 78% believe remote collaboration is here to stay (PDF). That’s changing the way we connect and how we share information. Keeping remote employees engaged is incredibly important to maintaining company culture and helping them feel like part of the team. With help from these tips and remote employee gift ideas, you can start to better engage your work-at-home staff.
Amp up audio quality with speakers
Out of sight, out of mind. That’s the biggest risk for your remote team. To help everyone feel like a part of the team and boost morale, hold regular meetings, team building activities and social gatherings online. According to GetVoIP, 80% of employees use video calling for 1:1 meetings. To improve the audio quality of those calls, give your remote team members a Fierce Floating Wireless Speaker. A remote employee gift like that looks great in their workspace and delivers crisp sound without wires.
Help staff connect on-the-go with portable ear buds
The most important aspect to successfully engaging remote employees is communication. In fact, GetVoIP states that 87% of remote employees say they feel more connected and involved with teams and projects when using video conferencing. Video chat works well because it’s the closest thing to personal interaction. To make the interactions smooth, give a remote employee gift that’s super portable, like Epic True Wireless Ear Buds, which are perfect for audio conferencing no matter where they are.
Recognize their efforts with an official plaque
Employees want to be recognized for their efforts no matter whether they work remotely or in an office. According to Survey Monkey, most people (63%) who feel always or usually recognized are very unlikely to seek a new job in the next 3-6 months. Let your staff know you see their efforts. Next time you have an all-team video meeting, thank them for something they did well and announce that you’re sending them a Juno Wood Plaque to hang in their home office. A traveling award can be a great way to recognize entire remote teams. Imprint “Team of the Month” on an Art Glass Fusion Plaque that can grace each remote team members’ desks throughout the year.
Engaging a remote workforce requires discipline
The most important thing for keeping your remote workers engaged is to simply do it. Talk to them regularly, recognize them constantly, send remote employee gifts and include them just as much as you would in-office employees. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be well on your way managing to a successful remote workforce. If you’re looking for more ways to engage your work-from-home staff, check out these remote team-building activity ideas.