Has your organisation embraced remote working as a result of the pandemic? Keeping everyone connected and encouraging a positive workplace culture can be a challenge when some or all of your employees work from home on a regular basis.
Here are a few tips for engaging your employees - and boosting morale at the same time!
1. Install apps for instant communication
Smart collaboration and communication tools keep your employees connected and working together. Microsoft Teams and Zoom can be used for video conferencing, calls, hosting webinars and even online training sessions. Instant messaging platform Slack allows your team to communicate in real time. It arranges conversations into shared channels, which can be made private or public. Dropbox Business allows your teams to collaborate on content from any device or location.
2. Organise online team-building activities
From water cooler trivia to virtual scavenger hunts for everyday items, you’ll find plenty of online games that can help get your remote employees working as a team, and bring a bit of fun to the workplace. Hold a 'games hour' over lunch once a week or once a month.
3. Host remote ‘happy hours’
Friday after-work drinks at the pub are an Aussie tradition. Keep it alive by organising a 'happy hour' via video conferencing. You might also want to consider hosting casual video meetings at lunchtime each day for staff to join when it suits them. If weekly events are a bit challenging, an online get-together once a month still gives employees the chance to catch up, have a break and let off some steam.
4. Show appreciation from a distance
Work culture is often enhanced by the little things, like a quick ‘thank you’ as you pass someone’s desk or taking a productive employee out for a spontaneous lunch. Keep showing your appreciation online, to ensure remote employees feel valued. Ideas include sending virtual gift cards and scheduling team meetings with the specific reason of acknowledging someone’s hard work.
5. Hold COVID-safe staff events
Even though there are plenty of things you can do online to keep your workforce connected, nothing beats face-to-face interaction! It’s entirely possible to hold regular COVID-safe staff events to get everyone together in person and celebrate successes. Yummy Dogs is the ideal event catering option in Sydney. The hot dog cart or stand can be set up anywhere from the car park to the office courtyard or even a roof terrace for a COVID-safe outdoor event. There's no cutlery or plates to worry about, and social distancing is easy to maintain when food is served from a single point. Everything you need is supplied, with staff to safely serve employees and uphold hygiene protocols.
The pandemic has forced many changes on workplaces the world over. But once you get into the swing of things by implementing a few engagement strategies, you’ll be on your way to creating a virtual workplace culture that’s motivating and productive for your remote employees.