when working from home?

how

can you keep your employees engaged...

...when working from home?

Remote working, once enjoyed only by a small group of people, has been made a normality due to COVID-19. The continuous uncertainty around office working due to the ever-evolving pandemic keeps bringing us back home but while we’re staying safe, are we engaged? Discover how to keep productivity and engagement levels high when working from home.

Communication is vital to a successful team, especially to a team that’s working remotely. A natural component of being in the office – chatting and sharing ideas with your colleagues – becomes challenging when working remotely. But working from home doesn’t mean we have to be isolated, on the contrary, it’s important to keep both social and professional connections, to stay engaged. Setting ‘social’ times in your calendar can remind you to talk to your colleagues, while managers should ensure their employees feel seen and heard, wherever they are working. Building these relationships will increase employee satisfaction, business loyalty and team engagement, the need for these is magnified when working remotely.

This task may seem less daunting if we consider the tools available to help us sustain communication. Microsoft Teams and Zoom have become household names and rightfully so, bridging the physical gap between co-workers and nourishing collaboration. Additionally, the rise of United Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) technology during the pandemic, has shown us the importance of owning the right tech! Agile and hybrid working have been widely adopted, making working from home a constant rather than a temporary solution. Supporting this, we are seeing a shift from embedded speakers and grainy cameras to professional equipment that’s making remote working feel less remote.

Recent developments such as the “Great Resignation” is an indication that workers are less inclined to tolerate poor company culture, rightfully prioritising self-development and well-being. Companies and CEOs must acknowledge this new climate and act on it. While offering ping-pong tables and free coffee might work in the office, such perks must now translate to the digital world and a remote workplace. Consider treating your employees with care packages and encourage well-being. Workers that feel valued are more dedicated and engaged in their role.

Eliminating distractions and other disruptions can prove successful. If their home office is disturbed by outside noises, sound-masking and noise-cancelling technology could improve focus. Distractions aren’t limited to coming from outside. If your tech isn’t performing or doesn’t provide the functions or quality you require, it can be a big distraction. Ensuring remote workers get the right technology can help improve time-management and productivity. Consider what essential technology each employee needs, the technology and quality of technology may differ between job roles, for example external sales reps may need professional lighting, video and audio, whereas internal teams may only need efficient video and audio and use their room lighting.

Enabling stronger working relationships, encouraging well-being and self-development in the workplace is vital in keeping your employees engaged. Productivity is a by-product of engagement that can be achieved through various methods but most importantly through keeping communication and collaboration alive. Don’t forget to consider the right technology to facilitate these strategies and invest in your remote workforce. We are living in the digital world where Microsoft Teams and Zoom calls reign supreme and Midwich also has the tools to accommodate remote working in our UC&C offering.