Here’s how you can keep remote employees motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic

Here’s how you can keep remote employees motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies around the world to adopt a remote work setup. While remote working has many benefits for employees, it also makes it difficult for them to remain motivated at home

Here are some useful tips to keep your remote staff productive and engaged:

1. Communicate often

Effective communication among teams and departments is essential in a remote work setup.

Ensure this by keeping your staff constantly updated about company events and developments If your organization is experiencing revenue issues, for instance, inform your employees about it and what is being done to rectify the situation.

You can also conduct weekly online meetings to update everyone on project progress. Doing so helps them stay motivated, meet deadlines, and contribute to your company’s success.

2. Recognize outstanding employees

Acknowledging top performers and those who put in the extra effort at work is a powerful way to keep your remote workers motivated.

Use collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Slack to recognize exceptional employees. Highlight your employee's achievements to the entire team, and reward them with bonuses or free online courses for career development. Take this opportunity to motivate others to work hard as well.

3. Offer work schedule flexibility

Your employees’ home environment may not be as conducive to productivity compared to a traditional office, so allow them to work their preferred shift. By doing so, your staff has more control over their daily lives, resulting in increased productivity.

To illustrate, one of your employees might prefer to work earlier than the usual shift. Another may want to offset their work to another day because of an unexpected errand. As long as they can collaborate with their teammates and meet deadlines, there should be no problem giving your employees more control over their work schedules.

4. Teach time management techniques

Personal matters at home can disrupt your employees' workflow. Help employees manage their time more effectively and stay motivated for longer by using time management techniques.

For instance, the Pomodoro technique divides the workday into 25-minute intervals, with short breaks in between. Meanwhile, the Getting Things Done method helps workers accomplish their tasks by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.

5. Encourage post-work rituals

A post-work ritual is a series of small tasks that your employees can perform at the end of their workday. It serves as a reminder to turn off their work brain so they can focus on their relationships, hobbies and personal goals. This also reduces the risk of work from home burnout.

An effective post-work ritual your employees can practice is shutting down their laptop and storing it in an area where they cannot easily access it. They can also mute all notifications from work applications or do things they enjoy, such as walking their dog or cooking a nice meal.

6. Gather feedback

You will likely experience some issues with your remote work setup, so it’s essential to gather feedback from your staff. Use apps like Google Forms or Officevibe to ask employees what they like or dislike about your current remote work policy. Include a section where they can share ideas on how your company can better motivate the team and what incentives can boost productivity. These ideas are especially helpful in shaping and enhancing your company policies.

As your employees continue working from home, you need to keep your IT systems running optimally. Founders Technology Group can help by making sure that your files and apps are accessible 24/7/365 and free from any issues. Talk to our experts today to learn more.