Employers manage a large number of remote employees in today’s world. Investing in tools to help you communicate with your team is crucial for keeping everyone happy and productive.

According to a Gallup poll, the average U.S. employee is putting in 5 1/2 hours of work a day outside of normal working hours. Implementing tools that allow remote employees to interact with their team members will enable them to feel connected and productive while they continue to perform their daily duties from home or on the go.

Gone are the days where being an office worker meant going into the office at 9 am and leaving at 5 pm every day. Employers have already begun to cater to their employees’ growing need for flexibility; some are now promoting flexible schedules, allowing time off during weekdays instead of weekends, and providing more options for people who want to work from home. This is great news for professionals who would rather work from the comfort of their own home or take advantage of free time on weekends to relax, rather than spending hours and hours in a cubicle staring at a computer.

The majority of companies now have remote workers, with over two million people working primarily from home in one year in the U.S alone. And this number is growing every day. With more and more employers implementing flexible schedules, working from home can be not only convenient for employees but also beneficial for employers, who save money by not having to pay additional office space rental fees (and other costs) as well as saving time by having team members come up with new ideas outside of the workplace without needing to make them presentable. 

Companies that allow remote work usually provide their employees with some tools to help them feel connected to their team. Tools like video conferencing allow employees to interact and collaborate with other workers across the world in a secure environment using their webcams and microphones. This provides opportunities for remote workers to meet up during working hours on a daily basis, giving them the chance to catch up on important work-related tasks together or simply chat and hang out.

But virtual communication is only one of the many ways you can stay in touch with your employees remotely. Here are some tips from an article by Forbes that will help your remote employees feel connected while they work at home:

1) Keep personal contact alive: Even if you’re working long distances, it’s still important to keep a personal touch alive. It’s easy to get used to communicating only through emails, but once in a while, try calling or sending an actual letter. It’s like a breath of fresh air- humans are inherently social creatures and we like the sound of another human voice, so add some variety into your communication with team members by using phone calls or letters from time to time. 

2) Communicate regularly: When it comes to remote workers, the more you communicate, the better. That way everyone will know about new company projects, new policies, and everything else that goes on at your organization. As Forbes points out: “Regular communication allows people to feel connected even if they’re working long distance “. Plus, regular meetings are a great opportunity for employees to ask questions and voice concerns they might have.

3) Hold ‘meetings’ from home: Even if you’re working remotely, it doesn’t mean you can’t have team meetings. In fact, Forbes recommends that “Holding off-site virtual meetings are a great way to cut down on costs for companies “. So if you hold regular off-site meetings anyway, why not use web conferencing tools to do so? You’ll save money on travel expenses and your employees will be able to connect with each other without having to worry about getting stuck in traffic or sitting in an uncomfortable waiting room.

4) Offer training programs: If your company has ongoing training programs, try providing them online. It makes life easier for both the employee and the employer. Employees can learn at their own pace, save time on the commute to work, and stay connected with the rest of their team. Arranging training through Zoom or Webex also means that employees don’t have to worry about losing out on work time because they’re attending a class.

5) Remote employees are not exempt from company guidelines: One of the most common mistakes companies make when it comes to managing remote workers is forgetting that they do still need to be managed. Since you rarely see them in person and might even have trouble remembering some names, there’s a greater risk for you (and other managers) to forget who they really are. Forbes reminds us: “Even though people work remotely, remember these people are still your employees. You still need to give them feedback on their performance and still need to provide direction. “.

6) Provide incentives for a job well done: One of the advantages of managing remote workers is that you can do this without having to worry about providing incentives for good work. But even if they’re already working at home, it’s important not to let your employees feel disconnected from the rest of your team. Try putting some money aside each month so that when a certain project or achievement is met by all team members, you can treat everyone to something fun and exciting like going out for dinner together.

Conclusion:

If you’re one of the many companies who’ve embraced remote working as a way to create a more flexible and productive workforce, here are some great tips from Forbes with advice on how to help your employees feel more connected. That way, both you and your team will benefit from the flexibility remote work offers in addition to the savings when it comes to managing an international workforce.