With the sudden shift in working environments, many businesses face new challenges regarding employee engagement. With 92% of workers expecting to work at least one day per week from home, finding the right solution to manage your hybrid workforce can be challenging. While you can still interact with your employees at least a couple of times per week, managing them will take time and considerable effort.
The truth is remote, and in-house employees need different tools and incentives to thrive. On top of that, their productive output can differ drastically, especially when employees are working remotely.
For instance, some report that they are far more productive working remotely, while others still feel that working in the office is better. However, hybrid work is taking the best of the two methods and enabling employees to work their way.
With the methods shared below, you will be fine keeping all your hybrid employees engaged even when they are not in the office.
Create a Meaningful Connection With Your Workforce
Meaningful relationships are the glue that binds any organization together. From creating a cohesive team to caring about projects, having strong bonds between hybrid members of your workforce can take you further in achieving success than ever before, no matter which industry sector you’re operating within.
So, don’t just focus on putting a nice contract before your employees and outlining their tasks. Get to know them and see what motivates them to bring their A-game time and time again, regardless of whether they are working from the comfort of their home or in the office.
It’s no secret that establishing communication with your hybrid team can be quite tricky, which can lead to many problems, such as missed deadlines. You should set up a channel to engage with your workforce anytime to combat this. Slack and Microsoft Teams are the most popular communication platforms and you can choose whichever fits your needs best. This will enable you to interact with employees seamlessly.
Furthermore, you can also use remote employee management software to ensure that you are constantly connected with your hybrid workforce and that they are always on track with their task at hand. This will also help them resolve certain bottlenecks that they are experiencing.
Keep Employees up to Date
Showing your team that their opinions matter can keep them motivated and engaged with the company. Regularly scheduling one-on-ones is a great way to ensure remote employees don’t feel disconnected. It allows everyone to share ideas and discuss potential challenges your business may be facing.
Furthermore, you should always provide your hybrid workers with reasonable deadlines and ensure that they receive the same share of work as your regular employees.
Offer Training Opportunities
Providing accessible resources and training is essential to keeping hybrid employees engaged. Employers should ensure that remote workers have access to the same materials and courses as those that work in person.
This can include webinar presentations, online tutorials, web-based classes, and membership sites. In addition, training materials should be tailored to remote and in-office employees and include product knowledge, client relations, technology updates, compliance regulations, and more. Online resources can also provide guides on staying productive while working from home or dealing with virtual fatigue.
By providing training opportunities for both in-person and remote workers, employers can foster an inclusive workplace environment where everyone is given equal growth opportunities.
Recognize Success and Celebrate it Together
When your company hits remarkable achievements, it is important to commemorate the milestone. Celebrate with your employees, in-person or virtually, and recognize their professional contributions that helped lay a foundation for success.
If it’s not possible to gather the entire team in the same room, hosting an engaging virtual event will make it easier to recognize these notable accomplishments.
Bottom Line
The transition to hybrid work environments presents special considerations for employee engagement. Fortunately, employers can set up their hybrid teams for success with the right tools and strategies. Building meaningful relationships, ensuring everyone is informed, offering available resources and training opportunities, as well as celebrating victories are all effective ways to maintain a motivated and connected team.
Employers should also provide virtual team-building activities to help foster creative engagement and collaboration. By committing to these practices, employers will create an inclusive working environment where employees of all backgrounds can thrive regardless of where they work.
