This post was written by Amber Gibson, MS, LMHC, Employee Assistance Program, Parkview Health.
In today’s world, it’s increasingly common for companies to allow employees to work remotely or to have entire programs where employees work from home. While there are many benefits to working from home, there are also potential pitfalls that are often overlooked by both employees and their employers.
One of the biggest issues reported is that remote employees often feel isolated and disconnected from other people. And companies can see high turnover when employees are feeling dissatisfied with their position and role at the company. Upwards of 24% of employees are likely to quit jobs when they don’t feel the work culture is a good fit. Additionally, research has shown that when people feel lonely it impacts their mental health and the way they manage stress, both of which can lead to lower productivity and work quality.
Luckily, there are ways to build a strong work culture while still working remotely. Here are four tips for helping employees feel connected and enhancing communication for remote teams.
Four tips for keeping remote teams connected
Tip No. 1 – Vary methods of communication
Emails are often quick and efficient, but they are also easy for people to ignore or overlook. There is also a risk with email that details will be miscommunicated or information might be taken the wrong way. That’s why, in some instances, a phone call might be a better communication tool. Phone calls allow for information to be shared clearly and clarifications to be provided quickly, and the participants have the benefit of hearing each other’s tone of voice.
Video chats work well for collaboration on projects and for meetings, but remember, sometimes people can feel burnt out with video, so consider allowing just audio during meetings and collaboration, depending on the purpose of the meeting and who is present.
Tip No. 2 – Find ways for coworkers to connect on a personal level
In an office, it’s common to celebrate birthdays and events in each other’s lives, as well as to support one another during difficult times. This is often an aspect of working together that gets overlooked when employees work off site, but building this supportive bond among coworkers is still possible with time and effort. For example, you could keep a calendar where events can be listed and shared or send shout outs for celebrations and coworker accomplishments. You could even have virtual parties. If celebrating someone in particular, you could send them a gift in the mail or drop one off at their home.
It's also a great idea to have coworkers connect in person a few times a year. You could have an employee retreat, barbecue or even just in-person meetings for big events or projects a couple times a year.
Tip No. 3 – Encourage virtual team building
When working remotely, it’s easy to only connect with coworkers when sharing work information, but that doesn’t always help us feel connected to other individuals or like we’re part of a team. It’s important to help foster interpersonal connection. You could do this through virtual coffee breaks or water cooler chats. Try scheduling break times where team members can connect virtually on a casual level, even if just for a few minutes at a time. Having these chat times scheduled throughout the week gives people a chance to join when they are available. Another idea is to allow time for casual conversation at the start of meetings. Ask someone to share a story about something interesting or funny that’s happened to them this week. Other virtual team building ideas are hosting a virtual contest or challenge, like door decorating for a holiday or an online treasure hunt.
Tip No. 4 – Don’t be afraid to get creative
There are many resources and platforms available to help us connect virtually. Two common tools are Microsoft Teams and Slack, which allow for building different channels for sharing information and connecting. Using these tools in creative ways can help you find more comradery among your coworkers. For example, you could start Slack channels for different hobbies or interest groups, or even just as a place to share funny memes. As working virtually becomes more common, there are more and more ideas on the internet for ways employees can connect. Greatplacestowork.com and Pinterest are great resources for finding other creative ways to connect with coworkers remotely.
As the work culture continues to shift further into remote work, remember to take the time to ensure your employees feel connected. Communication and connection go hand in hand, and are two of the biggest factors in job satisfaction. When people feel connected, they want to do a good job on their work and to be a part of the team. This not only helps improve their mental health but will increase job productivity and retainment as well.
A means for area businesses to give employees access to vital counseling services
Parkview Employee Assistance Program (EAP) partners with businesses and organizations to offer counseling services as a benefit to employees and their families. Confidential and professional counseling are offered in-person or virtually via a computer, smartphone or tablet and can assist in a variety of areas including:
- Alcohol and drug dependence
- Crisis intervention
- Divorce difficulties
- Emotional difficulties
- Family/relationship difficulties
- Financial counseling
- Grief and loss
- Personal and work stress
- And more
Consult your employer to see if an employee assistance program is an available benefit to you.
Contact Parkview Employer Solutions to partner with our EAP team at 260-373-9017 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
Sources
Cigna
Greatplacetowork.com
