Recognizing and rewarding your employees is important whether you have an in-house team or a fully remote workforce. In fact, studies have shown that both job productivity and satisfaction increase when people are recognized for their hard work.
As remote employment becomes more common, it’s still just as important to show your team that you’re grateful for their contributions to your organization. It may look a little different than when everyone was in the office together or regularly able to attend work functions. Below are some ways you can encourage and reward your remote employees.
Send a Remote Work Gift Bag
It’s great to send gifts when you’re first onboarding new employees, but it can also go a long way for long-time employees that have transitioned to working from home. Helping them to create an office space that is comfortable and accessible is something that they are likely to appreciate.
While you can always go with branded gifts, they aren’t necessarily the only option. Some businesses have even sent plants as part of a work-from-home gift bag since plants are supposed to improve morale.
Whatever you choose to send, include a heartfelt note that lets your employees know you care and you appreciate everything they do.
Create a “Thank You” Group Chat
A Slack Channel or group chat dedicated to giving kudos is a great tool to bring the team together and build camaraderie. Encourage employees to give each other kudos whenever someone goes above and beyond. Management can also pass kudos on to their own teams or to other teams who have significantly helped theirs.
Simply reaching out can increase team engagement – plus, the public kudos will make people feel good about what they’re doing. It’s a win-win situation.
Allocate a Budget Towards Meals and Equipment
Did you provide catering as a perk when everyone worked in the office? Consider adding a small meal stipend for your employees so they can still enjoy the benefits that they signed up for when they were working in an office setting. You may also want to provide a budget for office supplies and occasionally consider sending small gifts like a free donut on National Donut Day.
You’ll be surprised at how far little gestures can go!
Continue to Promote from Within
One of the best ways to encourage and reward remote employees (or any employees, for that matter) is to remind them that they are a critical part of your business. Make sure that you’re offering regular trainings, opportunities to learn, and chances to grab a promotion to your existing team.
When people feel valued and know that there is a path towards growth, they are much more likely to remain with your business. This helps prevent employee turnover, saving your organization money and likely improving the overall client experience.
Remember that your team needs kudos, even if they aren’t in the office every day for you to see what they’re doing. Communicate often and make sure that your people know that they’re appreciated!
Questions about how to continue encouraging and rewarding remote employees? Contact Prescott HR today. We offer a wide variety of HR services to help you manage your remote team.