Does your team have any remote employees? Remote employment is on the rise because it offers flexibility, convenience, and cost-effect staffing solutions for many businesses. Still, it can be hard to make remote employees really feel like part of the team.
If you have remote employees, you should make a concerted effort to include them in any holiday festivities. Remote workers often have high incidents of depression stemming from isolation. Ensuring that they feel valued can improve their work output, raise employee morale, and more.
Here’s how you can celebrate the holidays with remote employees.
1) Give gifts
Remote employees often expect to be forgotten by management. Counter their expectations by sending out gifts, especially if you give gifts to regular employees. The gifts don’t have to be expensive or particularly thoughtful; even including gift cards or cash is enough to make remote employees feel valued.
Don’t want to pay for postage? You don’t have to! Many remote employees, being tech-savvy already, will appreciate virtual gifts as well. Whether it’s an online gift card, virtual movie tickets, or a cash bonus, remote employees will appreciate it.
2) Invite them to celebrations
If your remote workers live nearby or attend the office every once in a while, extend an invitation to them to attend any holiday parties your business may be throwing. Whether they show up or not, this is a small gesture that can have a big impact. Having other team-members interact face-to-face with remote employees can be a fun change of pace.
But you can still invite remote employees even if they don’t live nearby. Thanks to video applications like Skype and Zoom, you can set up a live-stream of the holiday party and invite remote workers to tune in. It may not be as good as being in person…but it can still provide a sense of camaraderie.
3) Take the time to thank them
Without a lot of effort, remote employees can often be forgotten in day-to-day office needs. Taking the time to sign a thank you card, and mailing it, can show that you still appreciate the remote team-member’s work.
Holiday parties are also a time involving employee recognition. Be sure to include remote workers in being recognized, too. Even if they can’t attend the ceremony, awards can provide a sense of pride for them.
Need help finding the best software to celebrate with your remote workers? Call Vodigy! Vodigy specializes in helping small and medium-sized businesses find tech solutions that work for them. Contact us today!
