Remote work has been around for years now, but the COVID-19 pandemic has thrust it into the spotlight as a new norm for workers. According to a survey from Owl Labs, about 70% of U.S full-time employees are working from home during the pandemic. It is also believed that even after the pandemic is over, remote working is most likely to stay as half of these employees will seek jobs that offer remote work.
Employers are facing new challenges like remote onboarding and remote background checks. Despite the new setup, background checks remain a crucial step in the virtual hiring process. With many possible problems along the way, an employment background check has become even more important.
Now that many companies have settled into this new normal of remote work, the next step is considering what the best ways are to improve the employee experience. It takes more effort than ever to keep an engaged workforce.
How can employers foster growth and advancement remotely in these challenging times?
Here are some effective strategies and solutions to help guide you through improving employee engagement in the era of remote work.
Make easy-to-access tools more accessible to your employees.
We all know that a thorough employment background check can help screen the best talent for your company. Keeping them, however, is another story. Opportunities for talent development are crucial in keeping high-potential employees engaged. Investing in these talents by creating opportunities for career growth is one of the best ways to keep the best employees in your company. The easiest way to do this is to make easy-to-access tools even more accessible for your employees. You want these tools to make your virtual work environment a desired place for career growth.
Create opportunities for them to collaborate on projects.
Communication is a key component of any remote team. When employees feel that they are being left out or taken for granted, it’s easy to see why they might not be as engaged. Create opportunities for them to collaborate on projects that drive valuable results in your organization. You want to expose your remote employees to new opportunities and experiences. This can help gain their attention and interest which results in improved profiles and skillsets. At the same time, you get functional teams that are actively participating in the development of your company.
Build a platform where your remote employees can cultivate meaningful connections professionally and socially.
The best way to cultivate meaningful connections in a virtual environment is by creating a platform for your employees to share and connect around issues that are important for and to them. You can create a virtual group, a social platform, or a discussion board since these platforms encourage authentic engagement opportunities. Aside from that, employers can also use these platforms to show appreciation and celebrate the achievements of their remote employees.
Conclusion
We can’t deny that many of us are still adjusting to this new way of working. However, by using these strategies, we can keep our employees connected and engaged to face the challenges head-on.
