In some ways, the professional world is more cutthroat than it ever has been. Although we have laws and policies which try to promote equal opportunity and fairness, this hasn’t really made the world of work any less competitive. Now, things have become even more complicated given the rise of the coronavirus and its unfortunate consequences for the economy. Given the natural stress of the workplace, combined with the effects of COVID-19, boosting morale in your virtual employees may seem like a daunting task. But, although it may require a bit of effort, there is no reason why you can’t improve the morale of your virtual workforce in these uncertain times. By doing so, you may end up improving overall company performance, creating employee loyalty, and developing a more pleasant workplace for all.
In this post, we will go over three ways to make virtual employees feel part of the team. These are specific tactics you can use to improve morale of your team. Given their remote status, virtual employees are more likely to feel overlooked and under-appreciated. If you use these strategies, however, you can stifle this tendency and create a better situation.
Give Public Praise.
This may seem almost too self-evident, but it is worth stating: be sure to offer verbal praise and feedback to your virtual employees. You might think that your virtual employees receive enough praise in the form of their paychecks, but that assumption is usually false. Employees need to hear that their contributions are valuable and that they are an important part of the company engine. And there is really no substitute for clear and open communication in this direction. Simply put, you should make it very clear to your remote workers that they are valued members of your team.
Provide A Rewards Program.
If you want to boost morale, another good tool is to offer some reward or incentive program. This isn’t the same as offering periodic raises. But, your virtual employees should have some incentive to perform well, and this incentive should go beyond their traditional salary. This is a tried and true strategy for increasing performance. Develop an incentive program whereby your virtual employees will receive some type of extra reward – i.e. gift card, monetary bonus, etc. – whenever they hit a certain level of performance. This will incentivize performance and also show that their work is valued.
Sponsor Company Activities.
Your remote employees are at a higher risk of feeling alienated from your company. The reason for this is apparent. This is why you should make a strong effort to make your virtual employees feel as though they’re included in your team. Toward this end, sponsor company activities that can include your remote employees. Virtual office parties, for example, are a great way to build morale and camaraderie among your entire company. Virtual movie sessions are another great way to unite your remote staff.
These are just a few ways to build morale among your virtual employees. There are many others to choose from. Whatever method you choose, make the best effort to value and cherish your hardworking virtual employees. If you’d like to learn more about hiring a virtual employee, reach out to Get Staffed Up today. Give us a call at 866-763-2452.
