6 Different Ways To Improve Remote Employee Well Being
Remote work is becoming normal across a variety of fields. It’s more common to see fully remote workplaces or companies offering hybrid options. These new work options come with lots of benefits and new challenges.
One of the biggest challenges facing employers, managers, and supervisors is how to improve and promote employee wellbeing. When everyone is in the office there is a natural ebb and flow to our interactions and we are able to get a read on how everyone is doing. That is much more difficult to do if you can’t see the person or are only communicating via email and direct messaging.
We’ve spent years developing ways to promote well being while everyone is in the office, but we’ve only spent the last two years figuring out how to promote it in this new digital workplace. So what can we do to improve remote employee wellbeing?
Here are 6 ways to improve remote employee well being.
1. Set SMART Goals
This is something every employer and employee should already be doing, but you may need to approach goals differently when they have to be compatible with remote or hybrid workers. A SMART goal means the goal is: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.
What may make a goal SMART when everyone is in the office is not always the same as when some or all individuals are hybrid or remote. Consider what limitations are involved when working remotely and incorporate that into your goal planning.
More about SMART goals: Effective Goal Setting Should Be SMART
2. Regular Check Ins / Open Communication
Don’t forget that your remote workers are there! It can be easy to forget that your remote workers exist until you need something from them. Even if your main communication is through email or messenger platforms, try and incorporate some of the normal casual interactions that would occur in the office.
Check in with you remote workers both for professional reasons but also to promote personal interaction and bonding among colleagues.
Say it again, communication is key!
You should be checking in, but the line should always be open. Your remote workers need to feel valued and that they can reach their supervisors and colleagues when necessary.
3. Encourage Work-Life Balance
There is more to life than your 9 to 5. Many people are opting for remote work in order to improve their work life balance, but sometimes working from home can cause those lines to blur. Encourage your remote workers to take breaks and step away from their desk.
Without the natural flow of the office, sometimes it can be hard to remember to take breaks or to step away to eat and interact. Also, encourage your remote employees to define a schedule that works and meets requirements and then stick to it!
For more on the importance of promoting work-life balance, check out: How Gen Z Prioritizes Work-Life Balance
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4. Value Mental and Physical Health
When we’re talking about wellbeing, we’re talking about health. The mental and physical health of your employees is important and should be taken into consideration. This goes hand in hand with the need for communication and promoting work-life balance.
Encourage your remote workers to take a break and move around and get their blood pumping or take a moment to relax and practice mindfulness techniques. Some remote first companies are even offering gym memberships as a way to help their employees get out of their homes and stay healthy.
It’s important for you to be understanding that even when working from home, your employees will still get sick and should be able to take a sick day without feeling guilty.
Not sure if your employer supports mental health at work? Check out this post: 3 Ways To Determine If An Employer Supports Mental Health At Work
5. Invest In Professional Development
You should be putting as much effort into the professional growth and development of your remote workers as you do those who come into the office everyday. They are just as valuable and have just as much potential for growth.
Investing in professional growth and development helps an employee connect with a sense of purpose which also helps you to retain them long term! Check out: 3 Ways To Connect Employees To A Sense Of Purpose
6. Show Your Trust
Don’t micromanage your remote employees. No one likes it when they are working in the office, and they still don’t like when they’re working remotely. Many remote workers, especially those who are younger and have less established careers overall, feel pressure to show that they are in fact working. Many studies are showing that workers are more productive when working from home, so trust them!
Lastly
The wellbeing of all your employees is important. Everyone deserves to be happy and healthy, but it’s also a smart move for you as an employer. Happy and successful employees are the goal and the best thing for your retention and growth!
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Meet The Writer!
Hi! I’m Madeline Jefferson. I am a freelance writer, editor, and designer who has a wide breadth of experience and knowledge on many subjects including: fiction writing, religion, law, politics, history, literature, chronic illness, and mental health. I have a B.A. in Religion and Middle Eastern Studies from Washington and Lee University. As a freelancer I offer services such as: blog writing, copywriting, ghostwriting, manuscript editing, and print and digital design. You can find me on: LinkedIn; Twitter, Instagram; and on my website: https://www.madelinejefferson.com/.
