You're probably already familiar with the benefits of a remote workforce. It's not only more cost-effective than maintaining an office but also allows you to hire top talent from around the world without having to worry about relocating them. However, managing employees who aren't in your physical space isn't always easy, and it can be especially challenging if it's your first time working from home. To keep remote workers motivated and engaged with their jobs, here are seven tips for making them feel like they're in the office.

Motivate Your Remote Employees in Seven Ways

#1 Provide modern technology.

The first step to making remote employees feel like they are in the office is to provide them with modern technology like a laptop and/or tablet. You could also provide a virtual office space so that your employees have somewhere to go when they need it (like during breaks). Additionally, if you have multiple locations around the world where people work from home, consider setting up an internet connection for them so that their connection isn't dependent on their own ISP's availability or speed. Finally, make sure your business has VoIP phones so that calls can be made over the internet instead of through traditional phone lines.

#2 Create a digital bulletin board.

A digital bulletin board is a great way to keep everyone up-to-date and in the loop. For example, you can use a project management tool like Trello to create a virtual bulletin board where you can post updates, share resources, and keep everyone up to date on projects. A digital bulletin board can also help create a sense of community by giving remote employees access to company culture or other resources they might not otherwise have had access to. For example, if you have an office kitchen stocked with snacks and drinks (which we recommend), you can post that on the digital bulletin board for all to see! To incorporate remote employees, make sure you’re also delivering food to them from time to time so they can feel like they’re part of lunch breaks too.

#3 Offer team-building activities.

Team-building activities are a great way to get your remote team together, and they can help build trust and community. It's also easier than you think—all you need is some preparation and a good wi-fi connection. For example:

• Virtual team-building games, such as online escape rooms or trivia contests.
• Icebreaker questions to help team members get to know each other better.
• Virtual campfires, where team members can share stories and experiences in a relaxed setting.
• Remote Pictionary or other drawing games to encourage creativity and collaboration.
• Online game tournaments, where team members can compete in popular games like chess or poker.
• Virtual coffee breaks or happy hours to facilitate casual conversations and bonding.
• Remote book clubs or movie nights to discuss shared interests and spark engaging discussions.

For more dynamic and exciting team bonding, host happy hours in different cities so people from across the country can meet each other face-to-face. You can foster a sense of connection and camaraderie among team members despite the physical distance by incorporating these activities into your remote team's routine.

#4 Provide a personalized workspace accessory.

This could be a mug, a plant or even a custom mousepad (if you're feeling extra fancy). The idea is that it helps make the remote employee feel like they are part of the team, and that's important for morale! If you don't have anything else in common with your employees, at least provide them with some sort of personal touch that reminds them why they love working for you. The item should also be something related to your company or their interests. For example: If one of your remote employees loves to drive, get them a personalized Shell Gift Card! Visit bit.ly/ShellRPG if you’re looking for full custom gift cards to treat your team, employees, and customers no matter where they are in the world.

#5 Set up virtual celebrations.

Make sure your remote employees don’t miss out on any celebrations because they’re not at the office! Planning a celebration is a little more complicated if your employees are remote. You need to consider the time difference and how late it will be when they're done working. While this can be difficult, it's important that virtual celebrations are just as memorable as in-person ones—and maybe even more so because they force you to put extra effort into making them fun and memorable. One of the easiest things to do is ship a themed basket, either bought online or customized one in your office! Some theme ideas include birthday celebrations, anniversaries, welcoming a new baby, the new year, or celebrating a big win. Here are some ideas on what to include:

• Some of their favorite snacks and drinks
• Handwritten notes from those in the office
• Gift cards they want (AMC or Regal, Kroger, Shell Gift Cards, Starbucks—the options are limitless)
• Branded swag that they’ll actually use (portable charger, webcam cover, hand sanitizer, custom jackets, cool socks, even a first aid kit!)
• Decorations that embody the theme (confetti, special colors, tissue paper, ribbons or bows, stickers, custom labels, or tags)
• Desk accessories that represent their personality
• Stress relief items (stress balls, fidget toys, or a mini Zen garden)
• Wellness items (aromatherapy candles, essential oils)
• Travel sized items that are ALWAYS needed (soap, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion)

#6 Encourage movement with new policies and incentives.

You may have heard about walking meetings, but there are many other ways to encourage movement. Walking breaks, for instance, could be used as an opportunity to get up from your desk and stretch your legs or walk around the office. You could also try having walking lunches with a colleague so that you can talk through ideas in person instead of over email or Slack. If you want employees to stay healthy while working remotely, consider offering incentives such as reduced health insurance premiums for employees who participate in wellness programs like FitBit challenges or charity walks. You might even consider paying them for their exercise time by giving them money toward their next vacation trip!

#7 Let your remote team know that you care.

Letting your remote team know that you care about them is essential to maintaining employee engagement and productivity. The data on the benefits of remote work is clear: employees who work remotely are 13% more productive than those who don't, according to a 2018 study by Stanford University. Gallup research also found that they tend to be more engaged with their jobs than their office-bound counterparts and tend to be more loyal.

And That’s All for Now.

If you want to keep your remote employees engaged and productive, it's important that they feel like part of the team. We've covered some of the best ways to do this in our article. The most important thing is to remember that each person is different and has their own unique needs as an employee. Some may prefer virtual celebrations over in-person ones, while others might need more frequent communication from their manager or peers. Whatever it takes for everyone, be sure that they know how much they mean to the company by showing them!

Sources: Remote workers are 13% more productive. (linkedin.com), 7 Gallup Workplace Insights: What We Learned in 2021