Extend your employee engagement strategies to remote workers

Extend your employee engagement strategies to remote workers

By now, the majority of employers have been confronted with the challenges of maintaining engagement with remote workers. But it’s pretty clear that workers will continue to expect employers to incorporate it into their business models. A strong and valued rewards and recognition strategy can make all the difference.

What employees want

Workers around the globe have been very clear and vocal about their expectations of employers. They generally want to feel rewarded, they want their efforts to mean something, and they want to work for a company that recognises their dedication.

But many companies are still missing the mark. In a U.S. study, a dismal 3 in 10 employees stated that they had not received any type of recognition or praise for their efforts in the past seven days.

Recognition and rewards programs aren’t “nice-to-have” employee programs. They’re business strategies that are critical to compete in the current competitive recruiting and retention environment.

·   Talent acquisition continues to be increasingly competitive.

·   Employees aren’t satisfied with work-life balance. They want total well-being and flexibility in how their work is structured.

·   Candidates are choosing companies that align with their values over employers that don’t show a commitment to engagement.

·   Dissatisfied employees have been resigning in record numbers from employers that don’t recognize   the value that they bring to the organization.

In short, employees are driving the direction of employee engagement and how they want to be recognized.

Extending that connection to remote workers

Engagement happens when employees feel understood and valued and receive appropriate recognition. One of the most challenging aspects of a rewards and recognition program is ensuring that remote workers feel just as connected as in-office employees.

But remote workers often report feeling disconnected from their team and the company mission. Without a strategy in place to rectify that issue, disconnected employees become disengaged employees who seek a better culture with another employer.

Hybrid working models

A hybrid working model blends the versatility of remote work with the spontaneity and opportunities for “face-time” that being in the office provides. 

And HR leaders are taking note. In a survey, 95% reported that they’re focused on a shift towards hybrid work while committing to a human-centric focus with empathy-based management. Strategic leaders recognise that employee engagement has a significant impact on their bottom-line.

Recognition should be a top priority for employers

The first Friday in March has been designated by the U.K., U.S., and Canada as National Employee Appreciation Day. It’s nice to have a day dedicated to employee satisfaction but it’s a very small part of what should be a well-planned rewards and recognition strategy.

Twenty-seven years after that first day of appreciation, many businesses are still struggling to provide recognition and rewards that will keep employees engaged and attract more candidates. The continuing result is that more and more employees are leaving jobs where they don’t feel recognised and appreciated for their contributions.

Interestingly, businesses understand how a great customer experience drives revenue growth so they continually work to improve customer satisfaction. But the employee experience has not been as well understood or addressed but they’re basic. Recognition and appreciation are universal human needs which don’t require significant effort or expense to achieve. They just need a good solution.

When employees are happy, employers are happy

Besides the “feel-good” aspect for both employers and employees, the impacts of a rewards and recognition strategy on the organisation’s bottom line include:

·   Lower turnover

·   More great candidates to choose from

·   Increased productivity, engagement, and innovation

·   Reduced absenteeism and health care costs

Leaders who embrace the concept of employee engagement and successfully implement engagement and reward and recognition strategies can generally expect a reduction in turnover of 25% - 65%. A Gallup study also shows that companies with engaged workforces have higher earnings per share (EPS), and they seem to have recovered from the recession at a faster rate.

This becomes significantly more important for employees working remotely or in hybrid working models with less visibility to other team members and management. The research consistently shows that employers who implement recognition and reward strategies to strengthen and enhance employee engagement both in-office as well as for remote workers are well-poised to thrive in tough economic times.

Rewards and recognition solutions that work

Busy employers need effective solutions that are simple to use. Amityeko can help you take your rewards and recognition strategy to a new level. Our customisable approach to rewards and recognition gives you the option to use one or all of our modules to ensure your employees receive the rewards and recognition that works best for them.

We’d love to hear from you. Contact us for a free consultation to determine how Amityeko can help you make your rewards and recognition strategy easy.

‍