How to Take Care of Your Employees When They Work Remotely

Remote work is not a new concept, particularly for those working as freelancers and contract workers. However, 2020 showed us all the importance of being able to facilitate and thrive when working remotely. A spotlight has been thrown on all industries, all companies, all employees, and all employers, highlighting the good and the bad of working remotely.

For example, supporting employees has traditionally meant looking after their needs in an office environment, providing them with flexibility in their hours, and being generally understanding. However, in our fully remote world, supporting employees now means several different things. Companies must consider many more factors.

Ensuring a Reliable and Comfortable Work Environment

First and foremost, you must ensure your employees have a comfortable and stable place in which to work. This goes far beyond providing a laptop and stationery. For example, an employee who lives in a poorly insulated property may be unable to work through the colder months. If that employee is located in the UK, they could take advantage of a Green Home Grant that may afford them the necessary funds to improve their home’s insulation.

Assisting your employees in establishing comfortable work environments will also go a long way in keeping them happy and healthy. That may include helping them source ergonomic office chairs, desks, and monitors, for example.

Maintaining Contact With Your Team

The office may be closed, but that doesn’t mean your employees need to be closed off from each other. Remote communication channels like WhatsApp, Slack, and others can go a very long way in keeping your team members motivated and maintaining a degree of (albeit limited) contact between colleagues. This will be particularly important for those employees who live alone, as they may be more likely to struggle with feelings of isolation.

You may not necessarily be able to arrange nights out and team get-togethers, but you should consider structuring team contact to some extent. Perhaps you can schedule regular catch-ups during the course of the week with individual members of the team. Small actions like that can be very powerful.

Looking After Yourself

You may be the boss, but that doesn’t mean your own mental health and well-being are any less important. If you are unhappy and are unable to effectively work remotely, this will likely rub off on your team.

In all sectors of recruitment, from commodity recruitment to sales recruitment, you and your team members will likely talk to many people throughout the course of the workday, including candidates and clients. However, these conversations are focused largely on commercial activity, so they are unlikely to be particularly socially stimulating.

Take some time to look after your own well-being. Scheduling virtual meetings with your staff and other senior managers in your company can help you stay connected and socially stimulated. That, in turn, will motivate you to work more effectively.

Be sure to make positive lifestyle choices within your daily routine, such as taking time to exercise every day. As long as you are in contact with your wider team, these positive habits will influence them and help everyone on staff feel more comfortable and happy while working remotely.

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