There’s no doubt that remote work is, at least to some extent, here to stay. A recent poll by Morning Consult found that over half of U.S. workers would consider quitting their jobs rather than returning to in-person work before they felt safe doing so. While opinions vary, bosses generally have more reservations about work from home arrangements than workers do. One concern is that there’s no way to create company culture with remote workers. However, as staffing shortages get worse, flexibility in working arrangements will be key to employee retention. Here are some tips for creating company culture when you don’t see your workers every day:
- Communicate your expectations clearly. Make sure workers know your mission and understand their roles and responsibilities. Don’t leave room for them to wonder what your company is about.
- Trust your people. Let go of the need to keep tabs on them at all times. Most people will not try to cheat you out of time when they are working at home. In fact, the opposite will likely be true. Many people who work from home actually work more hours and are much more productive.
- Make sure your workers are establishing a boundary between work and off hours. There is much more of a danger of someone working all the time and burning out than there is of someone slacking off.
- Know when to zoom and when not to zoom. Make sure everyone who needs the information being presented is at each meeting, but don’t make people come to meetings they don’t need just for the sake of seeing faces. Too many virtual meetings can lead to burn out.
- That said, do schedule at least one zoom every month or two strictly for team building and socializing. Don’t have an agenda for getting work done during this time.
- Have strong communications including a newsletter and an updated website. Make sure everyone has easy access to the company handbook, policies, and procedures that they will need.
- Have company wide contests, games, or other activities like a book club. Participation should be voluntary, but give people incentives to join. Earning points toward extra vacation days is one idea.
- Be available for answering questions. Respond to emails, texts, or calls within a day.
- Praise quality work. Some workers need positive reinforcement and that’s not easy to get from home.
Substance and Style 