How to Engage Remote Employees
21 November 2024
We’re seeing a trend where employees are urging hybrid and remote employees back to the office. It’s understandable when expensive office space is sitting empty. Still, with employees demanding flexibility and the ability to work remotely, employers must accept that remote working is likely to play a vital part in shaping the future of the workplace. During this blog, we’ll explore why businesses should embrace remote employees and how they can keep them engaged to create a beneficial relationship for all involved.
Who are Remote Employees?
With the rise in flexible, hybrid, and remote employees, it’s helpful to clarify who remote employees are for the context of this blog.
Unlike employees who were remote during the pandemic who may have transitioned to a more flexible and hybrid environment, a fully remote employee will have their remote working status written into their employment contract.
Remote work (working from home) was necessary during the pandemic, so it’s natural that the number of Brits working from home peaked during that time and decreased when the UK reopened for business. Figures from 2023 show that 44% of full-time employed Brits are classed as remote workers. Of that figure, over half (28%) are hybrid, leaving 16% classed as fully remote employees.
Can remote employees work from anywhere?
Almost. A remote employee can work from home, a shared space - wherever there’s a Wi-Fi connection. That said, some organisations may restrict working from overseas or add caveats due to security requirements.
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Benefits of Remote Working for Employees and Employers
While many businesses are calling employees back to the office, others recognise and enjoy the benefits of a fully or partially remote workforce.
Benefits for Employees
There’s good reason for employees who have had a taste of hybrid and remote working to keep hold of this workplace perk.
Better work-life balance
We tackle the topic of remote employee mental health in our blog, A Spotlight on... Employee Mental Health: Remote Workers, finding that remote workers have the best work-life balance. Imagine no drive home in rush hour traffic, no jostling for a seat on a busy train, or standing in the armpit of a fellow passenger on the underground… seeing daylight in winter! Remote workers get the time spent commuting back, giving them more time to relax, tackle personal admin, exercise and practise self-care.
More employment opportunities
Remote working offers employees more opportunities because the job of their dreams, advertised by a business located one hundred miles away, becomes accessible without the need to relocate.
Less anxiety
Remote employees are less anxious. How many of your employees arrive at the office needing some time to wind down after a ‘nightmare journey’ or a hectic start to the day for those juggling dependents? Remote employees needn’t concern themselves with any of this, leading to a more relaxed start to the day.
While the office brings social connection and the opportunity to interact, not everyone feels comfortable socialising, preferring quiet and interacting with colleagues digitally.
Mental wellbeing
Having flexibility and freedom to work from home or anywhere and fitting work in with their lives, enhances employee mental wellbeing. A better work-life balance, no commute, and more time to exercise all contribute to improved financial, physical and mental wellbeing.
Benefits for Employers
Some organisations have made the headlines, proposing mandates to their workforce that they must return to the office. Every business is unique, and some employers object to their teams being at home. Still, there are many benefits for employers who embrace remote employees.
A wider talent pool
Many industry sectors report a skills and talent shortage, so employers that reject remote applicants are potentially limiting the amount of talent they can reach.
The average daily commute in the UK is 19.5 miles, which, dependent on speed limits, is approximately one hour’s drive (Investing Strategy). The cost of running a car has increased by 19% since 2020, costing UK motorists roughly £600 more per year (NimbleFins). With the cost of living remaining high, job seekers want to reduce time spent travelling, not increase it. Remote working helps employers cast a wider net and reach talent from all over the country.
Saving money
Large offices are expensive to run. Businesses adopting a hybrid working model can opt for a smaller space and a hot-desk set-up, reducing business overheads. When a company is fully remote, they require no office space at all, which represents a significant business saving, even if they fund employees' home office equipment and contribute towards bills.
Improve employee loyalty
Employees crave more freedom and flexibility. Allowing them to work remotely shows them that you’re listening to their needs, prioritising their wellbeing and trust that they’ll deliver. The result? More engaged and loyal employees.
More efficiency
There is a social element to being in the office, and this is great for nurturing positive relationships. However, many hybrid employees report that when they’re in the office, they spend more time in meetings and socialising than when working from home. Remote employees are more likely to only reach out to their colleagues when needed, helping them use their time more efficiently.
Improve employee retention and talent attraction
We’ve touched on the fact that offering remote working widens the talent pool, but it also enhances your Employee Value Proposition (EVP). Flexible working is in demand, and many job seekers won’t consider applying for a role that doesn’t allow hybrid or remote work. A sought-after employee benefit - those who have their remote-working needs met by your business are less likely to leave.
Are Remote Employees More Productive?
In 2023, 79% of managers claimed that their teams were more productive when working remotely or hybrid (Techopedia).
The numbers have it! Employers who feel their remote employees are less productive than their office-based colleagues are in the minority. Considering all we’ve discussed above - better work-life balance, less anxiety, more efficiency and a chance to exercise, it’s easy to understand how remote employees may be more energised and productive.
The Importance of Remote Worker Employee Engagement
Employee engagement is vital to your business and people strategy, regardless of whether employees are office-based, hybrid or fully remote. As we discuss in our blog, Re-engaging the Disengaged Employee, a highly engaged workforce leads to a 21% increase in profitability and 59% less employee turnover. The blog also explores the impact high employee engagement has on reducing absenteeism and other ‘HR headaches’ that cost UK businesses billions annually. Ensuring remote employees remain engaged, regardless of how much of your workforce they make up, is essential to ensuring your business thrives.
Employee Engagement: Remote Working Challenges
Historically, employee engagement initiatives relied on face-to-face events and team-building activities. Remote employees may come to the office for special events, but managers have limited opportunities for face-to-face interactions. Employers, managers, and HR professionals must think outside the box and embrace the role of technology in employee engagement and their reward and recognition strategy.
The Role of Managers in Remote Employee Engagement
Managers play a significant role in the employee experience, with poor managers being one of the most cited reasons for an employee leaving a business. With help from HR, managers must ensure the remote employees in their team are just as engaged as their colleagues.
Build trust
Trust is an essential part of workplace culture and employee engagement. Autonomy and flexibility are crucial when building employee relationships, and managers must trust their remote employees to deliver against their objectives. Effective, consistent communication is vital so remote employees remain connected to their team and can tackle any potential issues promptly.
Feedback and transparency
Effective communication feeds into feedback and transparency, helping nurture a sense of belonging. It’s common to ‘grab five minutes’ with a colleague a few desks away, but technology makes it just as easy to connect with remote employees whenever needed.
Peer-to-peer recognition
Nothing boosts employee engagement and a sense of belonging like peer-to-peer recognition. Digital recognition platforms ensure colleagues can give thanks and praise whenever they wish to, and this process is vital to engaging remote employees. Managers should encourage their teams to regularly recognise the performance and achievements of their teammates and those within the wider business.
Progression opportunities
Referring to our blog - A Spotlight on... Employee Mental Health: Remote Workers - remote employees are 31% less likely to be promoted. Career progression should be based on what employees achieve rather than how often they're seen. Yet, the reality is that remote employees are less visible to other areas of the business. It’s up to managers to champion the skills and talents of their remote colleagues.
How to Engage Remote Employees with Pluxee UK
It’s clear that engaging remote employees is essential and requires more thought than with those in the office. Use this blog as a guide to building an impactful and effective plan for engaging remote employees, then strengthen your strategy with inclusive employee rewards.
- Pluxee Card: Our cashback-earning Pluxee Card is the gift that keeps on giving. Once in your employees' virtual wallet, you can use it to issue employee rewards and milestone gifts. Allow employees to top the card up as they go, and give them the chance to earn up to 15% cashback with over 80 of their favourite retailers.
- eVouchers: Our digital eVouchers are a cost-effective employee reward that your employees will love. With over 100 retailers to choose from and available to spend online and in-store, every employee has the opportunity to spend their reward on something they love.
When employee rewards meet the diverse needs of everyone, making life more affordable and joyful, they boost employee engagement and satisfaction.
Visit the employee engagement section of our blog for more insights and tips.
Sources: Investing Strategy, NimbleFins, Techopedia.
