Employee engagement...according to a Gallup poll in 2020, 68% of employees aren’t. That means they’re probably focused on finding another job, getting together with friends after work, binging Outlander on Netflix – anything except what you’re paying them to do. They simply aren’t committed to the company and its goals. 

With remote work growing since the COVID-19 pandemic, employee engagement isn’t getting better. Is there anything you can do to change that?

Here are a few steps you can take that will increase employees’ connection to your workplace and help them feel better about taking ownership in their jobs:

1. Hold virtual meetings

Meetings are important for communicating. The rise of remote work should not mean an end to meetings. 

Depending on the size of your company, the structure of these meetings may vary. Smaller companies might gather all their employees monthly and have smaller department or team meetings weekly.

If your company is large, an all-employee meeting may only happen once or twice a year. 

2. Give remote employees a voice

 For employees in large companies, it's easy to feel lost. This is true even at in-person meetings. Encourage all employees to take part in company meetings by organizing smaller breakout sessions. Most video conferencing platforms allow this option. 

Breakout sessions might focus on brainstorming, goal setting, or progress assessments. By bringing small groups together and encouraging conversation, these sessions can increase employee participation. 

3. Host casual hangouts

Employees develop a stronger connection to each other and commitment to their workplace when they interact regularly with their colleagues. However, these interactions should not be all business.

In addition to more formal business meetings, consider using video conferencing software for more informal hangouts. And remember talk shouldn’t be all business.

4. Check in regularly

Schedule one-on-one periodic meetings. These allow you to recognize an employee's achievements and discuss areas for focus. They also allow your employees to ask questions and raise concerns in a private setting.

5. Welcome new team members

The onboarding process is even more important for newly hired remote employees in a WFH environment. Be sure new team members have the contact information for their teammates and are publicly introduced in a meeting. Schedule for each team member to separately reach out and introduce the new team member individually. Make the new team member feel important and included in the community from the beginning.

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