How to Engage Remote Employees + Bonus Employee Engagement Quiz

Understanding how to engage remote employees effectively is key to maintaining their productivity, satisfaction, and connection to the team. As a remote team leader, bridging this gap and building strong connections within your team is essential.

But how do you keep remote employees connected, motivated, and engaged when they’re miles apart? The answer lies in understanding and implementing key strategies that cater to their unique needs. From creative recognition methods to investing in their development, there are effective ways to ensure your remote team feels valued and involved.

This article will explore five crucial facts about engaging remote employees. Discover how regular check-ins, virtual social events, dedicated learning opportunities, and thoughtful recognition can transform your remote workforce into a cohesive and happy team. 

But before we get into how to engage employees, let’s evaluate your current remote engagement practices with this quick self-assessment quiz to identify areas for improvement. 

Remote employee engagement self-assessment quiz

Instructions: For each statement below, rate how accurately it describes your current remote employee engagement practices on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 = Strongly Disagree and 5 = Strongly Agree. At the end, tally your score to see where you can improve.

1. Regular check-ins and communication

• I conduct regular (at least weekly) one-on-one check-ins with my remote team members.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• Our remote team has weekly meetings where everyone can share updates and achievements.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 

• I maintain open lines of communication and make myself approachable to my remote teams.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

2. Building connections

• I organize virtual social events or team-building activities.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• There are dedicated channels or forums for non-work-related conversations.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• I know the personal interests and hobbies of each team member.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

3. Flexibility and support

• I offer flexible working hours to accommodate different time zones and lifestyles.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• My team has access to all the necessary tools and resources for effective remote work.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• I conduct regular wellness checks to ensure my remote team’s well-being.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

4. Recognition and rewards

• I regularly recognize and appreciate my remote employees’ contributions.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• My team members have opportunities for professional development and learning.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• We have a structured process for performance reviews and salary adjustments.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

5. Feedback and improvement

• I actively seek feedback from my remote employees about their work experience.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• I implement changes based on the feedback received from my remote team members.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

• My virtual team feels comfortable sharing their challenges and suggestions with me.

☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

Remote employee engagement scoring:

• 60-75: Excellent! You are effectively engaging your remote employees. Keep up the great work.
• 45-59: Good job, but there’s room for improvement. Focus on the areas with lower scores.
• 30-44: You’re doing okay, but there are several areas to work on. Consider implementing some new strategies.
• Below 30: It’s time to reevaluate your approach to engaging remote employees. Prioritize the areas with the lowest scores for improvement.

Helpful tip: Don’t be discouraged if your score isn’t as high as you’d like. According to a Gallup report, only one-third of employees feel engaged at work, so there’s plenty of opportunity for growth.

5 ways to engage remote employees

1. Connection is a fundamental human need

As a remote team leader, building strong connections within your team can keep remote employees engaged. 

Here are three ways to build connections with remote teams:

Meet with your remote employees regularly

Conduct (weekly) team meetings to engage remote employees using an agenda that includes time to chat about the weekend, team achievements, critical updates, unplanned tasks, and a Q&A session.

Weekly meetings help keep remote employees on the same page and involved in the company’s direction. According to Harvard Business Review, regular communication and a sense of community increase team cohesion and reduce remote team members’ feelings of isolation.

Take the time to get to know your remote employees

To get to know your remote employees better, start by hosting virtual sharing sessions where they can present their personal interests or professional insights. These sessions encourage employees to share their passions and promote a culture of learning and connection. 

You can also:

• Arrange one-on-one check-ins and create a relaxed atmosphere for informal conversations. 
• Organize engaging virtual team-building activities and events, such as live music sessions or virtual happy hours, to foster community and belonging among team members.

Employee engagement fosters a culture of learning and sharing, deepening interpersonal relationships among remote team members. Employees feel valued and appreciated, leading to increased motivation and engagement. 

Casual check-ins create an environment for open communication, helping managers understand each team member’s needs and concerns. This results in stronger individual relationships and a more cohesive team. Also, employee engagement promotes team cohesion, enhancing overall team morale, encouraging creativity, fostering collaboration and employee recognition, and contributing to a positive and productive work environment.

Get together and have fun virtually

Set up themed Slack channels and virtual social events like online games or cooking classes to foster community and fun among remote team members. Also, create dedicated #non-work Slack channels for socializing, such as #movies, #music, and #beer. These channels allow employees to connect over shared interests and hobbies. 

Organize virtual social events, such as trivia games or cooking classes, to allow employees to interact in a relaxed setting. In addition, these activities help mimic spontaneous office interactions and build stronger relationships.

Employee engagement ideas are crucial for building connections and strengthening bonds among remote employees, mimicking spontaneous interactions in a physical office. Plus, creating a culture of connection helps employees feel more appreciated and recognized, improving their sense of belonging and engagement.

Employee engagement activities enhance workplace culture and boost productivity, as employees who feel connected and valued are more likely to be effective in their work. Fostering community through fun and engaging virtual activities can improve the remote work experience.

2. Embracing remote work pays off

Embracing remote work offers significant benefits, with research showing that companies save on office space and that employees reduce commuting costs and stress. However, fully adopting remote work involves more than just allowing employees to work from home; it requires a shift to prioritize outcomes over hours and to equip remote teams with the right tools and policies.

Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Make flexibility your mantra

Remote work is not a traditional 9-5 setup. Different time zones, cultures, work styles, and preferences necessitate a flexible approach. Rather than implementing a one-size-fits-all strategy, create comprehensive remote work policies that support flexible hours and diverse lifestyles. This flexibility helps accommodate various personal and professional needs, fostering a more inclusive and productive work environment.

Equip your remote employees

Provide your team with remote work technology like Hubstaff and collaboration tools like Slack to facilitate seamless communication and efficient workflows. Ensure all team members are trained and comfortable with these tools to overcome technical barriers. Equipping your team will help maintain productivity and collaboration, regardless of physical distance.

Aim for asynchronous work

Encourage asynchronous communication and project management tools, allowing team members to work during peak productivity times, regardless of time zone differences. In addition, this approach respects individual work rhythms, boosts remote employee engagement, and can lead to higher efficiency and job satisfaction.

Implement regular wellness checks

Implement regular wellness checks to focus on mental health and work-life balance. Flexible schedules should accommodate different life circumstances and work habits. Plus, regular check-ins on well-being can help identify and address issues early, promoting a healthier work environment.

Lead by example and adapt continuously

Demonstrate the flexible work practices you expect from your team. Share your remote work experiences and challenges to guide and inspire your team. Regularly solicit and act on feedback to improve remote work policies and practices. In addition, stay open to changes that better suit the evolving needs of the team and the dynamics of remote work.

3. Learn from your remote workforce

Ask your remote employees questions

Understanding your remote employees is essential for effective management. Ask them how they prefer to be managed and what their week looks like. This insight helps you tailor your approach to meet their needs and preferences. Managing remote employees is different and often more challenging than managing in-office team members. 

During one-on-one meetings, ask about their unique challenges, such as difficulty unplugging, burnout, isolation, and distractions, as Buffer’s State of Remote Work report highlighted. Questions like “What part of working remotely do you find most challenging?” and “How do you manage to disconnect at the end of the day?” can provide valuable insights into their daily struggles.

It’s crucial to address feelings of isolation that remote team members may experience due to limited face-to-face interactions. Regularly asking for their input on communication and inclusion can help bridge this gap. Questions like “Do you feel included in team decisions?” and “How can we improve our virtual communication?” show that you value their feedback.

Additionally, inquire about their preferred ways to stay connected with colleagues by asking, “What helps you feel connected to the team?” or “What virtual social activities do you enjoy?” This approach fosters open dialogue, making remote teams feel supported and understood, enhancing their overall work experience, and boosting engagement.

Offer time to engage remote employees

To effectively engage remote employees, prioritize maintaining an open line of communication and showing empathy. Keep your virtual door open, be approachable, and make time for regular check-ins. 

Many employees prefer remote work, but they often struggle with feeling disconnected. A Bankrate survey found that 64% of team members support a fully remote schedule, with younger team members and women showing the highest preference. However, Gallup reports declining employee engagement, especially among remote team members. To counter this, schedule regular virtual office hours where employees can drop in for a chat, ask questions, or share updates. 

Encourage informal interactions through video calls, instant messaging, and dedicated communication channels. These efforts help remote employees feel valued and connected, boosting their engagement, productivity, and overall satisfaction. By being accessible and empathetic, you can foster a more motivated and cohesive remote workforce.

Check-in with surveys

Surveying remote employees is crucial for understanding their needs and enhancing their work experience. Daily Stand-ups and structured surveys help managers stay informed about their team’s challenges and successes, enabling them to provide better support.

Effective surveys should include questions about remote connectedness, manager support, performance, well-being, and the work environment. Use a mix of quantitative questions, where employees rate their experiences, and open-ended questions for more detailed feedback. Utilizing an employee survey platform can streamline this process, ensuring anonymity and providing analytics to interpret the data, track trends, measure remote employee engagement, and pinpoint specific issues.

Follow up on survey results with concrete actions and communicate these steps to your team. Following up on surveys will demonstrate that their feedback is valued and results in meaningful changes, enhancing engagement and satisfaction. 

Regular surveys create a continuous feedback loop, fostering a supportive remote work environment. Measuring engagement and acting on feedback boosts morale and overall company culture, ensuring remote employees feel connected, valued, and engaged.

4. Training and development is good for everyone

Give back to your employees

Investing in your remote employees’ learning and development is crucial to keeping them engaged and productive. This means allocating a budget for training programs and providing the time and space for employees to learn. Encourage them to attend webinars or online courses during work hours. 

Create a supportive environment where learning is valued and prioritized. Employees feel more valued and motivated when they see that their professional growth is essential to the organization. What’s more is that this, in turn, increases their engagement and productivity, leading to better performance and job satisfaction.

Give back to your business

Investing in your employees’ learning and development is also a strategic investment in your business. By providing opportunities for learning, you are building a more skilled and innovative workforce. Plus, this not only enhances your company’s capabilities but also strengthens the relationship and loyalty you have with your employees.

In addition, employees who feel supported in their development are more likely to stay with the company, reducing turnover rates and the costs associated with hiring and training new staff. Retaining good employees is easier and more cost-effective than replacing them. 

Furthermore, a well-trained workforce can adapt quickly to changes and challenges, ensuring your business remains competitive and resilient.

5. Recognizing your remote employees goes a long way

Raises

There is no better way to say “I appreciate you” than through a pay rise. Regularly reviewing and adjusting salaries to reflect employees’ contributions shows that you value their hard work and dedication. 

Employee recognition boosts morale and encourages employees to stay committed and productive. Consider implementing a structured performance review process that leads to raises, ensuring transparency and fairness. Investing in your employees’ financial well-being fosters loyalty and a sense of security, which is crucial for maintaining high engagement levels in a remote work setting.

Home office funds

A home office fund can significantly improve your remote employees’ work experience. Many remote employees face challenges setting up a productive home office environment. By providing financial support for essential equipment like ergonomic chairs, desks, and high-quality monitors, you help them create a comfortable and efficient workspace. 

Investing in their home office shows that you care about their well-being and are committed to helping them succeed in their roles. Additionally, a well-equipped home office can enhance productivity, reduce physical strain, and minimize distractions, contributing to better job performance and satisfaction.

Employee recognition

Hubstaff has a Slack channel called “Hubstars,” where team members can give their peers kudos. Those who receive kudos get cash in the bank. Implementing a similar program in your organization can create a culture of recognition and appreciation. 

Encourage your team to acknowledge each other’s hard work and successes publicly. This not only boosts individual morale but also strengthens team cohesion and collaboration. Then, to make it even more impactful, tie the recognition to tangible rewards, like a cash incentive, which adds an extra layer of motivation.

Ultimately, regular recognition and rewards can enhance employee engagement and create a supportive work environment.

Keep remote employees engaged by showing them you care 

It’s essential to communicate that you need, want, respect, and value them. By implementing strategies that foster connection, provide recognition, and support their professional development, you create an environment where remote employees feel appreciated and motivated. Plus, you will boost remote employee engagement.

• Show appreciation: Regularly recognize their contributions through raises, kudos, and personalized rewards. Also, implement structured performance reviews that lead to fair and transparent salary adjustments.
• Support their growth: Invest in their learning and development by allocating budgets and providing the necessary time for professional growth. Then, encourage participation in workshops, webinars, and online courses to keep their skills sharp and their careers advancing.
• Foster community: Encourage virtual social interactions and provide tools for seamless communication. Then, create themed Slack channels, organize virtual social events, and facilitate regular team meetings to build community and reduce feelings of isolation.

Remember, your remote team is integral to your success. Demonstrating your commitment to their well-being and growth builds loyalty and boosts productivity.

Ultimately, by making these efforts, you can cultivate a thriving remote workforce that feels genuinely valued and connected to the organization, leading to long-term success for your employees and your business.