Work From Home 101: Top Ways to Keep Employees Motivated

Since the rise of COVID-19, companies have been open to remote working as it maximizes worker safety. However, despite the bountiful advantages of working in the safety of one's home, challenges still come with it.

One of the most common issues is employee motivation. Let's face it. Various distractions come with working from home. Therefore, managers need to keep their remote employees motivated. Here are some pointers to help you.

1. Set Rules and Expectations

Before employees start working from home, set some ground rules in the office chat program. This will help ensure everyone agrees and understands what is expected of them. Some things you may want to consider are the following:

• How often are employees expected to check in with their supervisor?
• What hours are they expected to work?
• Are there any specific tasks that need to be completed each day?
• What is the acceptable level of noise in the home?
• What is the acceptable level of personal distractions (e.g., children, pets)?

2. Provide Clear Instructions

Just as you would with any other employee, provide explicit instructions to your remote workers via office chat programs. This will help ensure they know their responsibilities and can carry out their duties efficiently. You can also tell them you're always online in the office chat programs to ensure you're available in case they have concerns.

3. Stay in Touch

It's important to stay in touch with your remote employees, especially if you have never worked with them before. Check in with them regularly through office chat programs to ensure that they are on track and that they find the transition to working from home to be smooth.

Aside from that, it's crucial to ensure remote employees feel like they're a part of the team. You can include them in team meetings (via video conference, if necessary) and give them regular updates on their projects. You may also want to consider sending out a weekly or monthly update to all remote employees, letting them know what's happening in the office and their upcoming assignments.

4. Offer Incentives

There are many ways to keep your employees motivated, but one of the most effective methods is offering incentives for a job well done. This could include things like bonuses, extra vacation days, or even special privileges, like being able to work from home occasionally.

It's important to find the right incentives to appeal to each employee, as not everyone will be motivated by the same thing. For example, someone highly motivated by money may be more motivated by bonuses, while someone more motivated by recognition may prefer extra vacation days.

5. Encourage Them to Take Breaks

Employees need to take breaks, even when they are working from home. Always encourage them to get up, move around every once in a while, and take a break to eat lunch. This will help them stay productive and focused.

Final Thoughts

There are various ways to keep your staff motivated while working from home. Some top ways include setting goals, providing feedback, and offering incentives. Following the tips mentioned in this article can help your employees stay excited and productive while working from home.

Tandem is a reliable and easy-to-use office chat program that helps employees communicate with each other and connect with remote team members. With Tandem, team members can easily share ideas, files, and messages in real-time, making it easier for everyone to stay on the same page. Try Tandem for free today!