Employee engagement ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Encourage communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the most important things you can do when trying to increase employee engagement in a distributed workforce is to encourage communication. Whether it\u2019s by utilising video conferencing through Zoom<\/a>, Google Meet or Skype, or even introducing communication channels like Slack, Teams<\/a> or WhatsApp, you can allow employees to connect with colleagues and foster better working relationships, which will in turn boost employee engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study by Gallup<\/a>, the percentage of engaged workers during 2020 was 36%, while 54% of employees were \u201cnot engaged\u201d. This could significantly impact the performance of businesses, as it\u2019s been proven that companies with higher employee engagement are 21% more profitable<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether it\u2019s a daily virtual coffee break, or a frequent happy hour mixer, giving virtual teams the chance to socialise online (or in-person if it\u2019s possible) is a great way to connect your team, no matter where they\u2019re located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if your workforce is scattered across different locations, companies should try to get all team members involved in these virtual meet ups \u2013 as it\u2019s important for morale and will improve employee engagement. Employees with friends or social connections at work tend to have higher engagement<\/a> and loyalty, which directly works to build a stronger company culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An example of a creative way to bring your team together to form those social connections would be to host a virtual trivia event or quiz. This will also help to foster relationships, as you can segment employees into teams, so they\u2019re all working together to a common goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recognition at work leads to higher levels of motivation and\u00a0employees\u00a0who were recognised for a job<\/a> well done showed signs of much higher engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a culture of recognition in the workplace helps to drive employee engagement, as employees are able to see how their individual work fits into the \u2018bigger picture\u2019 of the company. There is nothing less motivating than work for work\u2019s sake, so understanding that your work is contributing to the success of the team and the wider company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is especially important for a distributed workforce, where many of your employees may be working day in and day out by themselves at home, or on-location with restrictions in place. It\u2019s motivating to know that your individual effort is recognised and appreciated by the company. It\u2019s even better if you can reward that effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how do you recognise and reward your employees?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can be as simple as a shout-out in a company-wide email, or you could develop a monthly awards program to motivate your team and give them something to strive for each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent Hays survey<\/a> of 1253 employees, 96% of people consider upskilling \u2018important\u2019 or \u2018very important\u2019. In fact, 84% of those surveyed would not consider a role without skill development opportunities and almost half of these people would not join a company that didn\u2019t provide further training opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upskilling is one of the most desirable workplace benefits in 2021, which is why it\u2019s in your best interest to invest in your people<\/a>. Not only will it enhance employee happiness and engagement, but it will improve employee retention, as your staff will be more likely to stick around<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you start to panic, thinking of all the hours you\u2019ll need to set aside for upskilling of staff, you\u2019ll be glad to know that it can take as little as an hour a week to satisfy your employee\u2019s learning needs. This type of training is referred to as \u2018micro learning\u2019 and it breaks training down into small, bite-sized chunks. Each lesson typically includes a short text or video component, followed by a quick assessment, and takes around 10-20 minutes to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maintaining employee engagement in today\u2019s digital workforce is no simple task. With employees scattered to the four winds, it can be difficult for companies to heighten employee engagement. However, by implementing some (or all) of these employee engagement ideas for a distributed workforce, you can start to nurture a culture of engaged employees<\/a> and company loyalty for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We like to host guest blogs from our expert integration partners so you\u2019ll find that this blog was originally published by Ento here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Host virtual meetups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Recognise a job well done<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Provide opportunities to upskill<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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