Today, working remotely is more common than not. The shift into remote workspaces has been a big transition for both employees and employers. Employees have to find new ways to work with their colleagues and employers have to search for ways to keep their employees engaged. Here are a few tips to help improve employee retention when working remotely.
Create a Welcome Package for New Employees
It is important to provide a warm welcome for new employees when they join your team. When you are working remotely, this can be difficult, especially if you are used to in-person interactions. During their onboarding process, be sure to give them a “face-to-face” welcome. You can do this through a video conference. It is also important to have a new-hire checklist that includes everything they will need to be successful as a remote worker with your company.
Take the time to introduce them to other individuals in the company they will be working with as well. These are people they will need to communicate with on a regular basis, so be sure they have all of the information they need to keep communication open. After you do this, assign them a project right away and let them know how to track their progress. Then schedule 30, 60, and 90-day check-ins with the new employee.
Automate Time Tracking
Many remote employees enjoy autonomy but it is important for you, as an employer, to be able to track their activities. Establish a sense of accountability and let your team know the expectations when it comes to reporting. Self-reported time tracking is often unreliable. For this reason, it may be worth investing in employee monitoring software. This will give you an exact idea of where they are spending their time during the workday.
Be Consistent With Payroll
When you are not consistent with paying your employees, you will have issues with retention. Sign a contract with your employees and establish payroll expectations. Let your team know exactly how much they will be paid, how, and when. Then invest in payroll software to help you keep on top of things. Oftentimes, each of your employees will be paid differently depending on their experience and time with your company.
Communicate Well
Another key tip to improving employee retention when working remotely is maintaining good communication with your team. You may need to establish new channels to communicate within. Seek out project management tools, video conferencing, and document sharing platforms that you can use and communicate with your employees through. When communication is clear and open, employees will feel more solid in their position with your company.
Avoid Micromanaging
Micromanaging your employees impacts their overall happiness in their position. It makes them feel as though they are not doing a good job. It also increases their stress levels and decreases their engagement over time.
Many businesses seek professional help to improve employee retention. Staffing agencies can be a great resource when it comes to sourcing candidates and keeping them on board. If you would like to learn more about how a recruitment firm can help your retention rates, contact the Staffing Resource Group.
