In the midst of COVID-19, thousands of workers were forced into a completely new, foreign work culture. This transition was very abrupt and we understand that working remotely isn’t for everyone. That being said, understanding empathy can help you continue your adjustment into working remotely, ensuring that your employees and coworkers are heard and taken care of! 

We talked in a previous blog about some of the different reasons people may have stress towards the return to work. However, those who returned to work, but not in the office, may face very different struggles. 

Ultimately, our coworkers become our friends and while we are working remotely, we miss out on conversations over coffee, lunches, meetings, and even just a friendly smile on the way to the bathroom! Those interactions are helpful in making employees feel like they belong. So how do you make your employees feel like they are a part of the team when the team is only connected through digital waves on the internet? 

Being able to empathize with your employees, understanding that this “new normal” is not normal at all.  There will be challenges as employees make this new working environment work.  Now is the time to focus on building that remote team in a thoughtful way that connects them and builds stronger relationships and raises morale.  

Here are some ways to do that:

• Have all communications available to your employees.  For our team, we use and recommend Slack as a way to share work progress and also replicate some of the “water-cooler” chat that is now missing.   

• Schedules regular check-ins with other employees.  This does not always have to be about just business or “running the numbers”.  Have a real check-in with no stated goals.   

• Celebrates small wins, both personal and company-wide.  This can be shared via email, video chats, Slack, or any other communication.

• If you haven’t in the past, encourage all your employees to be decision-makers or idea-makers. Need evidence of this being a great business decision?  Look no further than the janitor who came up with Flaming Hot Cheetos and became an executive at PepsiCo.  

•  There is a reason professional sports teams (and their fans) all wear the same uniform...they are a TEAM!  Swag out your employees with apparel and other fun items.  People love getting gifts and if it is the right item it will get used and shared with others, showing what a great company yours is to work for.  It is a perfect way to send a physical reminder that you are thinking of them while they are remote, and who doesn’t love getting mail!?!

Now you may be saying, “Hold up!  I have to do those things all of the time to take care of my employees? That’s too much!” To build a remote team that works well and feels like a cohesive unit while keeping morale high is not easy.  In fact, it takes time, hard work, and some trial and error to build the right remote team.  Now is the opportunity for your business or organization to embrace these changes that will make your business stronger in the years to come!

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Lexie Warren is a Social Media Intern at Liquid Screen Design a Branding and Swagging company.  Helping nonprofits and businesses with their physical marketing needs and strategies.