Remote working rates in Ireland are among the highest in Europe and that trend looks set to continue. The Level 3 restrictions recently imposed by the Government includes advice that people should continue to work from home to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

For many, remote working has gone from being an infrequent benefit to a more permanent arrangement. And, while a survey conducted in April revealed that 83% of people liked working from home, it can have its drawbacks.

Below, we look at ways you can keep your remote workers motivated, productive, and happy in the long run.

Set targets to measure and manage performance and productivity

One of the best ways to keep remote workers motivated, and productive, is to set targets. This way, you can also measure and manage their performances to make sure they’re busy and well, actually working.

Furthermore, seeing their own progress will give your employees a sense of job satisfaction, which is necessary for staying positive and productive when working from home.

Encourage engagement and create company culture

Encourage your remote workers to keep in touch. This will not only make working from home easier, it will also help create and maintain company culture.

Healthy and supportive relationships are essential to working well together. And now, in lockdown where social distancing means people can’t meet others so freely, relationships between colleagues can help people cope with the stress and loneliness imposed by COVID-19.

Helpful activities include virtual coffee breaks or ‘after work drinks’. A Skype or Zoom quiz is also fun for those who like to test their general knowledge.

Purpose and plan

One obvious drawback of working from home is that your remote workers could lose touch with what your business represents.

Having a purpose, a reason to work, will motivate employees and a great way to communicate this is to keep them informed about the bigger picture of your business. Let your remote workers know how important the work they do is. Send updates about achievements or milestones, good things happening around the business that they should be aware of.

When employees see that their work is valuable and their contribution is recognised, they will be happier in their work, and more involved in your business.

Employee Assistance Programme

Of course, there will be issues not all employees are comfortable discussing. For those, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) can prove extremely useful.

An Employee Assistance Programme is “a provision made by employers in order to help employees deal with any personal or professional problems that may be having a detrimental effect on them.”

So, should one or more of your employees need help with something specific, our Employee Assistance Programme is here for them.

Need our help?

If you would like further advice on remote working from an expert, our advisors are ready to take your call. Call us on 01 886 0350 or request a callback here.