Hybrid working: How to support remote employees

Before recent years, remote working was a benefit seldom enjoyed by everyday workers. Now, however, its popularity has increased across all industries – with ‘hybrid working’ being a key trend to emerge from this. Here we discuss how employers can adapt their HR strategy to incorporate hybrid working, and how management can support remote employees. 

What is hybrid working?

Hybrid working is a flexible working initiative that incorporates both remote and office-based employment. It is one of the most recent trends to emerge from the work-from-home movement, allowing employees to maintain a healthy balance between the two settings.

Typically, a hybrid-worker will attend the office occasionally for collaboration, and carry out the rest of their duties from home. This working model has a number of benefits for both employees and companies alike.

How can I support hybrid workers?

Supporting hybrid workers involves much of the same strategy used to support remote employees. This includes maintaining regular contact and engagement, but also ensuring that the balance of home/office working suits your employees’ needs.

When employees are working from home, make sure contact remains frequent, and is of good quality. This is crucial for promoting engagement and productivity within a hybrid workforce.

It’s important to touch base with hybrid employees on a regular basis, ensuring their needs are met, and goals are reached. Although staff may be working from home independently, it’s still your duty as their manager to provide any support/guidance they may need.

How can I keep remote workers engaged?

Remote working is often associated with certain employee engagement challenges. With hybrid working, it’s just as important to overcome these issues – keeping workers focused and productive. Positive ways to engage remote workers include:

– Utilise video meeting & instant messaging software

Regular contact is the key to engaging your remote workers. Utilise video meeting and instant messaging software to keep staff supported and in the loop. It’s important to ensure remote employees can easily reach colleagues/managers for any support they need.

Digital communication can be used to create structure for your remote workers. Hosting stand-up meetings at the start of each day can help employees plan their work more effectively, promoting productivity.

– Set and track SMART targets for employees

SMART targeting is an effective method for setting specific, achievable goals for employees. By using this strategy for hybrid workers, you can easily track their performance, and ensure they remain engaged while working remotely. 

– Adapt your EVP to engage remote workers

When your employees’ working environment changes, so do their wants and needs in their career. It’s important to analyse and adapt your EVP to best suit hybrid-working employees, as this is a vital part of staff engagement.

Survey your workforce on which key company benefits matter most to them in these new circumstances, and which are of less importance. Use this information to adapt your engagement strategy to meet the changing needs of your employees.

How can I track the performance of remote workers?

For some managers, remote working influences anxiety over their employees’ long-term performance. This is why it’s important to measure goals, achievements, and progress on a regular basis. 

Don’t micro-manage

One mistake some employers make is to over-manage their remote workers. While it’s good to be in the loop regarding employees’ performance, applying too much pressure and surveillance can be counterproductive. 

Make sure to avoid micromanagement of your remote employees; you need to have faith in their ability to reach their goals, while offering support when needed.

Do carry out regular reviews & catch-ups

A great way to remain informed on employees’ performance is to host frequent formal/informal catch-ups. Meeting regularly with your employees to discuss their goals, targets, and development is key to ensuring engagement, and identifying performance strengths and weaknesses.

Introducing…

Talos Engage: Support & inspire remote employees

Engaging remote employees starts with adapting your EVP to suit their needs. With Talos Engage, it has been easier to survey and analyse your employees’ wants/needs, and make crucial changes to your benefits package.

Talos Engage takes the form of a simple swipe-card game, allowing employees to rank the importance of key company benefits. This lets you analyse which benefits matter most to your employees – taking roles, location, and other individual factors into account.

The result? An EVP that truly suits the needs of your workforce – increasing staff retention, and helping to attract strong talent to your business.

Build a HR strategy that supports and engages hybrid workers: