How to keep remote workers connected to your business

The option of remote working often attracts new people to a business and can help retain existing talent. Despite the benefits of working from home for employees (for example, improved productivity, better work-life balance, and money-saving opportunities), sitting alone all day can be isolating. This can sometimes result in workers becoming detached from their employers and colleagues.

In this article, we share seven tips for keeping remote workers connected with your business, promoting inclusion, and creating a team environment.

1. Hold regular catchups with your remote employees

There are plenty of opportunities for interactions among colleagues throughout the day in an office. Some are naturally about work, but others are more generic: “Did you have a good weekend?”, “What did you get up to last night?”, “Did you see that TV show?”. Regardless of how irrelevant these conversations may seem, they help colleagues build rapport.

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When an individual works from home, while they may have the occasional online interaction – usually prompted by a work-related issue – they generally miss out on these smaller chats that foster connection.

Schedule a daily morning call with your teams, including office and remote workers, to minimise isolation. This gives everyone in the group an opportunity to discuss what they’ll be doing for the day and a chance to talk about less pressing issues, such as last night’s football match.

In addition to encouraging productivity, this short meeting (no longer than 15 minutes) reminds your office-based workers that they have out-of-sight colleagues to involve.

In addition to this regular morning catchup, arrange and stick to monthly 1-2-1s with your remote workers to discuss performance and how they’re getting on. This will help you build a connection and gauge their job satisfaction. You can then take steps to address any problems.

2. Use the right collaboration tools for remote working

Ensure remote workers have the right equipment and software to perform their tasks properly and collaborate efficiently with colleagues.

Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace offer email, live chat, video calling, and calendar functionality. We recommend researching and finding the provider that suits your needs and budget. Once you have chosen one, run internal training programmes to ensure everyone can easily use the software.

Then, explore collaboration software such as Trello and Slack. These let you and your team work together efficiently and effortlessly on projects, regardless of their location.

We recommend evaluating other project management tools and software to enhance teamwork and collaboration further. For example, we’ve partnered with monday.com – your all-in-one project management hub, which lets you build customisable workflows, track progress, and create timelines. If you’re a 1st Formations customer, you’ll receive an exclusive one-month free trial to see how effortlessly it can transform your team’s productivity.

Finally, consider creating a company intranet to post your business updates – from launching a new product or service to introducing a new starter or sharing information on the upcoming Christmas Party. This will help keep your remote workers in the loop and engaged.

3. Communicate carefully with remote colleagues

Instant chat tools like those mentioned earlier have revolutionised how colleagues collaborate. Remote working, as we recognise it, would not be possible without these tools. However, as fundamental as they are, they can create anxiety for remote and hybrid workers.

When someone has limited interactions, they may overanalyse communications. For example, what may seem concise feedback from you may look like a scathing comment to them and make them question their job security. If this happens in an office environment, a team member can discuss it, whereas the remote worker is often left alone with their thoughts, thinking the worst.

While you need to be careful about the tone you use with all employees, you should take extra care when communicating with your remote workers, ensuring nothing can be misconstrued.

When providing constructive feedback, consider following up on any emails or live messages with a video call to elaborate on any possible unclear points. And, of course, provide positive feedback whenever appropriate.

4. Invite remote workers to the office

Remind your remote workers that they can attend the office when convenient. This could be an ad-hoc day, or if they live far from the office, they could come in for a few days.

Consider syncing this and inviting all remote workers in at the same time. Then, arrange events around this, such as ‘Collaboration Days’ and ‘Innovation Weeks’, where everyone can forget their day-to-day roles and collaborate on specific projects, such as developing a new product or service. Outside of work hours, encourage the team to socialise by scheduling team events such as drinks, dinner, or an activity.

Remote working can benefit employers and employees, but sometimes, nothing beats getting the whole team together in the same room.

5. Mark special occasions for remote workers

It’s a small gesture, but when it’s a remote worker’s birthday, send them a card signed by the team alongside a gift such as flowers, chocolates, vouchers, or a bottle of their favourite drink. You could also arrange a quick call with their immediate team, allowing everyone to wish them a happy birthday.

If the employee were in the office, they may have cake, enjoy lunch, or celebrate with post-work drinks. However, when they’re at home, special occasions such as birthdays can go unnoticed. Show you care about your remote workers.

6. Encourage different workplace set-ups

For some, working remotely isn’t a perk but a need due to issues such as childcare or distance from the office. These employees may want to attend the office but can’t. In these scenarios, they may benefit from visiting a local coworking space for a few hours a day or week.

This strategy is perfect for your employees who have expressed a dislike of their home working arrangement. By surrounding themselves with other professionals in a working environment, the employee is less likely to be lonely and will be grateful to your business for recognising and supporting this.

If this appeals to an employee, consider assisting them in researching appropriate spaces and clarify how you will cover the costs involved.

7. Create an inclusive workplace

You need to foster an inclusive company culture where your remote workers always feel valued and connected to your business. To do this, ensure anyone working remotely never feels left out. As a founder, you should apply this mindset to all aspects of your business – beyond just work.

For example, if you’re having an impromptu in-office meeting about a project, invite all relevant remote workers to attend via video call. This may seem inconvenient, but it will benefit productivity, as all the necessary people will be there. It will also show remote employees that they are part of the team.

When planning social activities, invite your remote workers to all team events. Even if you suspect they won’t attend, give them the opportunity. For every Summer Party, Christmas Party, or team-building activity – if it’s a whole office event, invite your remote workers. And if they can’t attend, why not send them a delivery of treats instead?

Start fostering a connection with your remote employees

Remote workers can easily feel detached from employers and colleagues. This can damage their long-term prospects at your business and, more importantly, their mental well-being. Follow the tips in this article to ensure your remote staff are engaged and connected.

Discover the 1st Formations blog for more guidance on creating a thriving workplace culture for your small business. Already tried some strategies? Leave a comment with your own tips to share.