3 Things You Can Do to Create the Right Remote Office Culture

08/26/2020 09:00 AM By Angela

3-things-you-can-do-create-right-remote-office-culture
Remote work is, by now, a staple of doing business in this pandemic-affected world. We're all waiting for the day when we can all go out and things "go back to normal", but this truly is the "new normal".


Masks and shields when outside. Once-a-week errand runs. Spray bottles of alcohol everywhere. Food delivery when possible. And working from home for many of us.


Many businesses have been forced to rush into implementing remote work programs in order to limit disruption. Between making sure staff have working computers and setting up remotely-accessed tools and online workspaces, it's easy to deem it a job well done when work is finally moving along.


But it's easy to forget that one of the most important ingredients of the remote office is the human being doing the work.


Getting a remote office set up for your employees is more than just supplying them the tools they need to do the work, but also making sure that their working environment and culture matches. A good office culture for remote workers will help your staff do better and more efficient work, too.


Is your office remote-worker-friendly? Here are 3 ways you can help your office culture evolve into one that is conducive for remote workers.

#1 - Encourage A Better Workspace

It's important to separate work and relaxation for remote workers. The brain associates certain places with certain activities, so encourage your staff to work on a table or desk, and not in their beds!


Try to budget for encouraging better workspaces for your staff. Maybe you can't spring for a new office desk for everybody, but maybe a fun remote raffle would work, or even a subsidy so they can purchase one themselves.


You can also run small contests or programs where you can encourage your staff to "show off" their workspaces. Take a page from many remote work communities who love sharing their desks to show their hard work and design skills. A little encouragement can help build a small community in your business that encourages making conducive work spaces for themselves.

#2 - Set a Schedule for Your Team

While remote work is great for flexibility, sometimes, a few rules and guidelines actually work better for us. A consistent routine helps our brains get ready for work, so encouraging your staff in maintaining a routine is great, too.


Perhaps allow them to set when they start work, so sleepyheads can get a little more sleep or people who love cooking and having hearty breakfasts have a little more time to prepare. Remote attendance tracking software like the one Load One offers can help you track when they "clock in" remotely, but can also help them--the act of checking in for the day of work can signal their brain that it's time to get busy.

#3 - Encourage Reaching Out

Remote work can easily feel very isolating. It's easy to lose track that you have a team working with you, and to feel that you are all alone. Encourage downtime socializing in your teams to help them feel more comfortable in reaching out to their colleagues.


Host fun, interactive meetings that encourage friendliness. Perhaps set a theme for your Zoom backgrounds and show off your staff's creativity. Hold a meeting in costume. Have a few drinks (perhaps give them a little budget or allowance!). These fun activities can help raise their engagement at work.


Also, remember that even professionally, it would benefit your employees to network and be part of a larger community than your business. Encourage them to attend and participate in online conferences and communities relevant to them. It can help them feel less alone and more connected to the work they do.

Conclusion

It doesn't take much to start turning your company into one that is conducive to remote workers and makes sure that they are treated as fairly as ones who head into the office. 


Even after this global pandemic, businesses will be faced with an entirely new world -- one that has experienced remote work in a very real way.


It's time to make sure your business is ready to take that new world on.