Innovative technology has made it possible for companies to employ international and remote employees. Nowadays, there’s no issue when it comes to contacting faraway employees and colleagues, however, it’s hard to make a team come together when people are in different time zones or opposite sides of the country. The likes of the internet and Skype can only do so much.
If you’re in desperate need of improving employee relations, read the following tips. Ensuring your employees feel part of and work as a team can be beneficial to your company’s productivity, efficiency and success. Nurture your employee’s, both local and long-distance.
Proper Introductions
Providing proper introductions can kickstart a great working relationship. If you employ someone new but fail to introduce them to the rest of the team, then not only will your in-house employees be unaware of the new person’s capabilities, role or personality, but your remote employee will feel separate from the team.
If the remote employee lives a few hours away, or you’re able to afford to fly them in, have them join the office for a week or so. This will allow everyone to introduce themselves, and will make the remote employee feel more included and at ease. Feeling part of a team can work wonders to a person’s work ethic, and leaving them out unintentionally can be just as damaging as doing so intentionally.
Monthly Check-Ins
This is easy to do in countries such as the UK, but poses more difficult in larger countries such as the US or Australia. However, regular check ins can make all the difference to your workforce. If it’s in your budget, pay for their petrol or airfare; also pay for their hotel. Have a meeting about progress, and have them sit with their colleagues. If the remote employee is an editor for your publishing firm, sitting them with marketing wouldn’t be beneficial. However, make sure not everything is work related. Allow out-of-office meetings to happen over coffee, and include a company meal. You want to provide a social environment as much as a professional aura.
If monthly check-ins seem too hectic for everyone involved, try bi-monthly or every three months instead. You want consistency, and so sticking to a schedule and creating good working relationships could also be an event your colleagues are excited for.
Better Business Communication
Most offices use Skype, however, it can be difficult to hold conference calls where everyone is sat at their own individual desks, with the risk of a dodgy internet connection. Instead, it may be more beneficial for your company to invest in business phone systems which can provide solution to any on-site problematic internet connection by providing a static IP address, and special router; or, the problem can be solved by installing a dedicated internet access line just for your business phone service. These phones are designed to hold conferences without the worry about distortion and interferences; after all, you want clarity and good voice quality when discussing important business matters. The internet is great, and Skype is ideal for one-on-one catch ups, but for proper business meetings, you want a conference phone designed for purpose.
Whether it’s a freelancer or a remote, full-time employee, you need to welcome them into your company and make them feel part of the team. Not doing so risks low productivity, and you want your employees, and your business, to be successful.
