'So, how's remote work going?"
When we ask this question, we expect people to say, "Ohh! It's great because of the flexibility, work-life balance, no travel..."
The list of benefits will go on. But have you ever asked this question to HR teams? Their response will be different. Remote work spells unprecedented challenges for HR teams. Let's look at a few challenges and understand how to overcome them.
Companies can also invest in branded merchandise. A not so obvious method, but customised merchandise like apparel, drinkware, stationery can make employees feel connected with the company.
1. Onboarding remote employees
What stood out for you on your first day at work? Most of us look back at the office tour, interaction with colleagues, interaction with your manager as a memorable part of the onboarding experience. Now, with hybrid workplaces becoming the new norm, the whole onboarding experience has been reduced to Zoom meetings. There's nothing that an employee can look back to and remember forever. A lot of people who joined a new workplace during the pandemic have not seen their office yet. And this creates a huge gap in the experience.
The challenges may seem daunting, but the tools available for HR teams can make things easier. Besides, the best thing would be to stay agile and evolve constantly. We do not know what the future holds, so our best bet is to stay resilient and keep marching ahead.
How to overcome it?
One can create a real connection amidst all the virtual interactions using joining kits. It is said that "Good welcoming swag is like a secret handshake." And rightly so. We are not saying that only a joining kit will create a good onboarding experience. But it adds a lot of value to your existing employee induction process. It will make the new joinees feel that the organisation cares for them.
Besides, a well-curated employee joining kit will also get the new joinee acquainted with the company's culture. It can be done in a few simple steps.
2. Employee engagement
As per Investopedia, "Employee engagement is a human resources (HR) concept that describes the level of enthusiasm and dedication a worker feels toward their work." Over the past two years, HR teams have seen plummeting levels of employee engagement, and it has become worrisome.
How to overcome it?
The lack of employee engagement is a serious problem that can lead to increased employee turnover. It needs multiple interventions to control it. A few things could be:
- Creating channels for communication that will make employees feel that they are in touch with the things happening at work.
- Timely interaction and activities between different departments to keep the workplace camaraderie alive.
- Several informal virtual events to let tell employees know that they have teammates, not just for work, but to have fun as well.
These are obvious yet effective solutions. However, besides these, companies can also invest in branded merchandise. A not so obvious method, but customised merchandise like apparel, drinkware, stationery can make employees feel connected with the company, thereby helping improve employee engagement. It also allows them to show their pride in the company.
3. Employee reward and recognition
Despite the changing circumstances, a lot of organisations have witnessed an exemplary performance from several team members. When such instances happen in the office, recognising your teams becomes easier. But the lack of such recognition in remote working scenario can make a person feel that their work is not getting appreciated, thus making them demotivated.
How to overcome it?
Appreciation can come in many forms. Imagine the proud smile on your employee's face on getting a personalised gift with a note from their manager appreciating their effort! A simple gesture can work wonders towards boosting employee morale. Making this happen is also simple using BrandStore.
4. Office-remote-office transition
The rise and fall of each wave of the pandemic is followed by on-site to remote transition. The popular belief is that people have gotten used to it, but the reality is far from different. People have made peace with the continuous transition, but it still creates a lot of hassle for employees to go back and forth each time. This in turn has created a dip in the productivity levels, creating challenges for the HR teams.
How to overcome it?
A simple way to ease this challenge is by creating a transition kit. It can have a few common items that people need, whether working from home or office. You can include products like backpacks, covid safety gear, stationery, self-care products, healthy snacks and a lot more. The kit cannot away take away the mental strain, but will surely let people know that they are taken care of. And that will win half the battle.
The challenges may seem daunting, but the tools available for HR teams can make things easier. Besides, the best thing would be to stay agile and evolve constantly. We do not know what the future holds, so our best bet is to stay resilient and keep marching ahead.
If you are facing any of these challenges, we can help you in more ways than one. Reach out to us!
