Pandemic lockdowns have made remote work a necessity, but as we emerge from the depths of Covid’s grip it’s a trend that will continue.

While this is partly due to an ongoing focus on increased hygiene standards and preventing disease transmission, remote work has also become a preference for many. The ability to work remotely offers employees more flexibility and the potential for greater efficiency by avoiding long commutes.

However, working from home also comes with its challenges. For example, it can be difficult to self-manage your own time productively from home, and it can also feel isolating for some.

Organizations need to offer a range of benefits to their remote workers to ensure the experience is fulfilling and their productivity doesn’t falter.

Providing a variety of perks to remote workers can help promote their health, fitness, and overall well-being, which in turn can optimize their productivity. Servicing remote workers in this way can also lead to better employee retention.

Here are 12 benefits to offer your remote workers to boost their well-being, morale, and job fulfillment.

1. Conduct team building events

This seems like a good place to start since one of the critical issues with working remotely is feeling isolated and disconnected from your team.

When employees (often) don’t share a physical coworking space, it’s important to find other ways to foster a connected culture among them. Hosting virtual team building events is a great way to achieve this so employees get to know each other better and feel connected.

Some ideas for virtual team building events are:

• Host a “happy hour” – this can be as simple as a casual get-together or include costumes, games or cocktails outside of work hours.
• Get help from the experts – companies like The Go Game can help you run team building events that are fun, varied and feel less awkward because they’re fast and interactive.

Photo by Husna Miskandar on Unsplash

2. Offer a wellness program

With work-related stress levels at an all-time high, employees will naturally be drawn to a company that prioritizes their health and well-being.

You can increase the physical, mental and emotional well-being of your employees by offering wellness initiatives to support them remotely.

Hoppier is a great flexible spending solution that allows your employees to choose the wellness solutions that best meet their individual needs.

With virtual credit cards like these, you can set a fixed budget for each employee and limit their spending to wellness-focused providers.

Your employees could then use those funds to pay for meditation or nutrition apps, online therapy, local gym memberships, and more.

You can also match each team member with a Wellness Buddy and help each of them with responsibility and a source of support.

3. Connect them with the best software

Superior technology may be a critical factor everywhere these days, but it’s especially critical to successfully managing virtual teams.

Virtual teams need reliable, user-friendly software to collaborate effectively. Here are some great options to consider:

• Monday.com – This easy-to-use interface provides a simple virtual environment for team members to communicate and collaborate. Also check EpicSaver for Monday.com Coupons.
• switch plan – Designed for easy use at all skill levels, this project management tool helps teams collaborate and stay on track on all aspects of a given project.
• The assist – This online newsletter is free and offers a wealth of the latest tech news and inspiration to keep your staff motivated

4. Get them out of the house

It can be difficult to balance work at home with life, so encourage your employees’ work-life balance by arranging field trips or challenges outside the home.

You could simply ask all team members to take photos of themselves in a specific location and then share them with the group. This could be a quaint location or perhaps strike a pose in a humorous location.

Team building events don’t always have to be virtual either. Consider organizing an in-person event, e.g. B. an escape room challenge to bring team members together and have fun.

5. Give them some fitness equipment

Staying active is important to everyone’s health, but it can be difficult for home workers to achieve. For most, all that is needed is a little encouragement. But the same applies here: the healthier and more comfortable the employees, the better their performance.

You could give them discounts for gym memberships or give them coupons to buy exercise equipment or clothing. Holding active team challenges is also a great way to motivate remote workers.

6. Show your appreciation with employee recognition

Remote workers can benefit from recognition and appreciation as it can work wonders in alleviating their sense of disconnection.

Montage – this platform enables super-simple peer-to-peer discovery, so everyone in the organization can just take a moment and make someone’s day.

Fond – This program supports not only peer-to-peer recognition, but also incentive programs, service awards, exclusive corporate discounts, and more

7. Invest in their professional development

Engaging your remote workers goes beyond caring about their well-being and connections; it requires them to feel professionally satisfied as well.

Progress leads to greater satisfaction and happiness, so it’s important to invest in the professional development of your remote workers.

You could provide some time constraints within hours to complete free online courses or set a specific budget for attending continuing education courses.

8. Spice up your office space

Just as personal business spaces receive decoration upgrades, homeworkers deserve the same perks for their dedicated home offices!

You could provide a Home Office Improvement Grant or select specific items such as: B. a standing desk or an ergonomic chair. Our environment plays a significant role in our mood and productivity, so helping your remote workers spice up their home office can boost their morale.

Photo by Smartworks Coworking on Unsplash

9. Send them gifts

Who doesn’t like receiving a gift? Everyone loves gifts, but they can give a significant boost to remote workers who are feeling disconnected. Sending a tangible gift can create a great sense of reconnection.

The possibilities of what to send are limitless. Novelties, stationery, mugs, chocolates, you name it. SwagUp is a company that creates bespoke swag packs of goodies if you need help or inspiration.

10. Feed them

Perhaps the way to an employee’s professional heart is through their stomach!

It has long been a tradition for employees to meet in the office for pastries, food, birthday cake or other goodies. Food brings people together.

In keeping with the need to support their well-being, consider sending your remote workers some delicious, healthy treats or meals. You can also set up a virtual event to enjoy team dining.

Sharing recipes is another great way to connect team members and promote healthy eating. Of course, meal kits are also a popular choice, and companies like Marley Spoon can ship meal kits on your behalf.

11. Organize cleaning services

Again, employees in physical workplaces benefit from a company-sponsored cleaning service, so why miss it at home? Working from home may seem like a luxury, but balancing work and domestic responsibilities can be a challenge, especially when there are young children at home.

While this isn’t a realistic long-term offer, gifting your remote workers a local home cleaning service can greatly ease the pressure they may be facing.

12. Cultivate a sense of charity

Investing time in charitable acts of kindness and giving back can do wonders to boost morale and instill a sense of purpose in people.

Organizations can empower their employees by providing opportunities to give back. This can take the form of a donation on their behalf in recognition of their achievement or the provision of volunteer hours to support their philanthropic efforts. Establishing an incentive system where the company matches any employee charitable donations is also a great way to support their philanthropic efforts.

Final Thoughts

Whether your employees work remotely out of preference or necessity has both benefits and challenges.

Some people work well from home, but for many, finding the right work-life balance, staying active and healthy, and feeling connected and job-satisfied can be challenging.

The more your remote worker feels healthy, happy, and motivated, the better for everyone. So think about which of these perks could be implemented by your company and which ones would best suit your remote workers.

Of course, you can always ask them directly what benefits they are most interested in and find out what they need most. However, some of these perks will come in for a big surprise that can only add to the feeling of being valued as an employee.

Pay particular attention to the mental health of your remote workers, as you may miss important clues without direct physical contact. Take the time to check in with them regularly to see how they are doing and if remote work is still a good option for them.