Easy Ways to Promote Inclusion with Remote Workers

When your organization has multiple locations, sometimes teams are dispersed across offices. On top of this, telecommuting has become the norm. Many surveys have shown that remote workers often feel left out or completely forgotten by their teams. It’s important to take the necessary steps to make sure all workers feel like they are included, so everyone is working towards a common goal and feels appreciated.

Clear and Constant Communication

Remote workers can feel overlooked because they are not someone you see every day. Lack of communication between teams can cause major issues. To combat this, there are plenty of ways to keep lines of communication open. For remote employees, it’s key to be candid about your workload and be honest about any roadblocks. This helps you stay top of mind with supervisors so as not to be overlooked for promotions or important meetings. According to a study from Harvard Business Review, 84% of remote workers said the concern dragged on for a few days or more, while 47% admitted to letting it drag on for weeks or more. And for employers? Have regular check-ins with remote workers. Make sure you schedule a time for them and invest a bit in their personal lives. It’s important to make up for a loss of the water cooler type conversations remote workers miss out on.

Personal Touch in a Digital World

Most interactions these days seem to be online. With many options for communication, it can be tough to disconnect. At the same time, remote workers often feel a lack of connection with team members. They miss out on a traditional office life – the physical presence of coworkers, inside jokes, being first to hear about a new process, etc. When interacting primarily through email and messaging systems, it’s critical to word things correctly. Things can easily get lost in translation or taken the wrong way through an email or messaging system because all tone of voice is lost. In order to bridge that lack of connection or dodge any miscommunications, try to use video chat whenever possible. Create a team or office-wide communication channels on Skype, Slack, or your preferred messaging system. If the budget allows, get groups together as often as possible. This could be in the form of team outings, quarterly in-person team meetings, or holiday parties/summer outings. Set your remote workers up for success. Fostering an atmosphere of inclusion promotes productivity, collaboration, and overall growth.