The Connection Magazine AIM MUTUAL Fall 2019 | Page 30

REMOTE WORKFORCE
KEEPING YOUR REMOTE
WORKFORCE ENGAGED
REMOTE WORK, for many people, is wonderful. Working
autonomously with a flexible schedule can be a dream
job. What’s more, many companies are relying on these
telecommuters more than ever before.
What nobody talks about, however, is the potential feeling
of social isolation that is inherent in these jobs. A recent global
survey revealed 40 percent of remote workers felt lonely and
detached from the workplace despite regular email contact.
This impacts productivity and employee retention, according
to Dan Schawbel who has written a book on the topic. 1
Wellness for Road Warriors
Working from home means communicating by email or
phone, with little face-to-face contact, and working off-hours.
Remote workers who bring socialization into their workday are
more likely to find satisfaction in their career along with their
day-to-day routine.
Wellness is a perfect place to start. Extending your wellness
perks beyond the “brick and mortar” office can be a challenge,
but it’s not impossible. A flexible wellness program is the
answer for your employees who have a flexible workspace and
schedule. Here’s how to approach it:
1. Always include remote staff in wellness activities.
You may need to get creative, but with every wellness
competition, challenge, or activity, extend the invitation
to remote staff to join in. Give them plenty of notice to
plan their schedules.
2. If your company offers on-site perks like meditation
classes, step challenges, and educational sessions,
include your remote staff via video conference or with
webinars. If you have an on-site gym, offer fitness
membership discounts near where your remote
employees live.
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