Employee Appreciation In A Virtual Office
The concept of a virtual office is gaining more popularity in India. Moreover, more business houses are shifting their focus to virtual offices. Apart from being a cost-effective alternative to traditional offices, the main attraction is breaking the geographical barrier.By Relying largely on remote workers, maintaining a positive workspace culture is important in a virtual office. Employee appreciation plays a pivotal role in nurturing a positive workspace.
Longing For Recognition
Every human being longs for recognition and appreciation. A small token of reward can do wonders. However,being an office in the digital sphere, recognizing and appreciating employees in a virtual office is a demanding task. Therefore an employer should ensure a positive workspace for his employees. Conducting an employee recognition and appreciation program is an effective method to achieve this.
Need for Employee Appreciation Programs
1.Improves Productivity:
Recognizing and appreciating employees for their effort creates a positive workspace culture. Furthermore, employees working in such a workspace feel motivated and always thrive to contribute more.
2.Improves Team Spirit
A group of employees working together wholeheartedly for a common goal becomes a team. Recognizing and rewarding their effort boosts their morale and sense of belonging. Additionally, this practice eventually makes their bond stronger and more efficient.
3.Reduces Employee Turnover
Lack of proper recognition is a main reason for employee turnover. When his efforts are recognized and appreciated, he will feel motivated and less likely to quit. Eventually, this culture enhances the company’s image as employee-friendly, which allows more efficient employees to get recruited.
4.Better Employer-Employee Relationship
A proper recognition and appreciation program creates a special bond between employer and employee. Furthermore, it develops mutual respect between employer and employee. This, in turn, reduces workspace disputes and builds a positive work culture.
5.Improves Mental Health
A workspace that acknowledges the efforts of its employees tends to develop a positive work culture. The sense of being appreciated by the employer reduces stress and improves mental health. Consequently, this overall helps them maintain a work-life balance.
Effective Ways to Virtualize Employee Appreciation:
1.Celebrate Birthdays and Achievements.
Birthdays, anniversaries, and workplace achievements are special for every employee. On such occassions, sending a personalized message or posting in the group chat will make the whole day more special for them. Furthermore, the feeling of being remembered itself is a token of appreciation for the employees.
2.Provide Work From Home Allowance
Comparing to a regular office space, remote workers have limited resources. However by granting a work-from-home allowance, they can improve their home office facilities. By providing such allowances, the employees get a sense of belonging and are appreciated.
3.Virtual Team Celebration
Host a virtual party for the milestones achieved. Appreciating the team or employees in particular for their contribution will make them more attached to the company. Moreover, conducting meetings frequently builds stronger relationships and fosters a sense of community among employees. If the party is organised on a holiday, give employees adequate time off later in the week. These gestures make them feel cared for.
4.Conduct Offline Gatherings
Once in a while, conduct offline meetings for a face-to-face interaction. Meeting the colleagues in person will be a pleasant experience for the workers. The virtual office company will provide meeting rooms with best-in-class facilities. Furthermore, motivate the employees, an appreciation ceremony can be conducted to celebrate their outstanding contributions.
5.Appreciate Via Social Channels.
Every company will have an official social media handle. By pinning them on social walls, they feel recognized for their efforts. With these social media interactions, the company will also gain an image of having a superior work culture.
6.Virtual Wellness Session.
Offer a virtual personal development session with prominent personalities. With these programs, you can develop the skills of your employees. Furthermore by having an open discussion with experts, the employees can upgrade their level.
7.Send gift cards.
An employer may want to send the best gift to his employees to make them feel appreciated. But sometimes they can’t get the right one. Instead of sending the gift, let the employees treat themselves with a gift card. Thus, you can make sure that your remote employee benefits from your gesture.
Summing Up
The workforce is the prime asset for any organisation. Keeping them active and satisfied is a tricky task. In this competitive era, virtual offices have changed the whole dimension of workspace culture. Keeping employer-employee relations intact is a milestone for the company. Constantly choose the correct mode of appreciation. For instance not every achievement is major and requires big announcements. Recognize and appreciate the small achievements of remote workers; share them with the team. These small and big gestures build an effective employer-employee relationship in a company.
