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Employee engagement is the key to building a successful business, but it doesn’t always come easy. As employees adapt to new flexible and socially distanced workplaces, businesses also need to adapt to new ways to engage with their staff.

Many of us in Australia are enjoying the luxuries of eating out with friends, getting back to the gym, and even returning to the office. But since last year, the workforce has solidified new approaches to work from our homes, this becoming the new workplace norm for many Australians. So how do we keep our employees engaged when physical collaboration could be a thing of the past?

Embrace the balance

In the process of coming back, people will need a higher degree of choice, in terms of when they come back, how they come back and how they flex their time. Providing people with control over their work—as much as possible—and new levels of overall flexibility, will demonstrate an understanding and empathy for the particular situation.

Regular face time with leaders is important for remote workers, and has implications for engagement and performance. The most effective leaders have the time in their diary to check in as a team and will create a social environment where team members can communicate and socialise in a safe environment. This could involve virtual team drinks, virtual meetings both individually and collectively or holiday celebrations.

Collaboration is key

Work is fundamentally social and great leaders create the conditions for constructive relationships between and among their team members. While it’s unfortunate people are experiencing so much social isolation, this may be one of the most powerful reasons they will want to return to the office. Leaders can contribute to effectiveness and engagement by forging connections.

Businesses can also give people transparency to the work of others by ensuring plenty of collaboration and communication. Leaders should assign tasks which require employees to work together on substantive and meaningful projects. Business leaders would also be wise to express appreciation for work that is well-executed and hold people accountable, reinforcing how their work matters.

Employees who feel their voice is heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work.

Rewarding, Recognising, and Incentivising

As a ‘Platform as a Service’ technology, MicroGifts is hosted in the cloud & can be accessed from anywhere. We individually configure our platform with all your individual business details for your rewards and communication requirements. The Platform allows you to create multiple reward programmes, products, and messages. Take engagement to the next level where behaviours can be instantly recognised, success celebrated frequently, or loyalty rewarded promptly.