You love your remote workers and you want to recognize their hard work and success. Unfortunately, expensive gifts or bonuses won’t fit your budget, so you’re scratching your head, seeking other options.
Sometimes giving a simple word of thanks or offering public praise during a meeting is exactly what your virtual team members want in order to feel appreciated. It may seem too easy, but hearing a manager offer words of gratitude and encouragement can mean more than you imagine. However, that isn’t your only option for showing recognition while spending little or nothing.
Here are a few other suggestions that are sure to keep your remote workers happy without blowing up your bottom line:
Send them some swag.
If you’ve worked hard to create a strong culture, and your employees love working for your company, help them show it off. Send them some company swag—a T-shirt, mug, or sticker for their laptops—to thank them for their efforts. This won’t cost much, and they’ll love receiving a little gift.
Surprise them with gift cards.
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This may sound like an expensive idea, but it doesn’t have to be. Purchase a stock of $10 or $20 gift cards for Starbucks, iTunes, Amazon, and other popular vendors. When a remote worker achieves a goal, completes a project, or does any minor thing you’d like to recognize, slip one of those cards into an envelope—along with a handwritten note of thanks—and drop it in the mail.
If you have used your one-on-one meetings wisely and know a bit about employees’ likes and dislikes, you’ll be able to send them something they’ll really enjoy. Even if it’s not for a huge amount, these little surprises will be appreciated.
Include them in the fun.
Virtual employees want to feel like they’re part of a team, even if they aren’t working in the same building as their colleagues. Plan activities that they can join from afar.
For example, you could create teams and have all workers track their steps as they “race” toward a common goal. Such simple activities will help your remote workers draw closer to each other and their colleagues in the office, assuring your virtual team members that they are not forgotten.
Pay attention to the calendar.
Set up your work calendar to remind you a week before remote employees’ birthdays and work anniversaries. When one of those big days is on the horizon, write a handwritten note in a card and send it along with your best wishes. They’ll feel remembered, and your kind words are sure to bring a smile to their faces.
Give the gift of time.
If they’re working from home, some remote workers may struggle to separate their business lives from their personal lives. Show that you understand this problem by encouraging them to take vacation time, and then leave them alone while they’re on PTO. You may also want to contact them early on the occasional Friday afternoon and tell them to take the rest of the day off. Acknowledge their hard work by giving them time away from their task lists.
Encourage personal and professional development.
Make use of the resources your company already has for training. Provide opportunities and time for your remote workers to access online seminars or recorded presentations in order to hone their skills or develop new ones. If you show a willingness to invest in their personal and career growth, they will feel appreciated.
Offer advancement opportunities.
Some remote workers feel that they don’t have the same chances to move up in the company as their cubicle-dwelling colleagues. Take the time to discuss their goals and develop plans to help them move in the right direction. This costs you nothing but a bit of your time, and it could pay huge dividends in improved morale for your remote employees.
These are only a few ideas, and you can probably think of many others that will be a good fit for your virtual teams. What they all have in common is a low price tag, but a potentially high impact. If you invest time in your remote workers and recognize their good work using strategies like these, you won’t have to worry that they feel unappreciated—and you won’t have to break the bank to do it.
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