Ask any HR professional and they’ll likely tell you that workplace culture is a big factor in retention rates. Part of this culture is providing staffers with the flexibility they need to find balance in their decisions for both work and their personal life. This employer news compilation takes a closer look at workplace culture, remote workforces, and the ways to manage them effectively.
When trying to connect remote workers, there are numerous ways to make it happen. Workforce addresses this, using the expertise of our director of culture & people, Carol Cochran, where she encourages employers to listen to their employees. The Modern Team discusses similar sentiments, specifically focusing on building a remote workplace culture where staffers feel comfortable sharing workplace and personal challenges and successes.
When it comes to implementing remote work and managing the processes, both Huffington Post and SHRM weigh in. Huffington Post provides tips on managing remote workforces, including changing focus to results instead of hours. Then, SHRM shares the importance of establishing formal flexible work programs over offering them casually. Keep reading for quotes and links to each of the full articles!
Here’s the latest employer news about workplace culture and remote workforces:
The Party’s Electric: Culture, Cocktails, and Remote Co-Workers on Workforce
” ‘Bringing remote employees together for a little team bonding doesn’t have to be complicated, but you do need to be thoughtful about how the technology will work—and how it might get in the way,’ Cochran said. In their yoga class, for example, participants found the music, which was meant to be soothing, was actually quite jarring via Skype so they got rid of it; and activities that could be done in a desk chair made the most sense.
She also encourages talent leaders to gather feedback from employees on what they want to do, and whether the virtual events are working. She recently canceled an annual cookie exchange because employees lost interest. Instead, they added a belly dancing class when someone suggested it and others showed interest. ‘Let employees shape the program, and be open to change,’ she advised.”
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5 Tips to Effectively Manage a Remote Workforce on Huffington Post
“SHIFT TEAM VALUE TO FOCUS ON RESULTS-BASED WORK.
Modify Management Techniques – Remote workers will not base their value in clocking in and out, but in the results they are able to produce. They have the ability to develop their own scenarios to tackle the demands of their job because of this value shift. As employers we must set them up for success with clear expectations around work, in conjunction with results-based goal setting plans. As leaders we will need to evolve our value mindset to find new and creative ways to track employee engagement and productivity as a component of our bottom line. Great resources like Flexjobs can help you find team members that already have this mindset in place at the time of hire!”
Radically Remote: Building Workplace Culture When “Place” is an Idea on The Modern Team
“If the future of work continues to demand that we step outside our geographical constraints, and it sure seems to be, then it makes sense to pay attention to those who aren’t just championing the cause but who are living it as well.
‘The culture is your company’s compass, and it’s ultimately about operating with integrity and communicating on a very real level,’ says Carol Cochran, director of people & culture at FlexJobs.
‘For sure, workplace culture used to be tied to place, to a particular geographical location. But while that may be decreasing, we are seeing an increase in remote teams paying attention to how they’re developing their culture—whether it’s with colleagues in the same city or oceans away. For us, culture is part of everything we do. It’s how we hire, how we onboard, how we communicate, and collaborate.’
Cochran’s team at FlexJobs is entirely remote. But while they embrace technology to help them stay connected—they use a desktop app to help them visualize each department and who is working where, for example—they make sure not to use tech as a crutch.
‘Creating a great workplace culture doesn’t demand all colleagues are working in the same place, but it does demand a team that values the fundamentals of good communication,’ Cochran says.
She believes it’s important to first see everyone you encounter as a holistic being rather than a worker with a set of skills. This means that family life and personal interests are shared openly in the workplace and embraced as part of creating a strong culture that values and respects the employee’s life outside of work.”
Study: Profits Rise with Flexible Work on SHRM
“‘Companies that embrace workplace flexibility can source the very best talent, regardless of geographic location, when they hire people to work remotely from home,’ said Brie Weiler Reynolds, director of online content at FlexJobs, in an interview with SHRM Online. She said it’s important to have formal workplace flexibility programs because ‘casual flex’ in an undefined system can pit workers against each other and often be misaligned with overall company goals. Measurable, trackable, and goal-oriented workplace flexibility that supports companies’ overarching business plans can reduce costs, increase retention, and boost productivity and the bottom line.”
Readers, how do you address workplace culture in a remote environment? Share with us below!
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