Employee engagement in remote working: HR challenges during Covid crisis

 

The globalized world has opened opportunities for businesses to attract a wider pool of talents across the continents. While these pathways allow firms to diversify, there are numerous challenges associated with hiring employees remotely and keeping them engaged with the firm. During the pandemic phase, a greater shift took place from the traditional working pattern to remote work culture. Such a state of transition towards virtual working can be managed well with the help of remote employee engagement.

Remote working can be isolating, employees lack a personal connection with their team members which may lead to a lack of commitment and satisfaction. Organizations are seeking various engagement plans wherein the cognitive and emotional state of employees can be well-amalgamated in the universe of the organization. For this, it is important to keep the employees motivated during remote work. While working remotely, employees may lack self-determination and discipline. There is a lack of accountability of the work done and therefore various challenges of intrinsic motivation come up.

Essentially the employees and the managers must have an effective channel of communication so that transparency and work involvement can be increased. Further, leaders and managers must leverage channels that allow personalized communication with the right frequency among the team members. Large organizations must offer technical support such as laptops, computers, allowances for office set up at home, and mobile phones to their employees so that remote working can be made easy and collaborative for the employees.

Further, virtual relationship-building forums and exchange programs must be practiced. Employees must also be made aware of the convenience and work-life balance that remote working offers to them. Working remotely allows employees to maintain a healthier diet, save their commutation time and cost. Such benefits when creatively communicated to employees enhance their workplace engagement and work commitment.

Due to the Covid crisis, organizations could not get enough time and opportunity to prepare strategically for working remotely but with time, firms need to create a wholesome structure to foster remote working and engagement of employees.