7 Ways to Recognise Your Remote and Hybrid Employees

Remote and hybrid work is no longer a temporary arrangement. It is now a permanent part of how many organisations operate. Associates run their workdays from home, manage their time across locations and schedules, and deliver results without the hallway conversations and desk-side thank-yous that once made appreciation feel effortless.

That is exactly why recognition matters more today. When teams are spread out, good work can easily go unnoticed, and people who work quietly from home may begin to feel invisible. Timely, specific recognition tells them that their effort is seen and valued. It strengthens their connection with the organisation and keeps them motivated, engaged and inspired to do their best.

As a people manager, you don’t need a big budget or a grand gesture to make this happen. You only need to know what to look for. Here are seven opportunities you shouldn’t miss.

Seven Opportunities Every Manager Should Not Miss

#1 Recognising Values

The core values of any organisation are the pivots that keep it running. In times of economic uncertainties, adhering to your core values just might be the key to longevity and survival. The employees who hold these values in the highest regard and display them through their work ethic and loyalty deserve recognition from their managers.

#2 Recognising Behaviours

It is not uncommon for people to panic and develop fatalistic attitudes during times of uncertainty. Maintaining a sense of rationality and a can-do attitude can be difficult in hard times and you should respect the sheer tenacity of those who do. Recognising and reciprocating the intensity of these employees is a great way to show respect to their indomitable work ethic.

#3 Recognising Above & Beyond

There are individuals, who, during tough times rise above and beyond all adversities and become a beacon of hope and inspiration for others. There are no particular parameters to ascertain such efforts; from working odd hours to troubleshooting and improvising their responsibility, undertaking someone else’s work or even being there for a colleague in difficult times. These are the qualities of a hero and any employee displaying them should be recognised as one.

#4 Recognising Tag Teams

There are certain employees who work very efficiently in tandem with each other. In remote teams, the work ethic of such employees who motivate each other to perform better deserves a salute. Teamwork is essential to any organisation and employees who embody these virtues should be recognised by their managers for bringing a sense of solidarity especially when it is needed the most.

#5 Recognising Availability and Accessibility

Working remotely changes the schedule of everyone involved. There are several factors that need to be considered while working from home; familial responsibilities, lack of privacy, connectivity problems and feasible working environment to name a few. All employees that make themselves available and accessible despite the surmounting odds must be lauded for their efforts. These are the individuals who boost productivity and inspire people around them.

#6 Recognising Work Spaces

A feasible work environment that ensures productivity is perhaps the most important part of a workspace. To simulate your office environment in your remote working space is a huge challenge and something that most employees struggle with. People are coming up with innovative ideas to make their workstations at home more efficient and interesting. Such efforts reflect the work ethic of the employee and how they prioritise work. Efforts like these might seem trifling but they have a positive impact on the psyche and are worthy of appreciation.

#7 Recognising Community Help

At any time, every little humanitarian effort counts. Altruism is a rare trait and those who exhibit it even during tough times deserve all the appreciation in the world. Simple gestures like donating money for important causes, feeding the underprivileged or even volunteering to feed strays in the neighbourhood are worthy of attention. It is these gestures that help preserve faith in humanity and as managers, you must recognise the employees who work selflessly for the less fortunate. After all, this behavior resonates with the community spirit of your organisation.

Recognition and appreciation of your employees especially in a virtual or hybrid work environment requires some strategic realignment. Every little effort, contribution merits recognition. It is our unified resilience that will help us navigate change, and keeping up your recognition traditions is a fruitful step towards that. Remember to keep your employees motivated, stay connected with them and keep recognising. A digital recognition platform makes it easier to celebrate wins in real time, wherever your people are working.