Most professional companies, since the onset of Covid-19, have asked their employees to work from home.  According to data projections by Ladders, 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by end of 2022. It looks like remote work is here to stay and may be the ‘new normal’ for some of us. This working arrangement is changing the way we connect with one another and will ultimately impact morale at the company.  Forbes highlighted that “while some people are benefitting and are enjoying working from home… working remotely is taking its toll”. How do companies ensure efficiency, avoid burnout and boost morale while working from home?   At Pixoul, we are a remote-first team. This means, pandemic or not, our team is made up of members across the US who work from home. Here are three tips for working remotely based on what our team does:

1) Stay connected

Our team stays in touch throughout the work hours using Slack. It’s a great tool for everyone to stay connected on important items such as project and recruitment updates, daily standups, celebrations and random topics (“where is the cat in this photo?”). We use Slack not only for written conversations, but also for huddles too. There are features which allow for an easy one-touch call to any member of the team.

2) Recognize one another

It’s important that we continuously recognize one another on the team. Whether someone closed a deal or simply helped out another team member, we at Pixoul make sure to call it out and celebrate it. According to HBR, a little recognition can provide a big morale boost. There have been countless studies demonstrating how employee satisfaction and motivation are directly impacted by employees feeling recognized and empowered.

3) Sign off

While working remotely, it can be more difficult to separate work and personal life (especially if your desk is in your bedroom). This is a key driver to burnout. We understand that no matter how much work is left, it’s important to disconnect at the end of a work day. The work will always be there for us the next day and health/well-being comes first, always.

Although these three tips may seem easy and obvious – you’d be surprised how many companies do not practice this within their organization. It’s something that, if done with intent, could go a long way in making the experience of remote team members happy, motivated, and efficient.

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