Employee Recognition in a Virtual Workforce: 6 Tips You Need to Know

As we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, working remotely is now the norm for many organizations. But while a virtual workforce brings several advantages, it can have a negative impact on employee recognition when managing a digital team.

According to research, 69% of employees would work harder if they thought their efforts were more appreciated and recognized. As more businesses are managing digital teams for the first time, this number may increase. While managing a digital team can be a serious challenge, focusing on company culture and employee recognition should be a top priority.

In this post, we’ll discuss six tips for how you can improve employee recognition in a virtual workforce.

1. Put Accomplishments in Writing

When managing a digital team, you may have employees who go above and beyond. These individuals work hard every single day, making your job that much easier. To show how much you appreciate these people, do more than give them a quick “thanks” or “nice job.” Instead, showcase accomplishments in writing.

Send these employees an email that discusses the impact of their excellent work. You can also make a personalized certificate that shows their accomplishments. Even if it’s a small achievement, putting these in writing can really show the employee their efforts are appreciated.

2. Consistently Check In With Your Team

While managing digital teams means you’ll probably have less face-to-face interaction, scheduling routine check-in meetings is essential. This can be a quick video meeting, a phone call, or even an in-person session. It’s also encouraged to have these individually and as a team.

During a team meeting, everyone can work together to solve problems or address something. One-on-one sessions can allow team members to voice their concerns or discuss something in private. These routine check-ins can go a very long way for employee recognition.

3. Celebrate Milestones

Is it your employee’s work anniversary? Did a team member just finish a long and stressful project? No matter how small the achievement, celebrating milestones can do wonders for employee recognition.

Now, how can you do this when managing a digital team? While you can’t throw that catered, in-office event, you still have several ways to celebrate. Try scheduling a virtual event where everyone gets together. You could even have food and treats delivered to your employees to show how much you care.

4. Highlight Achievements in a Formal Manner

Many leaders and managers will tell an employee about their achievements, but it’s better to describe these formally. For instance, you can explain specific accomplishments during a performance review or executive meeting. This can really show the value of the employee’s work. While team members love to hear about their successes, they want to know their impact on the organization. That said, have concrete facts and examples of how much you value their contributions to the business.

5. Build Leadership

Most employees want others to recognize their hard work. However, employee recognition works in a variety of ways.

One way to show the value of your employees is to give them leadership duties. If you ask an employee to mentor or train someone else, it shows trust and recognition. It also tells the employee you value them enough for this important task. This can help boost the confidence and recognition of your staff and help them grow professionally.

6. Offer Time

Did you know organizations with employee recognition programs have a 31% lower voluntary turnover? If you want to keep your team around for longer, focusing on company culture and team recognition is a must. While there are a variety of tips you can try, nothing is more valuable than time. If your team succeeds, let them leave early on a Friday or give them an extra day off. 

If your business can afford it, giving the gift of time can take your employee recognition efforts to new heights.

Build a Solid Team with Locus Recruiting

“Recognition is not a scarce resource. You can’t use it up or run out of it.”

—Susan M. Heathfield, About.com Human Resources Expert

While employee recognition is always important, hiring the right team is also critical. If you need help hiring a virtual workforce, contact Locus today to learn more.