As businesses adapt to remote working models, focusing on employee well-being has never been more important. Ensuring remote employees feel both physically and mentally supported is critical for maintaining productivity, fostering a positive workplace culture and enhancing overall job satisfaction. Explore various strategies successful organizations implement to promote the well-being of their remote workforce below.
Remote employee well-being and its impact on productivity
Remote employee well-being is not just a passing trend; it’s an essential component of organizational success. Employees who feel valued and supported are more likely to stay engaged and be more productive.
Well-being is at the heart of employee engagement, or employees’ emotional commitment to both their individual work and the organization. According to Gallup, highly engaged employees are 17% more productive, and their organizations are 21% more profitable. On the other hand, disengaged employees contribute to significant productivity losses, including 60% more errors and 37% more absenteeism.
Prioritizing well-being has been shown to lower absenteeism, which costs U.S. employers up to $300 billion every year, according to the American Psychological Association. Organizations mitigate these costs and improve overall performance by addressing employees’ mental and physical health needs before problems arise.
Beyond financial benefits, organizations that invest in employee well-being often see better employee loyalty and retention. Employees who believe their employer genuinely cares about their health and happiness are more likely to stay with the company long-term. This saves on recruitment and training costs while fostering a more experienced and cohesive workforce, which drives innovation and enhances team dynamics.
Mental health concerns in remote work
While remote work offers flexibility, more productivity and better retention rates for organizations, it can also lead to feelings of isolation and anxiety among employees. According to the Integrated Benefits Institute, fully remote workers are 40% more likely to have symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Employers must create a remote work environment where employees feel connected to each other and comfortable discussing mental health issues. Beyond offering mental health benefits, employers must encourage employees to use them. Encourage open dialogue about mental well-being, reduce stigma and empower employees to seek help without fear of judgment.
Implementing regular check-ins and mental health resources can significantly enhance employee morale. Offering access to counseling services, workshops on stress management and creating virtual social events bridges the gap of isolation that employees working from home often experiencing. Fostering a supportive community, encouraging employees to take regular breaks and prioritizing self-care cultivates a healthier work environment to promote resilience and overall wellness.
10 ways to promote remote well-being
Every workplace is different, and employees need different support systems to thrive. Successful remote workforces follow these 10 guidelines to foster employee well-being.
1. Establish a healthy work-life balance
Achieving work-life balance is often challenging for remote employees. When work and personal life blur, burnout and decreased productivity aren’t far behind. Organizations play a significant role in establishing a culture that values balance. This enhances employee satisfaction and contributes to higher retention rates and more engagement. By making work-life balance a top initiative, companies create an environment where employees feel valued and supported, leading to a more harmonious workplace.
2. Set and keep boundaries between work and personal life
Empower employees to define their work hours and communicate these boundaries clearly with their colleagues. This could look like setting specific times for meetings or collaboration, focus time and personal time and sticking to them regularly. Some organizations go so far as to restrict employees’ access to email or work tools during off hours. By fostering an atmosphere where employees feel comfortable asserting their boundaries, companies mitigate the stress that inhibits remote well-being.
3. Encourage regular breaks and time off
Promoting regular breaks is important for to sustain productivity and employee mental health. A study by the Draugeim Group found that the top 10% most productive employees didn’t work longer hours than others – they simply took regular breaks. The best kinds of breaks include anything that helps an employee recharge, such as leaving screens for light exercise, especially a walk outside, eating lunch or a snack, engaging in personal social activities or even watching funny videos to unwind. Beyond regular breaks during the day, taking time off has been shown to improve performance: Ernst & Young reported that for every additional 10 hours of paid time off employees took, their performance improved 8%. Consider implementing policies that encourage employees to use their vacation time and offer mental health days to allow staff to prioritize their personal lives and create a healthy work-life balance.
4. Foster employee interconnectedness
Employee interconnectedness is a major aspect of remote well-being for workers. Remote teams often report that social interaction is one the main aspects of in-office jobs they miss. As Ringover's 2024 Loneliness at Work survey found, remote workers reported feeling lonely 98% more than on-site workers and 179% more lonely than hybrid workers. A USA Today poll also reported remote workers also felt isolated from their teams 34% of the time. Virtual team-building activities and exercises like online game nights, virtual happy hours and even collaborative projects create a sense of community and belonging. Find ways for your employees to interact on a personal level to foster trust and collaboration, reduce loneliness and increase engagement.
5. Encourage open communication
In remote settings, open lines of communication are essential. Use a variety of communication platforms to keep team members connected both professionally and personally. Regular video calls and messaging platforms make it easy to discuss work spontaneously and ensure everyone feels included. Of course, constant accessibility can run counter to fostering a healthy work-life balance, so it’s important to ensure boundaries are clear and enforced.
6. Offer mental health resources for remote workers
One of the best ways to support remote workers is to offer mental health resources. Subscriptions to mental health apps like Headspace or BetterHelp empower employees to find help when they need it. Meditation apps like Calm also provide a way for remote employees to incorporate relaxation into their days. Workshops on mindfulness, stress management and resilience are other ways to equip employees with valuable coping strategies.
7. Provide physical health initiatives for remote workers
Physically healthy employees are more productive, use fewer sick days and perform better. The National Institutes of Health reports that physical activity reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regular exercise also works to reduce stress by reducing levels of stress hormones, according to Harvard Medical School. Promote physical health through memberships to virtual fitness classes or programs that encourage movement throughout the day. You may also equip employees to enjoy a healthy diet through educational resources and workshops, virtual cooking classes or recipe sharing.
8. Monitor and mitigate signs of burnout
Unfortunately, according to the American Psychological Association, 43% of employees worry that if they talk to their employer about mental health issues, it would negatively impact their work. This means employers have to find ways to spot signs of burnout before employees are seriously affected. For example, ActivTrak Workforce Analytics is a tool that empowers managers to better balance workloads, understand patterns to support healthy habits and see signs of burnout so they can make changes before it impacts employee health. Spiking work hours, low levels of engagement and quiet quitting are easier to spot with data than self-reporting.
9. Provide the right tools for productive remote work
Repetitive, manual tasks, boredom or frustration all contribute to employee stress. Employees need the right remote tools to complete their tasks, manage projects, communicate with team members and collaborate effectively. At the same time, employees must have proper training on using technology to ensure the tools help them at their work instead of adding additional steps or frustrations to their days. Employees also need to be able to work remotely without worrying about data security or access. Employers should provide privacy and security tools like VPNs or two-factor authentication as well as secure Internet access for employees regardless of where they work.
10. Empower employees to build productive remote work environments
While many employees have space to set up a full home office with ergonomic chairs or standing desks, some employees work from small shared spaces or even their bedrooms. Educate employees on how their physical workspace impacts their productivity and provide them with the tools they need to create a productive workspace. Some examples include elevated laptop stands, noise-canceling headphones or dual monitors. Many employers provide remote workers with a stipend to buy the equipment they need to make their home offices work for them.
How managers foster the well-being of their remote employees
Management plays an important role in supporting remote well-being. Effective leadership strategies significantly impact how employees perceive their workplace’s support systems. Here are four ways managers should foster the well-being of remote workers.
1. Schedule regular check-ins and feedback
Create a schedule of frequent one-on-one check-ins to give employees a way to express concerns or receive feedback. This builds rapport between managers and employees and allows teams to make adjustments to support employee well-being more effectively.
2. Recognize and reward employee efforts
Acknowledging employee contributions and milestones motivates workers and keeps them connected. Rewards programs and recognition programs go a long way in making employees feel appreciated and engaged. A study by O.C. Tanner found 79% of employees who left a job said it was because of “lack of appreciation”.
3. Lead by example
Managers set the tone for the team and many employees will copy how their manager works, whether to earn recognition, get noticed for a promotion or out of fear of behaving wrong. This means managers have to lead by example when it comes to well-being. Good managers need to model good behaviors by taking frequent breaks, using their paid time off and enforcing boundaries around personal vs. work time.
4. Actively monitor workloads and burnout risk
Although regular feedback and trust between employees go a long way in stopping stress in its tracks, employees may not even know they’re headed for burnout or feel uncomfortable reporting it to their managers. Managers need to intentionally track workloads and burnout risks using data to rebalance assignments and keep employees from overwork. The data tools like ActivTrak provide on productivity and workplace trends also serve as a perfect starting point for employee discussions and training opportunities.
Enhance your remote team’s well-being and productivity with ActivTrak
Promoting remote employee well-being is essential for organizational success today. Combining leadership understanding, strategic policies and supportive resources creates a thriving remote workforce that excels in productivity and ensures job satisfaction for employees.
ActivTrak offers a comprehensive workforce analytics cloud that provides the visibility and insights you need to support your remote employees effectively. With our platform, you can manage and measure productivity, engage your employees, prevent burnout and so much more. Join the 9,500+ customers who have elevated their work environment with our award-winning solutions. Contact our sales team today to create a thriving remote workforce that's both productive and satisfied.
