“Quiet quitting” may have been the term du jour in 2022, but for many companies, preventing actual quitting is more top of mind.
A recent survey by FlexJobs revealed why employees quit their jobs. The top reasons included:
Research from staffing agency Robert Half cited similar findings, along with noting “lack of recognition” and “no career development opportunities” as key factors.
The good news? If you’re already offering remote work options, you have one retention strategy already in play. Now all you need are some ideas for rewarding remote employees that make them want to stay with your organization.
Even better, when implemented against some of the pain points cited above, a reward program can further support your organization’s retention efforts. Here’s how.
READ MORE: Why Employee Rewards Programs Are Key for a Positive Workplace Culture
You may not be in charge of deciding whether to hand out large raises or year-end bonuses at your organization (especially given today’s economic circumstances), but you can at least show appreciation with rewards.
Believe it or not, evidence shows that small rewards, like gift cards, can have a very powerful psychological impact that is disproportionate to the value of the gift. Presenting a hardworking employee with a gift card is an almost ceremonial way of recognizing their efforts and accomplishments. It sends a clear message that you appreciate and value them, boosting their morale and productivity.
Not only does this encourage them to continue their hard work, it also makes them more likely to stay, since the company cares about them and notices when they do a good job. SHRM reports that 79% of surveyed millennials say increased workplace rewards would increase their loyalty to their employers.
While employees often enjoy working from home because they achieve a better work/life balance, remote team members experience just as much burnout as their in-office counterparts.
Deloitte’s Workplace Burnout Survey reports that nearly 70% of professionals feel their employers are not doing enough to prevent or alleviate burnout within their organization. And 21% say their company does not offer any programs or initiatives to prevent or alleviate burnout.
Introducing or expanding a well-being program that incentivizes employees to take charge of their health shows your company takes burnout seriously. You can create a variety of different types of employee rewards and programs to promote habits that support physical, mental, and financial health, such as:
According to a 2021 Statista survey, U.S. employees overwhelmingly agreed that employers’ well-being programs make them feel better about their employer (84%) and are one of the reasons they stay at their job (75%).
Career development is one of the more compelling ideas for rewarding remote employees, especially during the Great Resignation.
That’s because when your organization invests in employee training and development, it shows that you value the talent you already have, not just the talent you’re recruiting. The research bears this out. A survey by Better Buys finds that professional development can increase retention by up to 34%.
Your program can incentivize employees for taking in-house training, attending off-site industry events, or meeting with their mentor once a quarter. Workers taking advantage of any tuition reimbursement programs can be recognized as well.
The last of our retention-boosting ideas for rewarding remote employees is one followers of this blog should be familiar with: lack of recognition.
Deloitte’s survey cites the top driver of burnout as being “lack of support or recognition from leadership.” If you don’t have an employee rewards program in place, now is the perfect time to start one for your organization — especially for your remote workers, who may feel isolated at home. And you don’t have to wait until everyone is together onsite to reward your team.
Did you know you can deliver virtual gift cards for remote employees instantly during a live virtual meeting? For example, BHN Rewards integrates with Microsoft Teams, so you can announce the reward during the videoconference, where all attendees can see and comment on it. You can also share rewards in the Teams channels to amplify your recognition efforts.
Check out more ideas for rewarding remote employees — in-office and hybrid ones, too!
BHN Rewards puts the power of digital rewards to work for marketers, researchers, and HR managers. Don't forget to check out all the great content in our Resources section!
BHN Rewards puts the power of digital rewards to work for marketers, researchers, and HR managers. Don't forget to check out all the great content in our Resources section!
