New Remote Working Rules

In the not-too-distant past, flexibility in the workplace referred to how adjustable your chair or desk lamp was. Now, workplace flexibility encompasses so much more than that, including the ability to work remotely.

It’s now estimated that over 12% of employees work from home on a full-time basis, and 28% of employees work a hybrid model. However, this shift towards remote working hasn’t come without its challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining employee satisfaction and wellbeing outside of the traditional office space.

Many remote employees are often seen bouncing from one job to the next, so how can you, as an employer, make them stick? Let’s explore some tips that employers can implement to improve employee retention for remote-based employees.

Remote working law from 6th of April 2024

With the new flexible working law set to take effect in a few weeks, the pressure is on for companies to re-evaluate their work models. From the 6th of April 2024, employees will be able to request flexible working from their first day in a new job. They can make two requests a year, and you’ll need to respond to these requests within two months of receiving them.

To reject a request, you’ll need to consult with your employee before refusing it. If you have a good business reason for doing so, you can refuse a request. However, please be aware that you must deal with such requests in a ‘reasonable manner’, and if you don’t, then employees have the right to take you to an employment tribunal.

The transition to remote work wasn’t easy

In 2020, the transition to remote work for many companies was overnight. Employers had to gather their bearings and employees just had to roll with it, which resulted in lot of inefficient and unsustainable setups. But now, since the dust has settled, deeper ramifications have started to surface.

Employees have reported feeling isolated, with 39% of female remote workers and 53% of male workers reported to having struggled with loneliness. Employees are also struggling more than ever with blurred boundaries between work and personal life, finding themselves working longer hours remotely than they would in the office.

Because of this, employees could find themselves jumping from one job to the next, trying to find a way out of this blurry work-life balance they seem to have spiralled into. To counteract this, wellbeing, especially in the context of remote work, needs to be prioritised. Employers need to go beyond virtual catchups and ergonomics and offer a holistic approach that focuses on an array of different areas.

An Employee Assistance Programme can only get you so far

Employee wellbeing initiatives (like an Employee Assistance Programme) have good intentions, but they aren’t a ‘fix it all’ cure either. In fact, research suggests that employees may be no better off when such initiatives are introduced. Why? Well, the likes of virtual yoga sessions and free counselling services can all help employees better manage stress, but change has to happen within the workplace first. You can’t expect your team to sit back, relax and meditate when there are fifty daily fires to put out that all need their immediate attention. So, once change happens on the inside, which comes down to company culture and attitudes, then other areas, like your team, can adjust and align to it.

Remote workers may be more productive

Studies have shown that remote workers often outperform their in-office counterparts. According to a survey by ConnectSolutions, 77% of those who work remotely at least a few times per month have increased productivity, with 30% accomplishing more in less time. It makes sense rather than having to walk over to Jim’s desk for an update on a VAT return over a coffee for 10 minutes, you can just ping him a message on Teams.

As an employer, it’s important to note that you can only harness this productivity with the right tools. Think about it it’s like asking someone to cut the grass as quickly as possible without having a lawnmower for them to use. For your business, these are the likes of daily communication channels, programs and software you all use to get work done. So, make sure it’s efficient, and ideally, in the cloud, so it’s tailored to remote-based work models.

Foster a strong remote company culture

Expecting employees to switch to ‘relax mode’ overnight? Not the best approach, especially when your goal is to retain them. Work culture seeps through companies from the top down, so it’s you who has to set the tone for the rest of your team.

How can you do this? Encourage strict ‘off’ hours (yes, that includes calling colleagues at 9:00 pm for a status update on a project), set realistic expectations for deliverables, and promote regular breaks. Demonstrating these behaviours lets employees feel that they have permission to do the same, promoting a much more relaxed and sustainable working environment.

Start team challenges

Setting up wellness goals like ‘step goals’ can spark a sense of camaraderie among employees, no matter where they’re based. This helps to combat those feelings of loneliness we mentioned earlier by helping to recreate the social atmosphere that comes from being in the office.

You could enhance these goals with prizes or incentives, like a spa voucher or yoga class, to promote healthy living. All of this helps to create a positive feedback loop that improves employee wellbeing, which boosts employee retention.

Look at your policies and technology

Make sure to continuously assess your remote working policies not only to stay compliant but also to get ahead of the curve.

To do this, invest in technologies and tools that support remote work. That way, your operations are smoother and more efficient than some of your competitors, helping you attract and retain top talent. These could range from the basics like Teams and Zoom, all the way to HR and payroll apps to make areas like annual leave, contracts and payslips much easier for employees to access.

What next?

The remote revolution is already here, and so are the perks that come with it. Here at Bright, our fully cloud payroll solution, BrightPay, helps businesses just like yours streamline their remote-based employees HR and payroll processes. From automatic payslip distribution, an employee calendar, and a secure online portal, BrightPay has made managing employees’ payroll easier than ever before. Don’t believe us? Book a free demo below to see for yourself.

Related articles:

This content may have been developed with the assistance of AI tools. Content is reviewed by a member of the Bright team before publication. Guidance on legislation can be obtained from your industry body.