Author: Sami Kritz

While many companies think offering remote work and flexible schedules is enough of a perk, employees are looking for more. Attract the best employees and retain top talent by offering the virtual employee perks that employees really want. With remote and hybrid jobs gaining popularity, many employees have come to expect these setups and no longer view them as perks. Your company must offer more to stay relevant in a competitive job market.  Research conducted by SHRM reported that job listings that mentioned virtual employee perks received 22% more applicants than similar listings that didn’t offer them or failed to…

Monotasking sounds simple, but it’s a struggle while working remotely with so many digital, physical, and visual distractions. The deep work concept, coined by Cal Newport, encourages people to find a rhythm that allows them to focus on one task for a specific time without distractions or interruptions. Have you ever thought about the differences between being busy and being productive? Busy work often distracts us from what really needs to be done (think checking emails, attending a meeting that could have been an email, searching for information, etc). Asana’s 2022 Anatomy of Work Index showed that employees spend 58%…

Remote work podcasts are a great resource that allow you to keep up with emerging trends, get inspired, and feel a sense of community. No matter where you are in your remote career, you’ll find a way to relate to at least one of these popular remote work podcasts. Podcasts are great to listen to anytime and anywhere. Whether you’re laying on the couch, taking a walk, cleaning the house, or eating lunch, listening to a remote work podcast can make any task a little more interesting. As many of them are informative and inspiring, these podcasts can teach or…

Gaining employees’ confidence, trust, and respect can be challenging, especially when working remotely. A few ways to earn respect as a remote leader include leading by example, creating a safe space, and having open communication channels. Respect is crucial for a harmonious workplace. It fosters effective communication, trust, and a positive work culture. Employees are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and satisfied in their roles when there is mutual respect. Respectful relationships contribute to team cohesion, reducing conflicts, and enhancing overall productivity. Additionally, a respected boss is better positioned to provide constructive feedback, support professional development, and retain valuable…

Whether for a wave of new hires or a new system, implementing the best virtual training techniques will ensure your remote employees are presented with, understand, and retain the information you need to share with them. In-person trainings are typically more expensive and unpredictable than virtual trainings, especially for geographically dispersed teams who work remotely. To ensure your team absorbs all of the knowledge from the virtual training session, you must choose the right platform, engage the audience, and not overload them with information. Are Virtual Trainings as Effective as In-Person Trainings? The effectiveness of virtual work trainings compared to…

The responsibilities of those in the HR department have changed significantly since the rise of remote work. One of their new responsibilities is to help employees grow while WFH. If this concept seems foreign to you, here are a few tips to get you started. With less paperwork flying through offices and more automated tasks, HR has more time and responsibility to attract and maintain an excellent workforce. But to keep them around, HR must find ways to help employees grow while WFH. Human resources representatives have shifted into a strategic role that relies on interpersonal relationships with employees and…

Working from home provides many benefits to employees. Sadly, some employees take advantage of this autonomy and mix work with pleasure, knowing that no one from the office can see, hear, or smell them. Drinking alcohol while working from home is more common than it should be, and here’s what you can do about it. Cheers to a productive day! Nothing wrong with that, right? You labored the necessary hours and are now enjoying a drink well-earned. But what if your employees or coworkers crack open a bottle a few hours earlier? During the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey by Protecting.co.uk…

The desire to work remotely or return to the office is a polarizing topic for many. When debating this topic, one fact that can’t be ignored is the positive environmental impacts of remote work. If done correctly, remote workers can contribute to the salvation of our planet and resources. As we close out 2023 and think about the future, let’s look at the environmental impacts of remote work we’ve seen over the past three years. During the pandemic, the number of people working from home tripled. In turn, animals had more area to explore, rivers and oceans glistened, city streets…

The rise of remote work has made it more important than ever for virtual coworkers to be able to effectively communicate and collaborate. Since there are minimal to zero face-to-face interactions, it’s challenging to connect. Be a better virtual coworker with these six simple tips. Who doesn’t want to be better? Be a better friend, sleeper, parent, child, chef, singer, driver… we all have room for improvement. A survey from McKinsey shows that employees who feel included and have good communication are five times more productive than those who don’t. Being a better virtual coworker will benefit your mental health,…

Working from home can be both a blessing and a challenge. While the flexibility and comfort of a home office are undeniable perks, working remotely can also bring about feelings of isolation and stress. Working from home with a pet can have numerous benefits, enhancing both the professional and personal aspects of remote work. According to Buffer’s State of Remote Work Report, one in three workers feel like they spend too much time at home while working remotely, and 23% struggle with loneliness. Despite these statistics, 98% of participants said they wanted to continue working remotely (at least part of…