Remote work is
increasingly popular thanks to benefits like a higher quality of life, more productivity,
and more flexibility.
But it’s true that without the proper steps and support in place, remote
workers can start to feel lonely.
Knowing potential loneliness is an issue that needs to be addressed for remote workers and teams, we’re breaking down what can be done on the employer side and what can be done on the employee side so that workers don’t feel lonely.
On the Employer Side
There
are many things that can be done as am employer to add structure and encourage
connection with your remote workers:
Encourage
time for conversation that isn’t focused on work.
It’s
not going to be every meeting, but it may make sense to have a regular meeting
where people can connect and share what’s happening outside of work.
People
are going to do this informally, but it’s also a good idea to “build this in”
to how you work in some way. I’ve even heard of some companies dedicating a
separate, regular meetup (such as a Friday lunch) with this very purpose.
What
this also might look like: this might be some form of virtual water cooler. If you
use Slack or another chat/messenging tool, make sure you have an area where people
can share what’s going on in their lives.
Make
time for in-person meetings.
Just
because you are remote most of the time, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make the time
for in-person gatherings, meet-ups, or actual meetings. We’re a virtual team at
Edoc, but many of us are able to meet in-person on a regular basis.
What
this might look like: Every team can find its own cadence based on what’s
feasible and what makes sense for the team. Some remote teams even do annual or
semi-annual gatherings where all workers are able to come together and spend
face-to-face time with one another.
Make
sure expectations are clear on communication.
At first, it may feel like over-communication,
but there really might not be a such thing as over-communicating in a remote
environment. Teamwork relies on communication, and you can almost never
over-communicate on a remote team.
On your
end, you need to be sure that’s crystal clear for new workers (and existing workers).
For the younger generation, you may actually have to outline what those expectations
are. Different generations tend to prefer different modes of communication, but
you want to define an get alignment on what your communication norms will be.
For
example, if a client gives someone on the team a call, what’s the expectation
for the returning line of communication? Or, for example, what’s the expectation
around any first meetings with clients. Are those to be done via email, text,
or phone call? The point is this: it may seem like common sense to you as to
when and how to communicate in certain settings, but it’s not going to be clear
to others, especially new people on the team.
A reminder: Someone who has never worked remotely or someone who works remotely
a few times a week needs to become aware of this in many situations. They aren’t
used to some of the over-communication and proactive communication that needs
to happen in a virtual environment, so keep that in mind.
Make
sure you have the tools in place that can help your team feel like a team.
Sure,
tech is not the driver of your team environment, but it certainly can
help support your team. We use Zoom and Slack, just to name
two tools. You need tools that help you to communicate and do work more productively,
not tools that hold you back.
If
you have a leader who embraces this role, allow them to be a ‘culture-keeper’.
One
of the best ways to encourage that opportunities for connection happen on your
team is to make sure someone (or a team) owns that area. If you have someone in
your company who enjoys fostering and advocating for a healthy culture, give
them the opportunity (and resources) to lead in that role.
They
can really help to share needs and tell top leaders what they may not be aware
of.
On the employee side
We
can all look at the employer to see what they can do to help
combat feelings of isolation. But every remote worker also owes it to themselves to
also find out how they work best. After all, if you feel lonely, it’s just
that: a feeling. That kind of emotional response, at the end of the day, is in
your control.
Become more self-aware about how you work best.
Depending
on the duration of your career, and depending on whether or not you are new to
remote work, you may already know how you work best. You probably have little
methods you’ve learned over the years to help you maximize your time each day.
Part of that process is a certain degree of self-awareness.
If
you want to avoid ever feeling lonely as a remote worker, make sure you’re open
to changing how you currently work, if that’s what’s called for.
Don’t
limit your office to your home.
If
you are feeling lonely and you’ve only worked from home, you may need to change
where you’re working. Yes, there are always coffee shops, but there are plenty
of alternatives. At Edoc, we are members of the ORCA Coworking space, where we
can go at any time.
I’ve
even heard of people working at libraries, museums, malls, gyms, fast casual
restaurants, and parks, just to name a few. All of these are opportunities to
have plenty of interaction with other people.
You
also can invite a colleague. The point is this: as long as the nature of your
job permits you to do so, be sure to take the time to consider where you’re working.
Do
an inventory of how you spend your time outside of “work”.
Where
do you go for lunch? Do you take breaks and connect with your neighborhood in
any way? Have you ever participated in group workouts or group fitness? Are you
involved in the community in other ways? Do you have a social group you
normally interact with or could become more involved with? Do you have any
pets?
Take
the time to examine how you spend your time, in general. (Again, this goes back
to self-awareness.)
This
can be a great opportunity for more “connection” in your life. It’s a hard
truth, but feelings of loneliness in your life might not just be from your work
life, so be honest with yourself.
Start
scheduling more activities that drive connection.
If
you don’t know where to start, my recommendation would be to start scheduling
more social activities that you enjoy. I recommend this so you break your
current routine, and so that you treat it just as you would any other meeting.
What
this might look like: quality groups you can join, coffee with a friend, a walk
outside, a group fitness class you always said you wanted to try, or maybe it’s
a day where you schedule that you are going to work at a coworking space to try
it out.
Don’t
be afraid to look at sources like Facebook events, meetup.com, or you can find
other remote workers who you can work with in your area. Remember that
flexibility and freedom are two of the benefits of remote work, so don’t forget
that when it comes to setting up your own workspace and work habits.
Conquering Loneliness as a Remote Worker
Conquering
loneliness or isolation is possible: in the best case scenario, employers and
employees work together to create a structure and daily habits that encourage
valuable connections…and productivity.
As
an employer, your next step can be this: talk with your people. You can
ask your people what they might enjoy in terms of more social activity or other
great ways to feel connected. You don’t want it to be forced, but they may have
some ideas they’d enjoy, or ideas that would help them get the right amount of
social interaction, if that’s an issue.
Learn More About Digital Labor Law Posters for Remote Teams
Digital
Labor Laws by Edoc Service allows all your team members, no matter where they
are located, to see and access the latest labor laws required by the state and
federal government.
You can
post them digitally, or if desired, you can print them, too. The best part? You
can have workers sign off and show that they reviewed each poster.
We’re making compliance #MoreHuman so you can be as meaningfully productive as possible each day. Get started and get all your Labor Law posters here.
Kim
Geiger leads the eSign division at Edoc Service, Inc., a totally remote
company. Digital Labor Laws is a subdivision of eSign.
Edoc is a team that’s
passionate about transforming how business is done in America. Kim–and Edoc–are
champions of remote work, which is why Edoc offers tools and services to other companies to help them be more productive,
more collaborative—and often times, more virtual.