6 Meaningful Remote Employee Appreciation Ideas

In recent years, the rise of remote work has created new challenges for employers looking to show appreciation to their employees. Without the ability to offer in-person perks or social events, it can be challenging to find ways to express gratitude and recognize the hard work of geographically dispersed teams.

Showing appreciation is crucial to building a positive and productive work culture, and it is especially important for remote workers who may feel isolated or disconnected.

In this article, we will explore meaningful remote employee appreciation ideas that can help you foster a sense of community and show your remote employees how much you value their work and contributions.

1. Handwritten Messages

Handwritten notes are a timeless and classic way to express gratitude and appreciation, even in a professional context. A handwritten note can make your remote employees feel valued, seen, and acknowledged, especially when it is unexpected.

For this gesture to have any effect, make sure that you personalize the message for each of your employees. Address them by name, mention specific accomplishments or contributions, and share an example of how their work has made a positive impact on the team or the company as a whole.

The key here is to be specific about what you appreciate about each employee’s work. Don’t just write thank you for your hard work or we appreciate you. Instead, be specific about what it is they did that you appreciated, for instance:

Thank you for going above and beyond on the XYZ project—your attention to detail and creativity really made a difference.

A handwritten note doesn’t have to be long and elaborate. In fact, keeping it short and sweet is often more effective. Focus on expressing your appreciation and gratitude in a concise and sincere way.

2. Virtual Team Building Activities

Virtual team-building activities are a great way to show appreciation for your remote employees and help your team feel connected even when they are not physically in the same location.

One great example of an online team-building activity is a virtual scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunts are a fun way to get your team to work together and get to know each other better through competitive, non-work-related teamwork. For this activity to go well, create a list of items that your team members have to find online or on your intranet. The group that finds all items first wins.

In keeping with the spirit of teamwork, host a virtual game night to bring employees together for some playful competition and relaxation. There are many online game options; you can play games like Among Us, Jackbox, or virtual versions of classic board games like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit.

However, online team-building activities do not have to involve anything elaborate or competitive at all. While your team members may not be able to have lunch together in person, you can still create a virtual team lunch. Encourage your team members to order food from their favorite local restaurants and then have a video call where everyone can eat and chat together.

3. Care Packages

Sending care packages is another way to establish a human connection with your employees and bridge the gap between remote and live work.

Think about what your remote employee might need or enjoy. Do they work from home or from a cafe? If so, include a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Do they have a hobby that you’re aware of? Include some supplies to indulge their interest. Do they like a particular brand of skin care? By showing that you understand their preferences and needs, you can create a package that makes a person feel truly appreciated.

The care package could also simply include items that are useful and practical for your employees’ daily work life. For example, you could throw in a high-quality notebook or planner, a desk plant, a water bottle, or a reusable coffee mug.

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Be mindful of your employees’ cultural sensitivities when creating care packages. Consider things like dietary restrictions or preferences, religious beliefs, and personal beliefs. This care shows that you respect everyone’s culture and values.

4. Online Recognition Programs

Online recognition programs are an excellent way to create and foster a culture of employee appreciation within your company.

For your recognition program to be effective, it must be timely and specific. Timely means that when an employee does something exceptional, you need to recognize their achievement as soon as possible. Specific recognition is more effective than general praise, so you need to identify exactly what the employee did that was outstanding and explain why it was important. This approach shows that you pay close attention to their work and that you value their unique contributions as they happen.

Public recognition can also be a powerful motivator and sign of appreciation. When an employee is recognized in front of their peers, it can boost their confidence and inspire others to perform at a higher level. You can use online platforms like your company’s social media, messaging apps, or email lists to make the recognition public.

Of course, rewards are also an effective way to recognize exceptional work. Consider offering incentives such as gift cards, bonus payments, or extra time off when devising your online employee recognition program. Even something small and quirky like a work anniversary poster can show employees that you care about each of them individually.

Remember, inclusive recognition programs ensure that all employees feel equally seen and valued. Avoid favoritism or bias when recognizing employees; work to recognize employees from all departments, levels, and backgrounds. Celebrate small victories as well as major achievements. Regular, inclusive recognition reinforces the importance of exceptional work and inspires continued effort.

5. Professional Development Opportunities

Professional development opportunities are essential for employees to grow in their careers, enhance their skills, and improve their overall performance. Providing remote training opportunities is an effective way to show that you appreciate your team by investing in their skills and knowledge.

Before providing remote training as a way of showing appreciation, it is important to identify the actual training needs of your remote employees. Gather this data through employee feedback, performance reviews, and discussions with managers. By doing this evaluation first, you ensure that the training you provide is relevant and useful for the employee.

It goes without saying that professional development opportunities should be accessible to all remote employees. This accessibility means providing training materials that employees can access from any location, and at any time.

Consider getting digital subscriptions to tools of their choice, anything from Spotify, to personal productivity, like a Kanban tool to help them visualize their most important work.

Various online platforms are available to host training sessions through webinars, e-learning courses, or video conferences.

Even though many employees will feel incentivized to pursue their own skills development, you should still work to encourage their participation by making it engaging and interactive. Use quizzes, surveys, and polls to keep the employees engaged and assess their understanding of the material. Provide opportunities for discussion and feedback to encourage collaboration and shared learning.

Acknowledging your team members’ participation and successful completion of any remote training is also a way to show you appreciate their efforts. Acknowledgments can include certifications, badges, or other forms of recognition for completing development programs. This approach not only shows your appreciation for their hard work but also motivates them to continue their professional development.

Finally, align professional development opportunities with career growth opportunities. Employees should have a clear understanding of how the training can help them achieve their professional goals and contribute to their career advancement.

6. Flexibility

Flexible working arrangements are crucial when it comes to managing a remote workforce. Providing flexibility helps support the well-being of your remote employees by reducing stress, increasing job satisfaction, and improving overall work-life balance.

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Offering flexible work hours shows you appreciate that your team members have lives outside their professional roles. By allowing them to work when it’s most convenient for them, you effectively convey that you’re confident in their time management capabilities, and that you appreciate their contributions to the company no matter the time of day they choose to work.

In addition, offering generous time off promotes employee appreciation. Knowing they have enough annual leave to use when it’s convenient takes the edge off their day-to-day stressors and allows them to appropriately plan to recharge and spend time with family and friends.

Similarly, make sure to manage and assign appropriate workloads to prevent burnout and unnecessary stress for your employees. Set clear expectations and priorities, and communicate regularly to ensure that everybody’s workloads are manageable.

Final Thoughts

Showing appreciation to remote employees requires a bit of creativity and thoughtfulness, but it is always well worth the effort. Offering acts of appreciation such as the ones we’ve described above can help build a culture of gratitude for your remote workforce.

By showing your remote employees that you really care, you’ll not only create a more positive and productive work culture, but also foster loyalty and retention in a remote workforce that is increasingly competitive.

First published on March 24, 2023.