Along with our world, the way we work is changing.
There has been a shift from the conventional 9-5 in-office to something more flexible, where employees get to choose when and where they work. And of course, the trend determines the tide.
As an employer, hiring employees is of priority but with the recent changes, more firms are looking to recruit And retain flexible Workers.
The flexible working model has proven to be more advantageous; more time for yourself, your family, and your hobbies.
According to research, 63% of job seekers did not feel the need to sit at their desks to get their work done.
Flexibility enriches workforces and the freedom employees achieve can deliver higher job satisfaction and reduce turnover among staff.
So, if you would like to know the possibility of recruiting and retaining flexible workers, this article will help you understand what is required.
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Article Road Map
Recruit and Retain The Right Employees For Flexible Work
The demand for Flexible Workers has been on the rise with LinkedIn reporting over a 60% increase in the search for remote work and a 189% growth in applications for these positions.
For you to navigate the highly competitive labor market, you need to find your points of difference and communicate your flexible working policy through recruiting marketing, job descriptions, and company media.
This way you would be able to spark interest which may eventually lead to further engagement and win good talent.
Information Candidates Should Have About Your Working Model
While you advertise your working model, it’s important that you outline your expectations of new recruits working flexibly.
Details including what the role or position entails, your goals and policies, and the level of autonomy they’ll receive should be clearly stated from the onset.
Communicate with your staff and potential new hires about your vision of flexible work. Being clear on this is very key to avoiding illusions and poor performance.
Also, ensure that candidates have a good understanding of the company you are in.
When new hires leave after a short while, it can be expensive and is often time-consuming which is bad for business.
So make sure that they understand and if they are fine with the autonomy and independence you offer, they will apply.
How To Retain Flexible Workers
Overseeing remote workers is very different from overseeing office staff; it requires an entirely different type of structure.
You have to engage in different communication methods to keep track of productivity and keep your flexible workers accountable.
Being able to retain a flexible workforce entails that you have standing structures in place to support them.
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1. The Onboarding
The first few weeks of any job are critical. This is the period when your new employees learn the ropes when you run them through projects and the company culture.
An effective onboarding process is very vital to retaining workers especially if they work remotely.
Onboarding can be challenging sometimes as your workforce is situated in different locations. Nonetheless, getting it right at the early phase contributes to the overall performance and productivity of your workers.
Endeavor to help them get up to speed and feel comfortable in their new surroundings so that they get confident in your working style and not feel disconnected from their job.
You can achieve this through;
- Delivering a warm welcome
- Make sure that all log-ins, processes, and tools they would need are available from the beginning
- Regular meetings to discuss work-related matters and provide them with the opportunity to know their teammates
- Ensure a strong line of communication for easy accessibility.
The importance of delivering an excellent onboarding process cannot be overemphasized. Although physically distant, an effective onboarding helps new hires feel connected.
2. Celebrate The Big Wins And The Little Steps Forward
The feeling that comes with being celebrated or appreciated for a job well done goes beyond words. Recognizing the efforts and contributions of a worker not only boosts his morale to deliver better work but will also motivate his peers to put in more effort.
So take some time to celebrate your workers when they achieve milestones whether great or small; it speaks of gratitude which is key to success. You could take the following to show appreciation;
- Show gratitude and praise your workers for their efforts when they do something great
- Make public announcements either through email or online meetings and it can act as a motivation for others
- Explain to your workers how their achievements help the company with its broader goals so that they know their work matters.
- Go for outings. Tickets to events, lunch, etc can be another way to show appreciation and it also fosters a closer relationship through socializing.
Recognition and appreciation go a long way and your employees will be happy to come to work each day knowing their work has a purpose.
Other ways you can retain your flexible workers include offering expenses allowance and arranging meet-ups.
3. Make Use Of The Right Tools
In order to have a successful flexible working organization, you need the right tools for effective communication.
Flexible work comes with more varied schedules which pose a potential risk of conversations occurring only when it’s work-related.
However, it’s important that workplace culture is not damaged and employees do not feel isolated and so the opportunity to connect is key, both in retaining a flexible workforce and maintaining a healthier working environment.
Making use of channels like Whatsapp, Slack, and Teams and organizing regular social meetings build social interactions and can encourage collaboration and social engagement in your firm.
Providing opportunities to replicate office water cooler moments can help your team build connections and ensure the retainment of talented and dedicated employees.
Although flexible work, by its nature, lends itself to independence by providing the tools to connect your teams, can help them feel part of something, rather than a solitary component, so they know they are in the right place.
The Importance Of A Flexible Workforce – Remote Company Culture
Yes, you run a flexible workforce but who says you can not maintain company culture? It’s crucial that you do not abandon company culture.
A part of retaining flexible workers is to create a stimulating remote culture that your team members can identify with.
At first, it may be a little challenging trying to fuse the nature of flexible work with the closeness that an office environment creates but it’s still attainable. Some ways of creating a great working environment for a remote workforce, include;
- Team lunches
- Friday drinks
- Regular meet-ups online and in-person
Many employees stay with organizations with excellent workplace cultures whether they are office staff or remote workers.
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To Sum Up
Working flexibly is here to stay and as such, companies must build a flexible working model that attracts top talents, offer control, and an improvement to the work-life balance.
Above we stated some ways that can help you recruit and retain excellent flexible staff which included effective onboarding process and communication, using the right tools, maintaining a good workplace culture, and showing appreciation for employee successes.
The combination of both online and physical events helps boost morale and enhance the connection between teammates.
We trust that this article has been of help to you. Do not forget to share and leave your comments.