The world of work continues to change and challenge us. Even though we’ve all had more time to adjust to the realities of remote work and increased job changes over the past two years, we still need help making the most of it.
One of the most important tools a manager can use to bring their teams together is remote employee incentives. Now, more than ever, we need to do what we can to connect our teams and let them know their efforts are appreciated. If you are wondering how to keep remote employees engaged, remote employee incentives should be a priority.
Fun Incentive Ideas for Remote Employees
While searching for how to keep remote employees connected can be a struggle at times, remote employee incentives are quite simple. There are many ideas you can use in creating gifts for employees working from home. These 12 ideas can get you started:
1. Gift Cards
You can give your employees gift cards to specific places employees love, or just a general cash card. Either way, you can give them an excuse to treat themselves with a thoughtful gift.
2. Wellness Gifts and Apps
From the stress of the pandemic to the lack of getting outside for social time, working from home can be a drag sometimes. A health or wellness gift, like access to a fitness app or yoga time, can be a real pick-me-up.
3. Time Off to Disconnect
Extra time off is a great remote employee incentive. You can give the gift of time. If you make the gift publicly in front of your team, everyone will know to hold off on emails to your awardee.
4. Work from Home Incentives
There are many perks you can use to make working from home a little more fun. You can give the gift of a long lunch, an afternoon off, or maybe some gear for their home office, like noise-canceling headphones.
5. Music
One of the perks of remote work is not worrying about music bothering office neighbors. Give a gift card to their favorite music service so they can add to their playlist.
6. Surprise Lunch Deliveries
Another downside to remote working is the cost and time of making lunch every day. Give your star employee a special treat via a lunch delivery from a restaurant or cafe of their choice.
7. Lunch Funding or Gift Cards
You can also give a gift card to a nearby eatery so they can grab some takeout or enjoy a lunch away from the home office.
8. Outdoor Activities and Work Gatherings
Remote employee incentives don’t have to be all about things. You can reward your team with a picnic or outing at the park or hiking trail to get together in a safe outdoor setting.
9. Surprise Treats
Who doesn’t like cookies or cupcakes? Many options for treat deliveries will sweeten your employee’s day.
10. Virtual Learning
You can offer training to help their work, or just an online class for a hobby they might enjoy.
11. Notes of Appreciation
Sometimes the simplest gift can be the most thoughtful. A nice note or postcard can often be particularly meaningful.
12. Spruce Up the Home Office
One of the best work from home incentives you can offer is a plant, picture, or something else to make their home office space a little warmer and happier.
Make Your Remote Employee Incentive Program Simple
Now that you have some ideas, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of managing your incentive program. You can help bring your team closer together and help each member feel valued by managing it all with the Awardco program. Schedule a demo to learn more!
An avid lover of fantasy books, a proud Hufflepuff, and a strong proponent of escapism, Jeff has a love of good storytelling. He relies on that for both his professional work and his writing hobby (don’t ask about the 10+ novel ideas collecting virtual dust on his computer).
