Evergreen A
Remote Employment: Feeling Like a Part of the Community Instead of Apart from the Community (306430)
*Katharine Marie Spain, Rho, Inc.Keywords: remote employment, community
The percentage of Americans working remotely 80-100% of the time increased from 24% to 31% between 2012 and 2016. While building a strong sense of community in the workplace leads to employees that are purpose-driven and engaged in their daily work, this connection can be difficult to achieve with remote employees. As remote employment continues to be increasingly popular, it is important to understand how to extend the workplace community to remote employees. As a remote employee for the past 7 years, I will discuss methods from both the employee and the employer perspective that aid in fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. By utilizing technology, prioritizing employee development, providing avenues for employees to show each other appreciation and give timely feedback, and allowing for face-to-face interactions when possible, remote employees will feel connected to both other remote employees and their in-office counterparts and will in turn be more productive and engaged in their daily work.