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How to Build Team Cohesion in Remote Teams

Companies everywhere are re-evaluating what can be done to increase flexibility and work-life balance. The pandemic has opened the door to a new wave of work. Now is probably the perfect time to look at your team’s interpersonal operations. What can you do to maximize cohesion? Building an engaged, motivated, and productive team isn’t always easy, but it’s essential for any big or small business that wants to thrive in today’s marketplace. Here are 4 tips to build team cohesion in remote teams: 

Establish the rules 

The best teams need a clear set of rules to abide by. If all team members know what the rules are at the beginning of a work project, it is a lot easier to work together and feel comfortable giving each other feedback. Team rules or expectations should include exactly which member(s) is responsible for what element of a project. Goals should also be defined and listed together as a team. Clear rules are so crucial to team cohesion because they set up the expectations for each person to commit to and understand their role within the group. Accountability is important for teams to succeed. With clear expectations set at the beginning of the project, everyone will be able to see what they need to do and how that will impact what everyone else needs to do. Plus, you’re showing your team that you play an active role and are just as responsible if work is not completed on time.

Group diverse members of the team together 

Creating diverse teams can help improve overall operational achievements and market performance. Diverse teams with varied thoughts, backgrounds, and inputs can help the team come up with creative and innovative ways to solve problems. Each team member will have a different perspective and ideas, which will make the overall conversations and meetings a lot more creative. Homogenous teams might not uncover these innovative solutions because they are all used to working in the same way with the same like-minded people. Employees who work together in a diverse environment can develop and expand their existing skill sets. This can benefit a company because enhanced skill sets may result in improved productivity, performance and quality of work. Some examples of skills employees develop in a diverse team environment include communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities.

Promote a culture of trust 

For individuals to reach their fullest potential in a team, they need to feel comfortable enough to ask questions, give feedback, and share any grievances that arise. They also need to feel that their voices can be heard and acknowledged. This culture of trust takes time to build especially with work from home. It is best to criticize people in private and praise good work in public. Having 1:1 video chats privately to critique is one method of doing this. Without safe practices, people won’t allow themselves to build trust in the team. Commitments need to be upheld consistently, and it should be an expectation for all members to be truthful and have the best interest in each other at all times.  

Provide training 

It’s no surprise that team members who feel confident in their work are more likely to interact and share their opinions within the team. These same individuals are often more productive and complete their tasks more efficiently. Not everyone is able to get the flow right away or be as confident in their work even though they might be succeeding just as well as their confident peers. Offering training and development opportunities is a great way to encourage team members to take control of their skills and abilities and give them confidence when performing tasks. These opportunities can be offered after work hours through video calls. The company can also invest in outside development programs that can be all paid for the employees who want to further their skills and build confidence. This will ultimately help to improve their work and overall contribution to the team as a whole. 

 Taking these approaches is the first step to remote team cohesion. There will be a definite increase in productivity, and you will see a difference in the way people treat each other. To build your company with people looking for remote opportunities visit bettsrecruiting.com. 

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from Betts Recruiting https://bettsrecruiting.com/blog/how-to-build-team-cohesion-in-remote-teams/

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How to Manage Your Stress While Working From Home

There are a lot of benefits that working from home can give you. Flexibility is one of the biggest factors companies have switched to remote operations. However, this flexibility comes with some downsides if not spent right. Managing work from home can be stressful, isolating, and impact your mental and physical wellbeing. Here are 4 tips to manage this stress: 

Keep your social life thriving 

Your support system, including your family, housemates, friends, and workmates, can ease the boredom and feelings of loneliness that can arise from work at home. It is sometimes easy to make work your entire personality or get caught up in it to the point where you don’t have a social life. Creating plans, saying yes to plans, and constantly seeing your support system can boost your energy and help you readjust your mindset to be more positive. Having a social life can even lead to higher productivity since breaks and quick catch-ups can shake off stress from work. Virtual hangouts might not have as much impact as in-person hangouts, but they are worth a shot and can help get to know virtual coworkers. 

Have some rest and take some breaks 

Resting and healthy sleep is vital for mental health, productivity, and reducing stress. Working too much or consecutively without breaks can exhaust all your energy and mental capacity. It will help you set your working hours and be consistent with them in the long term. Repeating your work schedule will make the start and end of your work day be the same and help with not overstepping work boundaries when you know you’re supposed to be resting. Short breaks like going on a quick walk or running quick errands can get your blood pumping and your mind fresh. Breaks are rewards that can keep you motivated to complete tasks. Long periods of sitting can cause stiffness and can add to your stress. Shake off the stress by being kind to yourself and giving yourself breaks and some rest. 

Create a routine 

Creating a routine strengthens mental health by reducing the number of decisions you have to make daily. You are able to have more energy doing things when you are prepared for the tasks planned in a day. In addition, even if all tasks weren’t completed in a day, you have more peace and control as you go through the day. Planning your day doesn’t just start and end with what you have to do—the “where” is also essential and you should dedicate unique locations for specific tasks. As mentioned before, breaks are super important and should be incorporated into your routine. 

Be compassionate with yourself 

We’re living in new times and figuring out how to work amidst an evolving pandemic, so it’s more important now than ever to be compassionate with yourself. You don’t have to be productive 100% of the time. Some days, just doing the bare minimum is all that can be managed, which is perfectly okay. Permit yourself to feel the stress, but don’t let it consume you. Tell yourself that it will pass, and you’re strong enough to get through it. The more stressed you’re feeling, the more critical it is to remind yourself of that.

While working from home may provide a sense of freedom and flexibility and a no-cost commute, there are hidden stressors to be aware of. By focusing on what you can do to mitigate this stress, you can improve your overall work-life balance and general well-being. Visit bettsrecruiting.com to learn more. 

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How to Manage Remote Employees

Managers and team leads are finding it difficult to lead employees well without the ability to monitor employees in a shared office space continuously. Managers are discovering that they might have to loosen up to see high productive results while still holding all employees accountable.They also must become familiar with remote best practices and expect a certain amount of trial and error. Here are 5 tips for managing remote employees: 

Create clear communication guidelines 

Communication in work from home environments aims to connect employees operating from all over the work. Thanks to the internet, there are tons of communication tools to help connect your company and bridge the distance within a few clicks. Your first step in creating communication guidelines is stating what hours are the best to reach each other and expect real-time responses. Calendar tools are an excellent visual way to streamline all schedules for optimal productivity. Also, communicating and getting feedback on how employees feel about what communication tools and channels improve their work from home experience is essential to improving the overall communication. Some of this feedback can tell you when and when not people want a video call to be used and how often people want to communicate with each other. 

Remember that every communication feature you try to implement means another notification for your employees. The more communication tools you use, the more noise and tools your employees will have to get used to. Don’t try to overdo it and stress them out. Some overall general communication guidelines are aiming for short and direct sentences rather than confusing verbatim, providing context, and being mindful in your tone. Effective communication while working from home can do so much more than helping you and your team get projects done seamlessly. It will also make you feel like you are an integral part of your team. 

Trust that your staff is up to the task 

Work from home offers flexibility to employees, which means you should also have some flexibility in managing time and resources. Move on from the 9 to 5 mindset and recognize that the world has moved on to different approaches to work. By trusting your employees, you give them a chance to take accountability for their workload and progress. This is great for developing a schedule and seeing how they work best. Work will be at its highest quality while maintaining a better work-life balance for all employees and yourself. Forcing someone to work the way you think they should be working will only grow disdain and decrease productivity. Of course, there might be instances where you have to step in if work is not being done, but generally, overstepping will not lead to great outcomes for both parties. If you can’t trust your employees to work flexibly, then there will never be a chance for them to be trusted with confidential business information and other details that may require their feedback. 

Gather and give feedback

Always make time for feedback during team meetings. A great feedback culture doesn’t happen naturally—it must be intentionally designed. Set aside time to check in with your remote employees. Regular one-on-one meetings might not be necessary, depending on your leadership role. However, one-on-one meetings via phone call or video call are the best way to get someone to give you their feedback directly, especially if you go into it with questions ready. During the first week of work, after a break, or when you feel it is needed, create an outline that formalizes team expectations and norms while also giving employees a chance to contribute to it. It is also essential to provide feedback and recognition to your team. Highlight success and repeatedly say that feedback is always welcome at the company. 

Promote inclusion

Resources and other offerings paid by the company to ensure all employees with diverse needs are being accommodated should be reviewed to fit work from home environments. Ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, is set up to contribute their best thinking and work to organizational success requires understanding how each employee is experiencing inclusion. Quarantined employees, employees with disabilities, employees with kids, etc. may require new and different support now that their work is being done at home. All company leaders should be compassionate, try to understand their employees’ challenges, and respond to promote inclusion. 

Get the team together physically annually or bi-annually 

Meeting face-to-face as a group is an ideal way to team-build and mingle in a non-professional setting. These meetups should be paid for to include all employees and not leave people out who might not be able to afford the travel. These meetups should be designed to bond people together and create meaningful connections. This is also a great time to redefine the term’s goals and values. Other activities can be exploring whatever city the meetup takes place in, volunteering together, ice breaker activities, sharing gratitude for one another, etc. Spending time with the team face-to-face is invaluable. It allows remote employees to get to know each other beyond their job roles.

Remote workers can be just as productive as in-office employees, if not more so. As a leader, it is your role to educate yourself and lead them towards a path of success. For more remote work information visit bettsrecruiting.com.

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Making a Good First Impression When You Start a Remote Job

Making a good first impression is difficult at any job. Some companies have come to see the benefit of remote work, as well—both financially and practically. When you start your first remote job, consider several things on your first day and the weeks following. Here are four tips to help you make a first good impression: 

Make sure you have all necessary equipment 

With no office to commute to, it’s important to have your setup working and ready to go. What equipment you need is entirely up to your role in the company. Most companies will provide the equipment you need but if not, you need to ensure that everything you need is ordered and ready for your first day of work. If you don’t have the necessary equipment, let someone know immediately instead of waiting it out. In the remote work world, technology issues can hinder communication entirely. Technological challenges come with the territory when you work remotely, test and troubleshoot all of your equipment ahead of time to minimize the chances of something going wrong. Take the initiative and ask your employer about available technical support if you run into issues. You’ll want to develop a backup plan in case the internet goes down in your home, like ensuring you can use your phone as a hotspot. This is only the first step in being able to communicate effectively. 

Be personable 

It won’t be long before you are called into your first video chat as part of the process of welcoming new hires and onboarding in general. These chats may include one-on-one meetings with your supervisor, team lead, etc. You might also have to introduce yourself to the entire company, which sounds as frightening as it feels—first impressions matter. A lot! During this period of time, your goal is to perfect the balance between being proactive and receptive. You don’t want to draw too much attention to yourself, and you shouldn’t try to either. Don’t say out-of-pocket things. Just be yourself but not too much like yourself. Start out by being polite and friendly. Don’t think too hard about what you’re going to say before a meeting or you risk the chance of sounding like a robot. If your company only communicates through brief chats with no video component, ask for some additional introductions and feedback so you can meet and connect with more people. 

Ask questions 

Even if you get the hang of your job and consider yourself a fast learner, it is important not to be completely silent and go under the radar. Not being noticed can actually work against your favor. People might think you don’t care or aren’t interested. You also don’t want to ask questions just to seem engaged obsessively. Asking questions about organizational structure is always essential when you first start a role. Your goal with asking questions should be to save everyone’s time and money. If you are able to ask important questions and questions that can help the future onboarding process, you will be seen as a valuable addition to the team. 

Be transparent 

It’s  important to keep others aware of what you’re doing, especially at the start of your new job. For example, you definitely don’t want to get through your first week, have a catch-up meeting with your manager, and discover to your horror that you misinterpreted your first batch of work- and were doing it all wrong and/or working on the wrong project. Communicating constantly with your supervisor and coworkers can be challenging when you are working remotely and able to create your work schedule. Checking in frequently can give you a chance to shine and stay connected. Be active and always ready to participate in group discussions. Try to speak up and be engaged during meetings. The more invested and transparent you are with your coworkers, the more you will progress and get people to know that you are getting the hang of things.  

By taking these steps in your approach to your work, you can demonstrate your dedication and drive to your employer, even from a completely different city. Making a good first impression when working remote requires some deliberate actions, but it’s well worth the effort.

Learn more at bettsrecruiting.com.

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FOMO or Stay Home? How to Travel While Working Remote

Companies everywhere have discovered that remote work improves work-life balance, and going into an office five days a week is no longer necessary. The ongoing pandemic has changed the world and given workers commuting hours and face-to-face meeting hours back into their lives. 

If you can work from home, you can work from anywhere! Remote work trips can give you a break from routine and a fun getaway without using up days off. The opportunities to combine travel and work have never been so widespread. Traveling can feel like a getaway from real life and responsibilities…but remote work still needs to get done even if you are having the time of your life. Remote work trips are not the same as vacations and have limitations to them. Here are four tips to best travel and get your remote work done. 

Communicate with colleagues 

Whether you are traveling for one day, one week, or even one month, telling your colleagues that you are traveling while still maintaining work responsibilities is essential and necessary to stay connected comfortably. Although this might feel counterintuitive to what “getting away” should feel like, your work is following you on your trip which means technically so are your coworkers (virtually!). If you are too afraid to tell your boss or colleagues that you are traveling… you are working at the wrong place! 

Being transparent from the start can let your colleagues know that you might be in a different time zone or unavailable for specific periods of the day. Instead of your colleagues thinking you went MIA which can come across as unprofessional, save time and effort and let everyone know you will be traveling to x for y amount of days/weeks. Lack of communication can hinder team cohesion. It is better to over-communicate than leave your peers in the unknown and have to pay the repercussions for it later. 

Pack appropriately for remote work 

Last-minute meetings can always occur even on the go. Make sure you bring along a presentable shirt or business casual outfit for face-to-face meetings and have a proper zoom background ready to use. Chargers, hotspot devices, noise-canceling headphones or earphones, spacious backpacks, and anything necessary to work remotely need to be part of your packing list. You do not want to take a zoom meeting in a Hawaiian shirt or end up having to miss an entire week of work because you don’t have WiFi. Pack, pack, pack everything you already use when working remotely at home while still leaving room for travel clothes and souvenirs. 

Create a work schedule ahead of time 

With remote work, no one is physically there to tell you what to do or what not to do. You have to be very disciplined and follow a schedule to ensure you are productive and meeting work deadlines. While traveling, it is easy to sleep in or be distracted by fun activities. It is best practice to set your work schedule ahead of time and have backup times dedicated for work just in case things like layovers or exhaustion hinder being able to work. 

Finding a workspace in a different city or country that fits your needs might be difficult, especially if you have a list of demands to work correctly. Researching ahead of time for spaces like coffee shops, public libraries, and other places with WiFi and a work ambiance will save you from scrambling last minute for a place to work at. Mapping these places and having backups will ensure work is being done on the go and meetings can be held in the environment best fit for you.  

Setting the correct boundaries 

The last and most important tip while remote work traveling is simple. Know your boundaries and stick to them! Unless you are working on a deadline, limit your work time and make sure you enjoy your personal time limit. Do not sacrifice meal times, sleep, and staying clean to fit everything you want to do in a day. Again, this should be a fun and relaxing experience and should not cause you extra stress. 

During your work time, you might experience FOMO. You might want to give up on work and have a late night out. This will only make work harder the next day. Keep a pace and set clear boundaries like working until 3 pm or limiting the times you eat out weekly. If you can’t shake the feeling that you missed something you really wanted to experience, make a mental note of it because there is always the holidays! 

You’ve made it to the end of this article and can now work remotely and travel at the same time. Follow all four tips, and you will find yourself balanced and able to enjoy your travels. Remember to manage your time and explore new opportunities. Visit bettsrecruiting.com to join our network and explore new remote work opportunities with great flexibility. Safe travels! 

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How to Prep for a Virtual Presentation

It is challenging to make a virtual presentation both interesting and engaging. If you have ever attended one with technical difficulties or one where no one seemed to be paying attention, you know the problem first-hand that comes with virtual presentations. People have associated virtual presentations with boredom or work breaks. But, there are things you can do to prepare so that you are able to grab your virtual audience’s attention: 

Prepare ahead of time 

Your presentation is coming up, and you’re feeling the nerves kick in, which is normal! Preparing ahead of time is a great way to get rid of some nerves and boost your confidence. You should make sure your audience has been invited/have the link to your meeting and that your agenda is laid out clearly. Everyone should know the purpose of your presentation beforehand. Making sure your platform’s audio and visual settings are good to go can save time and prevent technical issues during the call. If your boss or mentor oversees your presentation and sends you content to present, you should review all of it just in case you might have any questions. Preparing ahead is necessary to avoid any last-minute rush. Attire and a clear background should also be thought of and set up ahead of time. 

Be timely

Show up to your presentation on time. It is disrespectful to your attendee’s time if you don’t show up or are ready to start on time. Your agenda is set, and room for questions is always last, so you need to stick to the schedule and not go over time. Without a real-time visual audience that provides feedback cues, knowing how well you are pacing is difficult. Some audience members might even have their cameras off, making it even more challenging to see feedback cues. It is important to not present with too much speed and practice slowing down. Some audience members might even be experiencing a lag or poor audio output which is why it is important not to speak too fast. As long as you are hitting the main points that you have rehearsed, tiny details can always be addressed at the end during the Q&A. 

Speak to the camera 

You must stare directly at the camera in a virtual meeting and not at the screen. Many people have trouble doing this since you want to ensure you’re hitting every point, which is easier to do when staring at the screen and reading the slides. It would be best to teach yourself that the camera is now your audience. Keep refocusing your gaze on the camera when you look up and try to memorize your script so that you don’t have to look away. Some people have a bad habit of touching their faces when presenting. Do not do this, or you will distract the audience from what you’re saying. Staring at the camera captivates the audience and is something you must teach yourself to do every time you are presenting virtually. 

Minimize body movement 

Body movement is still an essential part of presenting, even when you are online and sitting down. An ideal way to go about it is to make as little body movement as possible. Constantly turning from side to side could tell other participants that you’re not paying attention and are distracted by something in the room. Constantly shifting around your seat can come across as you being uncomfortable in your own space, making the presentation uncomfortable. Posture is super important. Make sure you’re alert and not slouched down. Slouching in your seat is very casual and can make you appear unprofessional. 

Wrap up professionally 

A great conclusion can make a significant impact on the audience. How you end your virtual presentation is vital to the overall message you are trying to get across. It would help if you had your closing remarks prepared before the presentation began. Summarize the main key points. Speak louder and politely at the end. Remind the audience how much time is left before opening up the floor for questions. Lastly, as a host, you are responsible for ending the presentation once everyone is done talking. A friendly “goodbye and thank you for listening” or some variation of that is always the best way to end a virtual call. 

A presentation online might feel different than one in-person and can even feel like you’re just talking to yourself. However, as long as you follow these tips and follow the usual ground rules of a presentation, you will be wonderful. If you are interested in remote opportunities, join our community  at bettsrecruiting.com. 

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Prepping for an Online Interview: What to Expect and How to Prepare

The ongoing pandemic has created flexibility in work-life balance, hiring talent from all over the world, and interviewing. A couple of years ago, most companies required in-person interviews for positions. Of course, there were virtual interviews for those who couldn’t fly into a company’s location, but that only sometimes applied to out-of-state applicants. Most people would make the drive or fly in for an interview. The world changed once the pandemic hit. We are now accustomed to virtual meetings and 1:1 communication since it is now pervasive in our daily lives; remote work, “zoom university”, curb pickup apps, telehealth, etc. You have to go through an online interview to land a job nowadays.

Online interviews are tricky. You can’t pick up on body language or physically greet someone as you could in person. Internet connection is the only thing keeping the interview alive. Here are a couple of things to expect from an online interview and how you can prepare: 

Download the right software beforehand

The first thing you’ll be able to know from your online interview is the software the interview will take place on. The interviewer might email you the link to the zoom or google meet invite you. There are so many video call platforms available, and it is improbable that all interviews will use the same software program. Before you participate in your online interview, know which app to download on your electronic device. Email the day before asking politely which video conferencing software you will need if no one has told you yet. It will look very unprofessional and might take time away from your interview if you scramble to download the software during or minutes before your interview. Most software will also ask you to make an account – a nightmare! Always be prepared ahead of time. 

Clean background

The nice thing about interviewing in-person was that your only job was to look presentable and professional, maybe have an elevator pitch ready, have well-emphasized experiences, and show up! Now, you are displaying your home to your interviewers. No one wants to see a candidate have a dirty room or explicit posters on the wall. The biggest rookie mistake is not being aware of your surroundings. You can control what your interviewer can see, the lighting, the angle! Use it to your advantage. Before your interview, change your background to a solid, clear virtual background or be somewhere with an empty wall behind you. A plain background with zero posters or decorations will prevent you and your interviewer from getting distracted. 

No background noise

If you have the resources to take your interview inside a closed study room at some public library, do yourself a favor and do it! Background noise is very distracting and can come from anywhere. You can’t control the honking cars, mowing of lawns, or the sound of strangers talking outside. However, you can control your roommate’s noise. Tell your roomie or housemates that you will be participating in an interview ahead of time, so they don’t come knocking on your door or create noise outside while you are in the midst of an interview. 

Have backup devices 

Tech issues are bound to happen at the most unexpected times. Taking your interview on your laptop or desktop is usually the preferred video call method because of the widescreen and video app features that are more visible. These devices should be charged overnight and have battery during the day of your interview. Make sure the camera and audio are working as well. To be safe, make sure your phone or tablet is also charged and has the corresponding video app downloaded in case you must use a last-minute backup device. 

The usual interview prep

While there will be some significant changes to the physical setting and feel of a virtual interview, the bulk of the interview will be the same as an in-person interview. You must still do a decent amount of research for the position you are interviewing for. Be prepared to show them that you did your research by asking specific questions about the position and explaining why you are applying for that particular company/location. Like you would in an in-person interview, have your experiences and possible situational experiences well-rehearsed. Selling yourself will be more complicated now that your body language and overall presence are judged from your chest up through a screen. Being able to articulate your experiences and keep your interviewer engaged is more important than ever before. 

Last but not least, follow up with your interviewer and thank them for their time. Wait for a few days after the interview and if you have not heard from the interviewer, reach out to them. Ask if the hiring process is still ongoing and find out if they need any more information from you. Don’t stress! The more you practice, the better you’ll get with not only online conferencing technology, but the art of interviewing, too!

Questions, comments, or concerns? Reach out to us at bettsrecruiting.com!

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Redefining Culture in a Remote Setting

Remote work environments are becoming the norm, and company leaders are now wondering how they can build and retain a culture that resonates with remote and hybrid employees. As of now, remote work best practices aren’t transparent, and employee engagement and retention are at risk. By building a remote company culture that prioritizes your employees, you can increase engagement levels and alignment. Here are some tips on how to redefine culture in a remote setting: 

Acknowledge employee wellbeing 

Psychological safety in the work field is the foundation of culture. Work culture is all about having people be comfortable enough at work to be themselves and be personable with one another. This only happens at work if employees know that they have security at their job and can express themselves without repercussions. When leaders support employees by letting them express their opinions and individual needs, employees’ wellbeing becomes better. In a remote setting, supporting workers and their individual needs can be done by creating different programs like feedback forms, mental health awareness week, mental health reminders, and informing yourself on what may deteriorate someone’s mental wellbeing in the specific field. It’s also essential as a leader to send a message that success and wellbeing go hand in hand. A culture of putting happiness first can have long-lasting healthy effects on workers that eventually lead to a shared space where people love their coworkers and can ask for help/share opinions. 

Create values  

Incorporating company values into daily operations can embed employees into the culture and future of the organization. Culture is not about the location or size; it is about how people can come together through the company’s values. Setting company values is like putting the anchor that supports the team through daily decisions. When employees can see themselves and recognize their work in the company’s vision and progression, they can become fulfilled with themselves and want to be involved in the company’s culture. Having set values can also attract like-minded individuals that can add to and improve the culture. With work from home, having a company vision is more important than ever. If your company used to be in-person, reevaluating the company’s values with employees is an excellent start to the transition to remote work. As employees work from home, values are able to give them direction and purpose. As a leader at the company, it is impossible to see every employee getting their work done. Values tie everyone together, including yourself. 

Create online group environments for employees 

Online group environments are tailored to different subjects in which workers can collaborate, synergize, and communicate. Some of these environment subjects that workers can join can be vacations, coffee lovers, sunsets, etc. These environments within the company’s software should be optional to join and based on workers’ interests. This is a great way to maintain and foster company culture. It’s awesome to get a notification while working and quickly see what a worker says about a non-professional subject. Workers are also just generally more likely to find their “group” or “work bestie” in these online environments. 

Create mentorship programs 

Mentorship programs grow the knowledge and skills of employees and can directly benefit the company’s overall culture. The overall morale improves when employees feel it is appropriate to be looking to advance their careers within the organization and are being encouraged by other employees to do so. As a result, there is a tremendous rise in employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Mentorship programs are also an opportunity to create an inclusive workforce by matching diverse employees across different teams. It also helps build relationships in the workplace as it lets employees see things from different perspectives. Continuous learning is crucial in today’s highly competitive world because stagnant roles lead to stagnant companies. Mentorship programs help employees improve skills and knowledge to support organizational goals. 

Distinguish culture from climate 

Culture is the values and beliefs that separate one group of people from another. Climate is the day-to-day atmosphere in a team and is derivative of how many people share the culture’s values and beliefs. It’s important to distinguish the two to focus on what can embellish the culture at your company. Define the behaviors that best support your organization’s values and your remote workers. Let everyone know what these behaviors are. Culture goes deeper to include the immediate environment and people’s beliefs and values, which is essential for all leaders to understand and educate themselves on. 

Creating a strong culture in a remote environment might be daunting. However, being aware and cautious about using these best practices can easily streamline your company culture initiatives. When leaders can effectively use their power to grow company culture carefully, everyone can collaborate better and elevate their work. 

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Remote Working: What Not to Do

Remote work is not traditional work that is simply conducted in a home office. There are many people whose natural inclination is to assume that the core difference between in-office work and remote work is location. This is inaccurate and, if not recognized, can be damaging to the entire practice of working remotely. The principles of remote work are different—the approach to conducting work is different, and it’s time to reconsider traditional thoughts on items such as meetings. Here is a list of things not to do when working remotely: 

Dont’s 

Be too hard on yourself 

We are all our own worst critics, especially when reflecting on our craft. Self-criticism can take a toll on our mental health and bodies. When we think we aren’t being good enough, ruminative thoughts can decrease productivity. We are all just humans trying to make a living and whether or not your job is meaningful to you, eating yourself up about your work is never a healthy path. It’s crucial to think of mistakes or “bad work” as opportunities to learn and set goals. Learn how to be self-compassionate and ask for feedback from your supervisor so you can get a second opinion about your work. 

Limit yourself to a 9-5 

You aren’t a work machine. The 9-5 culture is dying, and part of that is because of the increase in remote work. Most managers highlight the flexibility of working from home and trust that as long as you are turning out good results, doing good work, and meeting deadlines, you will not need to be logged on for 8 hours straight. Focus on outcomes and don’t feel the need to be “on” for more hours than needed in a day if you have completed all your tasks for the day. The traditional “day job” schedule does not apply to remote work unless your supervisor says so, which is highly unlikely. 

Avoid messes in your work area

You might think your messy desk isn’t affecting you, but when our space is a mess, so are we. Our workplace’s physical environment is a reflection of how we are doing and has an effect on the way we work. We lose time when we have to search through the clutter of paper and even the clutter of opened tabs/files on our computers. Our brains naturally like order and natural constant visual reminders. Messes reduce our ability to focus and process information. Chaotic work environments can also make you feel stressed and anxious and even lead to procrastination. Prevent this by regularly tidying up your environment and creating a boundary between work items and home items. 

Procrastinate 

Procrastination is one of the most significant contributing factors to a lack of productivity and achievement. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are at work from home or new to it; there will be moments where you’ll find yourself putting things off. That is okay! But you can’t let it become a thing you constantly do, or it will catch up to you and lead to physical and emotional burnout. Due to the lack of peer pressure that has shifted because of the absence of a physical supervisor or colleagues at the office, procrastination is much easier to enact on now and may be a response to how we cope with our emotions. To prevent procrastination, break tasks into tiny bits, turn off your phone, and reward yourself after completing your work. 

Obsess over social media 

Work is now online, so it is easy to click a tab and log into all your social media accounts as a distraction during work. Too much social media usage is harmful to your eyes, and the information you’re intaking is not authentic. It can decrease your productivity when you’re constantly taking breaks to message your friends or using social media during designated work time. Turn your social notifications off and put your personal phone away. 

Remote work is the future of work which means we have to adapt and try to keep learning as we go. Remote work isn’t a structure that merely works or doesn’t work. It is a way of working that requires intentional and perpetual care and evaluation.

If you or your company wants to learn more about remote work visit bettsrectruiting.com. 

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So You’ve Accepted a Remote Position. Now What? 

Millions of people transitioned to remote work during the start of the pandemic, and as of today, most companies have streamlined their remote work guidelines and benefits. Thousands of undergrads are joining an economy filled with a mix of remote jobs, hybrid jobs, and in-person jobs. Older people are also retiring at higher rates than before. Workers with families are leaving their jobs to work remotely and enjoy the work-life balance benefits. Accepting a remote position is both exciting and nerve-wracking, especially if this new job is your first remote job ever. Here are some things to consider:

Location:

The world is your oyster, and working remotely means you can work from anywhere. If you’ve been longing for a change for yourself or your family, moving to a new city is something to consider after accepting remote work. Talk to your family and friends and figure out if moving is a financially smart and viable option for you. Moving might mean losing your support network, but it could also give room for personal growth and new adventures. 

Work Office:

Next, your office! Or should we say bedroom? Most people who work from home have a designated space where they can dedicate their time to work and work only. This might be a study office or a corner in a room. Whichever it is for someone, one thing is shared amongst all options: tailor it to you and your needs! If your job requires you to video call for most of the day, have all of the equipment in your work area and make sure everything can fit while still maintaining organization. 

Scheduling:

Scheduling your upcoming weeks and months is extremely important when starting a new position. There might be weekly, or monthly meetings that you must know are happening. Taking notes of what time zone your company is following is also necessary to know. All of these things can be jotted down on a paper calendar or google calendar. The more prepared you are before and during the first few weeks of your remote job, the easier it will be to stay organized for the remainder of your time at the company.  

Setting Boundaries: 

Take steps to unplug and set work-life balance boundaries before and during the first few weeks of your remote job. Create a strict routine that can balance your needs and your company’s needs. Set boundaries with your coworkers depending on how the company operates their hours. Communicate what hours you will and will not typically be online. Use new tools that aren’t available in person, like the mute button to turn off notifications during your off-hours. 

Lastly, don’t be afraid to speak up and be your own advocate. Just like you have your own preferences, your coworkers will too. As you get to know them, get to know their communication and work preferences. Now that you’re a full-time remote employee, you’ll want to find excuses to interact with humans and not, well, your computer.

Want to explore more remote opportunities? Visit bettsrecruiting.com.

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​​What Should I Look For When Looking for a New Remote Job?

If you have been looking for a job recently, you might have noticed that “Remote” is now an option filtered by many sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc. Covid has given employers the leisure to work from home, and commuting into the office is no longer the norm. With a new way to work comes new ways for companies to take advantage of people looking for opportunities to work remotely. This article will guide you with some green and red flags to look for when on the hunt for a remote job. 

Green Flags:

Paid time off 

Paid time off allows you to choose when you need to take a break from work. PTO is great for increased work-life balance. Especially with remote work, sometimes being able to log off for a day is all an employee needs to do to enhance productivity and efficiency. Companies should want their employees refreshed and energized at work. PTO allows some flexibility to call off from work and not be reprimanded by not getting paid and, therefore, one of the biggest green flags to look out for in remote work. 

Application and review process 

When looking at a job posting, the first thing you look at is the job description. Remote work should be detailed with qualifications and specific work you will be doing. If there is a specific section on what remote work might look like for someone who hasn’t worked it before, this is an automatic green flag. The more detailed the post the better. Jobs that highlight the company’s culture, values, and overall goals are great and gravitate toward individuals who carry those same values. 

After applying, your recruiter should be reliable and communicate back and forward with you if you have any questions or updates. The best companies will always be the most transparent. Having multiple people from the company be part of the job interview is also a green flag. That means you can get various perspectives and have questions answered by more than one person. Multiple stages of interviews also means you are being evaluated to see if you will be a great fit which means the company truly cares about who they are hiring. 

Communication tools 

Now that going into people’s offices or asking questions 1:1 in person with coworkers located feet away is not available with remote work, your future job needs to have communication tools streamlined. Communication at a remote company might look like using communication tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, GroupMe, etc. Everyone must be able to share their thoughts and be able to ask questions. Subgroup channels of communication like chats based on teams, location, year, similar interests,etc are great to meet people similar to you. 

Jobs that make an effort to ensure that remote workers have the right equipment to succeed, like laptops, monitors, etc., just like they would at a regular office, are green flags. Remote work should not hinder communication or be a burden on costs for equipment. 

Employees are celebrated 

One of the best ways to feel valued and respected as a person at an organization is to be celebrated either for hard work or a birthday. Praise and celebration should be embedded in company culture even if everyone works remotely. Special virtual events, Kudo boards, messages or verbal praise during team meetings are some of the things to look for in remote jobs. 

Upward career path 

Remote companies with opportunities to climb the ladder show that they value their workers and want them to succeed beyond their current roles. The goal should always be an upward career path. Companies who invest in their workers and give them opportunities like mentorship programs and leadership development want their people not to stay stagnant and grow within the company. A plus is if a company is willing to invest in your education. 

Red Flags: 

Vague job descriptions 

In this new age of remote work, job descriptions need to be as specific as possible since the probability of onboarding in person is not likely, and all of your questions will have to be answered virtually. If a job employer can’t describe what the role entails, they lack structure and goals for you, which is a huge red flag. What you don’t want to do is sign up for a job that is sketchy and misleading. Now that you can’t physically be at the office to better understand what the company is, job descriptions and qualifications must be specific. 

Company’s online presence is sketch 

When you are interested in a company, the first thing you should do is look at their website and social media to gain perspective on how they present themselves. If a company cannot appeal to you right away or has an outdated website design, they are lacking in the marketing department and are not a good sign for company growth. Avoid companies with sketchy links and social media. 

Stagnant career path 

Signing up for a role that you can get very good at and does not gain challenges/difficulty as you progress should never be the end goal. If the upper team in your company has stayed stagnant, that might mean the company does not encourage climbing up the ladder and limits opportunities to increase pay and move up to senior roles. Working towards a dead end is not pretty.          

Bad glassdoor reviews 

Glassdoor will be your best friend in your job search. By reading company reviews, you can better gauge potential salary, benefits, and overall employee satisfaction. If most people are trashing the company, avoid the company at all costs. No one would willingly write a bad review unless their time was so bad it deserved the bad press. Tip! You can filter out what people say about their time working remotely since it might be different from the in-person experience. 

No flexibility 

Remote work’s biggest perk is the flexibility it gives employees. If there are no PTO, bad travel policies, and unwillingness to accommodate different time zones, you are signing up for the wrong remote work. 

Starting a remote job is a really exciting new chapter in anyone’s professional life. You’ll get the opportunity to meet lots of new people and pick up some new skills through remote work. Be sure to embrace your job hunt and stay enthusiastic. Most important of all the advice is that you remember to continue being your authentic self, even during this time when so much may feel unnatural and unfamiliar. For even more information on remote jobs and remote opportunities, visit bettsrecruiting.com.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People…While Working Remote

If you are about to start a new remote work, you might be wondering what your social life will look like since your new coworkers might be living miles or countries away. You can no longer have small talk in the elevator or have an in-person job onboarding where you get to meet all of your coworkers in person. If you are a young professional straight out of college, the remote work setting might not be what you are used to experiencing.

At most school settings and pre-covid work environments, everything was being done in person, and everyone lived in close proximity to each other. Companies nowadays hire people worldwide, which might weaken the out-of-work social interactions that coworkers who live in the same city tend to have. Workers are saying goodbye to happy hour and hello to slack messages, which has been a learning curve for people who need face to face interaction to feel motivated and involved. Even the biggest social butterflies can suffer from loneliness or social anxiety when it comes to connectivity through the internet. Here is a list of tips on how to make friends and influence people when working remotely: 

Be genuinely interested in your remote coworkers to build mutual trust 

Getting to know your coworkers will be different in a remote setting. However, once you start getting the ball rolling with someone and sharing interests, and exchanging personal information, you need to try to be engaged. It would be best if you didn’t have to pretend to care. It’s totally fine if you immediately know someone is not your vibe and only want a professional relationship with them. However, if you are even 1% interested in getting to know someone, showing that you listen and care is the best way to get someone to trust you. Even if someone tells you something you aren’t familiar with, ask them for more information and learn something new! Everyone has interests or hobbies they would love to be willing to share. Showing engagement will lead to more interactions and mutual trust. 

Get good at your job first 

Anyone can win friends and influence people. However, those who are able to excel and exceed expectations are more likely to have a higher presence and be met with adoration by others. This higher influence is a domino effect of higher ups praising those who do well and are well liked which then pervades to coworkers also having this same view towards them. Your work needs to speak for you. Be consistent, responsible, and assertive when doing work tasks as well as being a team player all around. Being able to build your stature in the workplace is essential to making closer ties with coworkers outside of work and having overall influence. 

Informal conversations at the right time 

Informal communication is essential to building social relationships outside the typical business structure. However, being on screen and “logged on” can be tiring and drain someone’s social battery fast with remote work. Every work-related call should begin with a genuine and open catch-up of “how was your weekend?” or “how are you feeling?”. It’s essential to actively listen and create an environment where informal communication can happen without taking away from the structure of a meeting. Talking about your personal life and asking others about theirs can build meaningful relationships, and you might learn that you have more in common with someone than you initially thought. Additionally, sending emojis can feel silly sometimes, but it makes communication feel a lot more comfortable and adds some lightness to the conversation! 

Save some money and make a trip to visit

Once you have a few remote coworkers whom you have bonded with and with whom you can have informal conversations outside of working hours or casually on the clock, you have successfully created friends remotely! The next step is to save some money, plan a trip together, and meet them in person. This trip can be during a holiday or any day of the year since working remotely offers so much flexibility. You and your coworker(s) can have an adventure together and potentially show each other your favorite spots in your home cities. You guys might even be able to work together and increase work cohesion. There is no better feeling than meeting someone you have only seen on the screen. It might be weird at first, but an in-person meetup is more meaningful than any virtual hangout. It will be worth every penny to set up a trip to meet your virtual coworkers in person. 

There are so many different ways for remote workers to stay social; loneliness will have a tough time creeping in on your watch. If you’re already working remotely, pick one new tip to try. If you don’t have a virtual job but you wish you did, visit bettsrectruiting.com.

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Make Remote Work Work for You

Two years into the pandemic, and we’ve already seen a lot of changes. We’ve adapted to wearing masks, taking rapid tests, and calming ourselves down every time we cough a little too hard for a little too long, but have we yet adapted to remote work? Before March of 2020, if people had been told that the majority of the office world would go remote for two years, I’m sure we would have laughed. I know I would have. But now as we approach March of 2022, it’s no longer a laughing matter—it’s everyday life. 

Remote work isn’t just a trend that will come and go; it’s a staple that most prospective employees are looking towards. Studies find that 66% of employees would look for a new job if asked to go back to work in the office. Clearly remote work in some capacity is here to stay. But how can we learn to swim through remote work without sinking? 

First of all, it’s vital to learn how to cultivate an active remote work culture. Without a real life water-cooler for employees to bond over, it’s harder than ever to feel connected with the entire team. However, there is something to be said about the benefits of virtual events like weekly cocktail hours, scheduled meet-ups between coworkers, and, Covid restrictions permitting, designated retreats designed for employees to finally meet in person. 

Remember that remote living is just as hard as remote working. Give your employees something to look forward to while keeping socially distant. It’s the same as a company paying for lunch after a great quarter— a little can go a long way. How can you make your customers successful if you aren’t helping your employees succeed first? 

It’s no longer about making sure everyone has high speed wifi or even a chair with decent lumbar support, it’s about ensuring that everyone feels included. In the brave new world of hiring remotely, new employees who must undergo remote training won’t have the benefit of onboarding in person. They will have to either learn over Zoom or figure out how to make a hybrid situation work. Think about what it might be like in their shoes: how can we make sure that they feel just as included while remote as they would in person? 

There’s nothing else to compare to the dopamine rush of getting a package in the mail. A care package of company swag can go a long way. Sometimes, a branded water bottle or coffee mug can make the difference between feeling like you’re on a deserted island versus a valued team member. Looking into something like hosting an introductory virtual mocha-meet up for the new employee (brand new company coffee mug included, of course) is another wonderful way to have your newest team member meet everyone else! 

Though remote work is definitely here to stay, it’s not the only choice moving forward. 67% of employees want a hybrid working environment, giving employees the option to split their time between the office and home. You can have the best of both worlds with hybrid work, without too much change. Consider offering Mondays and Fridays (the work force’s universally most resented and most beloved days) as remote days, with Tuesday-Thursday in office. Or, maybe have one week on, one week off. Or, if you’re feeling frisky, keep your employees home on Hump Day instead and in person for the rest of the week. Honestly, the possibilities are endless. Just make sure that your employees are given a voice in choosing what works best for their schedules as well. 

The fact of the matter is, people work where they feel welcomed. In the dawning of the Great Resignation, keeping your employees engaged and enthusiastic to work with you is key. If you want your business to succeed, you have to make sure that your team wakes up every day wanting to go to work. Whether that’s from the comfort of their own home or in the office, well, that’s up for you and your team to decide. 

Want to learn more about how work environments have changed or what employees are motivated about in 2022? Head on over to bettsrecruiting.com where we show you exclusive data and insights on hiring, layoffs, remote work, employee expectations, and more. Happy working! 

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Working Remote With Roommates: How to NOT Go Crazy

As work from home becomes the norm, it’s taken us a bit to adjust to working out of our personal space. Even though we’re now two years into the setup, that doesn’t mean that we’re now naturally accustomed to spending the majority of our time in our own ‘happy place’ as opposed to the office. When the lines between home and work start to blur, how do you manage to keep yourself together when living with roommates while working remote? 

There’s a reason everyone is grateful to move past college dorms and having their own space, but with offices closing their doors and people being unceremoniously sent to work from home, having a roommate is no longer just having a friend who you live with. Suddenly, your roommate has been promoted to coworker. Think of your apartment like a very, very unconventional office space. Sure, you have a bed and a tv and fridge full of all your favorite snacks, but you also have someone who you live with who is working at the same time as you. And, unfortunately for both of you, there’s no HR to hash out any issues. 

After many tried and true experiences, we’ve narrowed down the best tips and tricks in order to make living and working together work, without going crazy.  

Take breaks. It might sound a little counter productive, but there’s nothing worse than realizing that you’ve spent the past eight hours in your bedroom or office staring at a computer screen without so much as a breath of fresh air. Getting out of your apartment—be it for a walk to the coffee shop or a turn around the block—will do absolute wonders for your mental health, your productivity, and your ability to look the other way when your roommate leaves their dishes in the sink to “soak” for the fifth time that week. 

Plus, think of it this way: when you get out of the apartment and get some fresh air, you’re getting out of the apartment. Nothing helps calm down annoyances more than a little bit of distance, even if it’s only for a short walk!

See if you can alternate days working in the apartment. Now that most covid restrictions are lifted, it shouldn’t be too hard to take advantage of a local coffee shop or library in order to get a few hours out of the apartment. Furthermore, if your offices are allowing hybrid work, it might be worth it to see if you can alternate days in the office so that both you and your roommate can get the apartment to yourselves. Something as simple as one day a week can really help—ever heard of the phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder”? 

Divide space equally (no controlling the living room). Honestly, it makes sense. If the living room has the best natural light and is closest to the router (and kitchen!), it’s completely natural to want to set up camp and work in comfort. But just as much as you love the living room, I’m sure your roommate does as well. And no one likes a living room tyrant. 

Unlike an office, your apartment has limited space, so make sure that you’re not dominating the common areas. Which is more annoying: trying to focus on your meeting when your roommate is army crawling across the floor to avoid being seen in the hopes of getting another coffee, or having to army crawl across the floor in order to get a cup of coffee because your roommate’s taking a Zoom call in the living room? Remember: it’s a shared space, and everyone deserves a chance to work from the couch. 

Schedule hang out time. Yes, it might sound cheesy, but putting time to hang out on the calendar will go a lot farther than you might think. Planning to order-in dinner one night to watch TV or scheduling a trip to a cafe can do wonders. Scheduling time to hang out—as mechanical as it sounds—offers you the ability to have time to socialize with your roommate while still having time to yourself, whether that time is working or resting. 

Communication is key. Don’t let anything fester—talk it out if you’re feeling upset or if there’s something bothering you. Your roommate is not a mind reader and will not be able to fix the issue if you don’t tell them. It doesn’t need to be a whole affair, but simply sitting them down and explaining that if your door is closed that you would prefer for them to knock before entering can  make the difference between hating your roommate and loving them. 

Share a calendar. It might sound rather silly, but if you have a shared calendar with your roommate, you can coordinate when you both have important meetings or calls. There will be less of a worry that your roommate will be making a smoothie while blasting the top 40 while you’re on the phone with your boss if they know that you’re in an important meeting. 

Learn to compromise. The most important thing that you can do (other than invest in good headphones and even better coffee) is to treat each other with respect and grace. If they have a big meeting and need absolute quiet in the apartment, maybe then it’s your turn to go to the cafe down the street. And the same goes vice versa. Learning to live together and treat each other as coworkers as well as roommates can go a long way in terms of keeping the peace and your sanity. 

And lastly, remember that your roommate is in the same boat as you. Treat your roommate the way you would want to be treated, and things will be golden. 

Happy Working!

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Remote Work Increased Productivity

The current pandemic has changed how we work, causing companies to turn to at-home solutions while completely transitioning to fully remote. At Betts, we have fully taken our company remote while encouraging meetups in cities where our employees work from home. Across all parties, we have seen a vast increase in employee happiness and productivity rates. 

This isn’t just happening at Betts; the tech industry is highly flexible, and location restraints do not affect work deliverables. Big tech companies like Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook have adapted to hybrid models where employees can work from home or come into the office. This practice has been uncommon in our society to date. Still, it will undoubtedly persist long beyond the current pandemic due to the many benefits of productivity. 

Increased Productivity and Performance

Working from home leads companies to focus on performance. In-person environments can sometimes be misleading, lead to bias, and create a lot of false positives in productivity rates. Coming in earlier than everyone else or leaving later is not a good indicator of how well someone performs, and working from home erases those misleading outlooks and only focuses on the end goal of performance. 

Betts has reevaluated its performance culture. We do not have any set office hours, and as long as you meet your goals and aren’t affecting team cohesion negatively, work is being done when and wherever employees choose. With this, Bett’s performance has shifted upward, with employees having fewer interruptions and selecting the work environment they work best in. Bett’s research on SDR teams shows how successful this working model is. SDR teams’ focus has shifted their measures of success to hitting their KPIs instead of hours being spent in the office. In return, SDR teams achieve their goals faster than they would if they worked at an office. 

Inclusive hiring and retention

At the start of 2021, Betts had a retention rate of 77% and as the year went on, we hired an average of 14 people every quarter and had fewer terminations, and now in 2022 we currently have a retention rate of 99%. The work from home flexibility has not only allowed Betts to hire more but retain more. 

Years of industrial research have proven that diverse companies and teams lead to groundbreaking accomplishments and unlock new perspectives. Companies get to improve inclusivity with remote work options. Remote work enables hiring more people from different geographic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. Having top talent from all over the world inevitably produces top-tier work and increased team cohesion. A company’s location or headquarters now no longer limits who is able to get hired at a company. Some companies, like Betts, no longer utilize their company’s work buildings and get to save the finances needed to maintain working facilities. Employees who are given a chance to work from homes and communities that they feel comfortable in have increased job embeddedness and produce more work at faster rates. 

Non-Commuting Benefits 

Commuting to work can be time-consuming and is associated with increased stress and anxiety levels. In the United States, the average one-way commuting time is 27.1 minutes. This time adds up and can get in the way of spending time with family or self-care. Those who may not work close to work have to wake up earlier, get stuck in traffic, and be physically exhausted. Working from home gives employees more time to focus on their priorities for the day since they do not have to worry about getting to and from work. This extra time can help plan and execute to-do’s for the workday and increase efficiency. 

Overall Health and Happiness improvement 

Employees who work from home tend to be more happy and loyal due to less stress and increased time committed to hobbies and interests. Work from home allows flexibility to improve personal friendships and romantic relationships, among other things. Employee retention is higher in remote settings, and manager relationships are more positive since there aren’t in-office job tensions with in-office power dynamics and politics. 

Working from home can also lead to better health due to having: 

More time for physical activity

The ability to eat healthier

Less exposure to illnesses 

Ease of caring for a health issue or disability

At Betts, all full-time employees are owners of Betts, which creates a culture of care and loyalty. Since going virtual, Betts has bi-annual summits where all employees are encouraged to attend an all-inclusive resort to celebrate the company’s accomplishments, meet everyone in a relaxed environment, and hear some informal speeches about the company’s goals and growth from the quarter. 

Betts has also implemented Wellness Wednesdays to boost employee mental health, which are designated to do anything that will relax and rejuvenate employees. Betts Employees are also encouraged to take a vacation, get a vacation stipend of $3,500, and have unlimited time off. These benefits are a result of high performance and productivity, enhanced by work from home. Work meetings have also been repurposed. Bett’s all-hands meetings are now bi-weekly and present encouraging content like promotions, birthdays, and new hire introductions – giving all employees a chance to catch up with each other and revitalize goals for the upcoming weeks.  

Room for improvement 

Some employees aren’t fit to work from home, negatively affecting productivity. Employees who thrive on social interaction from co-workers, feel inspired by physically seeing others working, and stay on track only if watched cannot succeed in virtual environments. There is still room for growth to make work from home adaptable to all workers, especially those who have been used to working in offices for years. The encouragement of paid work meetups and experimenting with Virtual Reality are just some of the ways Betts and other tech companies can connect workers on a more personal level. 

The pandemic has reignited an era of digital transformation. It has broadened the use of collaborative technology in and out of the workplace. There is an increased desire for remote workplaces. If you have any questions about attracting top talent and specifically top talent looking for remote opportunities, contact us today to hire the best sales, marketing, and customer success professionals with Betts. 

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Equity Glossary

Cliff: A period of time before your option grant vests. Often the cliff is the one-year period from your initial start date or the date your shares were issued.

Exercise: When you purchase your vested shares at the set strike price in your options grant. 

Strike Price: The price per share it would cost to purchase (exercise) each vested option. 

Liquidity: When you convert your stock into cash. 

Liquidity Event: If your company is merging, has an offer to be purchased (tender offer), or IPO you can sell your shares for cash.

Lock-up period: A period of time that you cannot sell your stock, typically this only occurs when a company goes public. Stock dilution: If your company is raising additional funds, a company could also issue additional shares. When additional shares are issued, your ownership via the shares is reduced. 

Stock Options: The right for you to buy a certain number of shares at a defined strike price.

Trigger: An event that can accelerate vesting. A trigger typically occurs when an acquisition occurs or when you leave a company. Vesting: The earning of assets such as stock options. The vesting period is typically in your offer letter and can last 3-4 years depending on your grant. 

Vesting Period: The total amount of time for all of your shares to become eligible to purchase. Vested Options: The amount of options you are eligible to purchase.

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from Betts Recruiting https://bettsrecruiting.com/blog/equity-glossary/

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5 Reasons Why the Great Resignation is Happening and How You Can Retain Your Employees

The Great Resignation

Resignation rates are rising in almost every industry. There is a 3 million difference between the number of open jobs, 10.4 million as of August 2021, and 7.4 million unemployed workers. As a result, companies currently need experienced professionals more than people need companies, and many are calling this trend “The Great Resignation.” Employers have to adapt to these changing workforce trends to retain talented employees, and this is concerning for companies that are already struggling to keep up with aggressive hiring goals.  However, there are actions that companies can take to retain their employees. For example, in a recent Bizwomen article, our CEO and Founder Carolyn Betts refers to this new era as “The Great Rehiring.” She suggests listening to employees to increase flexibility and job satisfaction, which she has done successfully here at Betts. Below are five reasons why “The Great Resignation” is happening and actions you can take to retain talent.

5 Reasons Why the Great Resignation is Occurring

1. Burnout: Physical and Emotional Exhaustion 

Many companies are understaffed due to people calling out sick or resigning to pursue other opportunities. This puts additional stress on employees who are still at the company. These changes to workload and demand have created physical and emotional strains that are increasing resignations. 

2. Increase in Worker Leverage: Opportunities with Higher Pay and Better Benefits

People are looking for new roles with higher pay and better benefits, and there are more open positions than talent willing to work them. Thus, people who leave their jobs get faster pay increases than those who stay at their current jobs. 

3. Desire For Remote or Hybrid Workplaces 

After experiencing remote work, people are unwilling to settle for a traditional nine-to-five job with a commute and inflexible work schedule. As a result, employees are leaving for jobs that have committed to a remote or hybrid workplace. 

4. Disengaged Workplaces

It’s more challenging for employees to identify and feel organizational commitment with decreases in workplace interactions. People who were already unhappy with their job had even more reason to resign with cascading effects on job dissatisfaction. Employees are no longer committed to their jobs and have an easier time leaving for better opportunities. 

5. Change in Priorities: Finding a New Calling 

The pandemic has disrupted our routines and motivated us to review the status quo, so many people are reevaluating what they find meaningful in life and changing careers.

What Can I Do To Retain My Employees?

1. Adjust Your Retention Methods

Retention methods that were created before the pandemic don’t take into account the effects the pandemic has exacted on everyone. Now is the time to invest in a range of evidence-based interventions to tackle increased burnout, stress management, communication skills, and self-care. 

2. Create Opportunities for Virtual, Social Interactions

It’s crucial for people to feel engaged with their company and coworkers. While the ongoing pandemic has made it difficult for employees to meet face-to-face and nurture personal relationships, there is room for creative, virtual interactions and meetups to increase engagement. 

3. Offer Remote or Hybrid Work Schedules 

Remote or hybrid workplaces give employees a chance to be closer to their families and create a better work-life balance. These improvements yield higher productivity and collaboration. 

4. Ensure Your Teams Receive the Best Pay and Benefits

People need to feel like they are being heard. By giving them raises and competitive salaries, it will help you retain the best employees. 

5. Communicate Frequently and Be Transparent

Transparency is the key to creating trust in the workplace. Consequently, you should be transparent about organizational goals and how the company is performing to build trust between you and your team. 

Final Thoughts: Put Employees First

Your employees should always be one of your top priorities, and they’re one of the best investments you can make in your company. By putting talent first, you can continue innovating and retaining the best teams.

If you have any questions about attracting top talent, contact us today to hire the best sales, marketing, and customer success professionals with Betts. 

The post 5 Reasons Why the Great Resignation is Happening and How You Can Retain Your Employees appeared first on Betts Recruiting.

from Betts Recruiting https://bettsrecruiting.com/blog/5-reasons-why-the-great-resignation-is-happening/