The COVID-19 pandemic has made a hybrid of remote and at-location workers the new normal. This can put unique stresses on your work culture. How do you make everyone feel included and connected despite the gaps created by distance? How do you make your company feel “cool” again?

A virtual ‘coffee run’

The office bonding session over morning coffee has changed completely with the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean it has to go away forever. Give employees, remote or in-person alike, a small budget or gift cards for a cup of their favorite coffee. They could use it to pick up the coffee themselves, order it by delivery, or — if all your remote staff are in town — you could have someone deliver drinks to everyone once a month, or whenever feels right.

Upgrades to their home office

Plenty of options allow you to show appreciation for remote workers and provide them resources to have great home offices. Giving employees a hardware stipend upfront (for example, between $2,000–$3,000) would easily cover their needs to buy a great chair, table, computer, screen, and/or any accessories needed. But if you’re not able to afford that, subsidizing internet bills or renting out equipment from the office also works!

Provide local discounted products and services

You can’t provide the usual office snacks or coupons that a local restaurant might drop off at your office, but that doesn’t mean you can’t provide local resources to your remote staff. With services like Benefits Hub, you can access a whole range of discounted goods and services for your employees to take advantage of locally.

In the United States, 5 out of 10 employers use BenefitsHub — it’s so great and easy to use that all AFEUSA members can access it for FREE. Every week, you can get notified (via email) of new business and lifestyle discounts including travel, entertainment, restaurants, health and wellness, mortgage refinancing, electronics and much, much more! There is no cost to receive these weekly benefits, and you can opt-out at any time. Become part of the AFEUSA family today and access these benefits and many more!