Communicating with remote employees regularly is not enough. You should go the extra mile to reward employee performance as you could do if they were working from an office. Employee recognition is one of the most effective ways to motivate employees and increase productivity. 

Grant employees autonomy and show grace even when they don’t do things your way. The most important thing is for them to deliver the desired results. Know your employees and what their reward to them is likely to be. 

Provide them with cheap or free online classes, whether they are work-related or not. Allowing the employees to participate in activities such as cooking, meditation, and fitness, in addition to career development courses, can help to improve their physical and mental well-being. Identify career development courses and sign up your team.

You can also give timely gifts such as supplying the employees with stay-safe kits constituting things like hand sanitizers, masks, and so on. Brand these gifts with your company logo to allow them to connect with the vision. Organize virtual team-building events like a scavenger hunt, playing Pictionary, and so on. 

Mail the employees branded items for a job well done or as a way of appreciating them. This can be an effective way to motivate them and boost productivity. Remember to celebrate successes through team appreciation. Hold virtual socials with a theme showing a sense of collaboration and cooperation. 

You can design peer-to-peer recognition programs to motivate employees and build team cohesion. Peer recognition helps to create a positive company culture. Employee rewards may extend to sending electronic thank-you notes and acknowledging their anniversaries and birthdays.

Send employees some fun random messages or ask them to name their favorite things such as hobbies, food, and restaurants. Embrace diversity and educate yourself on the various cultures and backgrounds of your employees.