How to Maintain Your Company Culture While Working Remotely

Remote work has quickly gone from a niche perk to a mainstream norm, but many companies are struggling with a hidden consequence: the erosion of company culture. In this post, we explore five actionable strategies to help preserve and strengthen your organization’s culture—even when your team is physically apart.

Perks vs. Culture—And Why It Matters

Before we dive into solutions, it’s critical to understand the difference between perks and culture. Perks are superficial enhancements—a cappuccino machine or a ping pong table. Culture, on the other hand, is a shared sense of purpose. It’s what motivates your team to take pride in their work and align with your company’s mission.

Culture is built by leadership but shaped over time by everyone in the organization. It thrives on connection, meaning, and shared values—not fancy office gadgets. And that’s what becomes vulnerable when employees are working from home.

1. Over-Communicate, Then Communicate Some More

One of the biggest adjustments remote teams face is a lack of visibility. Employees no longer overhear office chatter or pass by team huddles. As a leader, you must fill that gap by intentionally increasing communication.

• Upgrade quarterly meetings to monthly or weekly check-ins
• Host virtual town halls or send pre-recorded updates
• Use email and text updates to keep everyone informed

The more transparency and clarity you provide, the more your team will feel connected to the mission—even from afar.

2. Make Team Building Fun (and Virtual)

Remote work can feel isolating, especially for employees who relied on the camaraderie of the office. That’s where online team-building comes in. Hosting virtual games—like Bingo or Yahtzee—can inject fun and human connection into your weekly routine.

You can explore dozens of online team-building games. They’re not just time-fillers—they're culture-sustainers.

3. Be Flexible, Compassionate, and Human

The pandemic and its aftershocks have affected employees in dramatically different ways. A parent with several kids at home has a vastly different work-from-home experience than a single team member in a quiet apartment.

Now is the time to ease rigid company policies. Listen, adapt, and make space for real life. Compassion isn’t just kind—it’s strategic. Employees who feel understood are more loyal, productive, and engaged.

4. Prioritize Employee Wellness—For Real

Stress, anxiety, and burnout are on the rise. Employers who ignore this are gambling with morale, retention, and performance. The good news? Many group health plans already include wellness benefits—you just have to use them.

Call your insurance broker and ask about your current wellness offerings. If you’re not getting clear answers, reach out to us at Benton Oakfield. We’ll walk you through available programs and help you build a healthier workplace.

5. Encourage Innovation—and Reward It

Culture thrives when employees feel heard. Set up a virtual suggestion box and invite your team to share ideas. Reward the best ones with incentives like time off or gift cards—but more importantly, make sure every suggestion is acknowledged.

Remote or not, people want to feel like they matter. Create a system where ideas flow, feedback is valued, and creativity is celebrated.

Final Thoughts

Yes, these are trying times. But they’re also an opportunity to reimagine how we lead, connect, and build workplaces that work for people. Culture isn’t confined to a building—it’s carried by the people in it, no matter where they log in from.

If you’d like help implementing these ideas, contact Benton Oakfield. We’re here to help you build a happy, connected, and resilient workplace—wherever your team may be.

Remember: A happy business is a profitable business.