Today, with access to online communication, cloud-based storage, and other modern methods, hiring remote employees and freelancers appears a wise, profitable, and convenient option. Allowing employees to work from home is a privilege that many would like to have. It builds trust while saving money on a place to rent, electricity, and cutting many other less obvious costs.
However, it is not as clear and trouble free as it may seem. Employing remote workforce has its disadvantages, too. To avoid the disadvantages and get the benefits, please see our 5 tips below:
The Automatic Time Tracker Is Your Friend
You’ll either have to find employees who already have the right skills and tools to be good at remote work, or train and educate your in-office staff. Teleworkers should have everything they need to be in touch with a manager during the projects assigned to them to finish it in time and within a planned budget. They’d also need to communicate with other members of the team. There is a tool to tackle the most of these tasks: the automatic time tracker. It provides valuable data on a progress of individual members to the manager, and gives team members the ability to communicate their work to each other. Projects’ budgets and customers are also displayed by the time tracker. When employees are paid by the hour, they specifically need an accurate time tracker with proof of the hours they’d worked.
Regularly Assess Performance Of Individual Employees And Teams
A large number of freelancers and remote employees does quite well while working remotely. They turn in their tasks on time and with high level of quality. However, there are employees who are not nearly that good at teleworking. It will be a manager’s task to regularly assess employees’ work, and the automatic time tracker is very helpful in doing this. With it you’ll be able to promptly spot any errors and rectify them in time.
Online Meetings. Have Them
Don’t start your teleworking project without first implementing a strong form of accountability in your team. Holding weekly (daily, if needed) online meetings with the necessary members of your team is a great way to ensure that every teleworker stays on track. Videoconferencing is a way to get all your staff together without needing to spend time, money, and room for everyone.
Chat With Your Employees
Even when there is a meeting scheduled on Friday, you should still be in touch with remote employees throughout the day and track their activities in real time. It’s a great idea to check in first thing in the morning to make sure all of your team members are ready to work. Daily chats and reports created by the automatic time tracker are also great for working out problems and better connecting with your remote staff.
Do Not Completely Avoid On-Site Meetings In Person
The modern tools of online communication are amazing, yet they cannot replace the face-to-face contact with your remote employees. If possible, schedule an annual meeting for all employees who work for your company. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, but it should bring everyone together and allow remote employees to get to know each other a little better. If your budget allows it, plan some team-building practice to help your team build strong relationships.
Remote employment does provide many benefits both for employees and employers, but you’ll have to use the time tracker correctly in order to get only the best from it.