Blog 07- Managing Remote Workers

 Managing Remote Workers

 

Figure 01: (Barbara, et al., 2020)

Many corporations and universities have urged their workers to work remotely in reaction to the uncertainties posed by Covid-19. While over a quarter of the US workforce already works from home at least part of the time, the new restrictions will require many employees — and their supervisors — to work out of the office for the first time, separating them from one another. However, some months into the major transition to remote work prompted by COVID-19, many of those fears proved to be unjustified. Prior to the outbreak, only 1 in 30 organizations had at least half of their workers working remotely, according to a report by human resources consulting firm Mercer. It was 1 in 3 as of late August 2020. Since workers began working remotely, 94 percent of organizations stated that productivity had stayed constant or risen. (Fuscaldo, 2021)

Although it is generally better to set clear remote-work policies and training in advance, this level of preparation may not be possible in times of crisis or other rapidly changing conditions. Fortunately, even when managers have limited time to prepare, there are specific, research-based activities that managers can take without much effort to boost the engagement and productivity of remote employees (Barbara, et al., 2020).

Managing Remote Teams: Challenges

The challenges of managing a remote workforce are growing increasingly common as employees work from home more frequently.

· Due to a lack of the appropriate communication instrument

· Getting the appropriate people on board

· There is no accountability program in place.

· Respecting the time of others

· There are no clearly defined positions and responsibilities.

· Creating timetables

· It's difficult to keep track of staff performance.

· Within the squad, there is a lack of togetherness.

· Making everyone feel like they are a part of the team

 

What Can Managers Do to Assist Remote Workers?

Larson and colleagues (2020), While there are obvious drawbacks to remote work, there are some practical things that managers can do to make the move easier. You can do so by following the instructions below:

· Set up a routine for daily check-ins.

· It offers a variety of communication technology alternatives.

· Create opportunities for social engagement from afar.

· Some can offer you encouragement and emotional support.

 

Figure 02: (Trial, 2022)

References

 

Barbara, Z., Susan, R., Vroman & Erin, E., 2020. A Guide to Managing Your (Newly) Remote Workers. [Online]
Available at: https://hbr.org/2020/03/a-guide-to-managing-your-newly-remote-workers
[Accessed 01 04 2022].

Fuscaldo, D., 2021. How to successfully Manage Your Remote Workforce. [Online]
Available at: https://businessnewsdaily.com

7 Steps for Working From Home, 2020. Citrin Cooperman. [Online]
Available at: https://www.citrincooperman.com

Houston, T., 2021. Implementing a work-from-home program : 4 steps to take. [Online]
Available at: https://www.insperity.com

Janza, N., 2020. Remote Work- Advantages and Disadvantages. [Online]
Available at: http://www.spica.com

Larson, B. Z., Vroman, S. R. & Makarius, E. E., 2020. A Guide to Managing Your (Newly) Remote Workers. [Online]
Available at: https://www.hbr.org

Trial, 2022. How to manage your (newly) remote employees?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.talentlyft.com/en/blog/article/376/managing-remote-employees-5-actionable-tips
[Accessed 01 04 2022].