4 Ways to Manage Working Remotely

Published August 2020

While the remote workforce has been a growing trend, these current times are changing how employees work, how employers support them and even company-wide policies. In a survey that took place between May 29 and June 4, 2020, 70% of employees reported working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, either by requirement or choice, and many expect to continue to do so more frequently even after the pandemic has subsided.

As employees continue to adjust to a remote work routine, here are a few ways businesses can manage a remote workforce and environment:

Leader Preparedness

Given little experience or policies in place prior to COVID-19, many businesses may have struggled with working remotely initially. Setting structured daily or weekly check-ins can be a useful way to stay on top of employee workload and concerns, with additional guidance and supervision for junior and newer employees.

Coping with Isolation

Isolation can undermine an employee’s ability to identify with their organization, which can lead to lower job performance and greater turnover.  A company’s culture is vital to its success, so keep coworkers engaged and connected in genuine ways, such as with team lunches, book clubs, well-being challenges or happy hours (virtually works just fine).

Collaboration Breakdown

When employees who are new to working remotely lack experience with online tools, productivity suffers. For simple, time-sensitive asks or questions, employees should opt for mobile-enabled instant messaging software. For more complex or formal conversations when in-person isn’t possible, choose a video conference service, and follow up one-on-one to ensure the task is understood and next steps are clearly established.

Setting Boundaries

When workers are balancing their jobs with childcare and other responsibilities, flexibility is a must. It’s important to form a culture with a clear work/life balance. Encourage workers to schedule regular “offline hours,” when they can take a much-needed break or work on a project uninterrupted.

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