The importance of effective management in business cannot be overstated.
For one, effectively managing employees empowers them to become productive, self-sufficient members of your organization who are highly engaged. This is especially significant given how a highly engaged workforce increases profitability by 23% while employee disengagement costs the world economy a whopping $7.8 trillion in lost productivity every year.
That said, managing employees is a massive task with its own set of unique complexities, particularly in a remote setting. But, as with most problems, it’s possible to forge ahead with some guidance, diligence, and work. Below, we look at four top challenges of managing remote employees, plus how to overcome them.
Communication is one of the biggest challenges of managing remote teams, and it was exacerbated by the fact that many companies had to quickly transition and acclimate to remote work due to the pandemic. 20% of the workers surveyed for the 2020 State of Remote Work report highlighted that collaboration and communication were the biggest struggles of working remotely.
With a geographically dispersed team, it can be difficult to maintain consistent lines of communication with employees and ensure that everyone has access to all relevant information. This challenge can lead to difficulties in collaboration and meeting deadlines as well as miscommunication or misinterpretation among team members.
Moreover, when team members are working remotely, they may not communicate as frequently or effectively as they would in a traditional office setting for various reasons:
To overcome these problems, consider:
In a remote environment, the inability to track work and productivity can lead to a lack of accountability and transparency.
When employees work remotely, managers and team leaders may find it difficult to keep track of what tasks are being completed, how long they are taking, and the overall progress being made on projects. Furthermore, without visibility into team productivity, managers may struggle to identify areas where processes or workflows could be improved. This disconnect can lead to inefficiencies, as well as a waste of time and other resources.
To overcome these problems, consider:
Remote working inherently implies a certain level of physical separation from colleagues, which can lead to feelings of loneliness.
A study conducted by organizational psychologist, Lynn Holdsworth, found that full-time remote work increased loneliness by 67% when compared to in-office work. Working remotely can cause several problems that lead to employee disengagement and difficulties with managing them:
To overcome these problems, consider:
Because of the communication challenges that make trust difficult to establish, as well as issues such as social isolation and a lack of team building, it’s often difficult for remote teams to build a positive organizational culture.
Furthermore, without a physical office or regular meetings with colleagues, creating and maintaining a sense of camaraderie becomes difficult as does fostering a positive work culture and effectively managing the team.
To overcome these problems, consider:
When implementing all these solutions it’s important to remember that it takes time to develop strong relationships among remote team members; patience will be essential during this process as individuals learn more about each other and become comfortable interacting virtually rather than face-to-face.
With thoughtful effort from both managers and employees alike, however, companies can successfully cultivate an atmosphere of creativity and support even without ever having met physically in person. It's also worth noting that enlisting professional assistance can help simplify remote team management.
While there are many details involved in managing remote employees, the tedious and often time-consuming administrative, compliance, and HR tasks don’t have to compete with your core business functions for your time and attention. This is where an EOR like Remofirst comes in, allowing for simplified remote employee management. How does an EOR do this?
With the help of an EOR, companies can stay compliant with local employment laws and regulations in the country where remote employees are located. This includes compliance with payroll taxes, employment contracts, and labor laws.
An EOR can handle the onboarding and offboarding process for remote employees, including employment contracts, background checks, and benefits enrollment. For example, Remofirst offers same-day onboarding and can help with background checks through its partners. This helps ensure a smooth and efficient process for both the company and the remote employee.
Using an EOR, you can handle payroll processing and benefits administration for remote employees. Remofirst will, for instance, help with global payroll and handling benefits, such as health insurance, stock options, and equipment provisioning. This can aid in the accuracy and timely payment of remote employees, as well as compliance with local regulations.
An EOR can provide HR support to businesses, including assistance with employee relations issues such as visas, benefits, and anything else related to international employment. Having an EOR also means getting robust support to help you handle the risks associated with hiring remote workers, such as employment law compliance (avoiding misclassification) and worker safety. All of this can help ensure that remote employees feel supported and engaged in their work, while also reducing legal and financial risks associated with remote work.
Partnering with an EOR is particularly helpful when scaling an organization because it provides several benefits, including reducing administrative costs, lowering the cost of hiring new employees, and getting help with effectively working across various time zones.
Granted, managing a remote team takes a lot of work, but outsourcing the administrative aspect of remote employment to an EOR like Remofirst will help you take care of and manage your remote employees in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
However, it’s important to remember that not all EORs are created equal. While some will help you manage your remote team and grow your business more effectively, others may do the exact opposite. Not sure how to choose the right EOR? Here’s a rundown of the questions you’ll need to ask before making your choice.