Remote work may seem like a concept developed at the start of the global pandemic, but it's a concept that's been around for years. Remote workers are sometimes known as distance workers, teleworkers, WFH ("working from home), overlanders or digital nomads. As the Internet of Things evolved, technical innovations have created opportunities for employers to expand their hiring pool. Companies could hire from virtually anywhere, therefore, diversifying the workforce, enhancing productivity, and conserving resources. It just so happens that the current state of the world's health and economy catapulted remote hiring back into the limelight.
If you're a business owner that believes having virtual workers may help your establishment, there are a few things you should know to reduce common obstacles and smooth the transition. Continue reading to learn more.
Legal Obligations And Employment Laws
There's more to hiring remote workers than creating a job description and evaluating resumes. As an employer, you have obligations and employment laws you must comply with to avoid legal ramifications. There are different rules for hiring remote employees directly, outsourcing to an independent contractor, and working with multi-state or international applicants.
Violating an employee's rights or failing to comply with local, federal, and international employment laws could result in litigation, hefty fines, and the potential dissolution of your business. Business owners, human resource personnel, and hiring managers are encouraged to educate themselves on the various laws to ensure the company is complying. You may want to consider outsourcing your HR needs or other global employment solutions for assistance.
Time Zone Differences
Whether you hire domestically or internationally, the difference in time zones can cause issues within your organization. Managing collaborative tasks and projects gets challenging when you have employees on the east coast, west coast, and overseas. Fortunately, there are multiple solutions to resolve these problems.
Creating teams based on their geographical location and time zone is one option. Another suggestion is scheduling meetings and deadlines during a reasonable time for all parties. For instance, if your home base is on the Pacific time, but your employees are on Eastern time, having a staff meeting at 2 pm EST accommodates everyone. It's not too early in the morning for your west coast team, but it's also after lunch for your east coast team.
There are also several collaboration and project management tools you can utilize to bridge the gap between time zones while maintaining productivity in the workplace.
Remote Worker Qualifications
An individual should have a specific set of skills and characteristics to be an efficient remote worker. Beyond having the educational and professional background to complete core assignments, they must also be tech-savvy self-starters.
They're operating outside of the workplace, meaning you won't be there to monitor their progress or troubleshoot technical problems physically. Therefore, you want to hire individuals who know their way around a computer or laptop, are familiar with cloud-based applications and business software, and have the discipline to stay on top of their assignments.
Work Environment And Employee Morale
Inclusivity and a sense of belonging are common challenges for businesses with remote workers. When you're not under the same roof, it's easy for virtual teams to feel left out. They don't feel a sense of connection with other employees, lowering their morale. When an employee doesn't feel appreciated or that their employer accommodates their needs, it causes their productivity to decline.
It's essential to create an environment where in-house and remote employees feel welcomed and heard. Utilizing chatrooms and hosting virtual meetings creates an opportunity for teams to communicate with one another. Other suggestions include reaching out to employees individually to find out their needs, hosting team-building events, publicly acknowledging good work, and even celebrating milestones to show your support.
Hiring remote employees come with many advantages for businesses. It increases productivity, saves money, boosts morale, and broadens company horizons. Be that as it may, there's more to having a remote workforce than selecting from a pool of applicants. If you're thinking about this as a practical solution for your establishment, ensure you've factored in all the considerations above for the most effective outcome.
