Techniques for Managing Remote Workers

The current coronavirus pandemic has caused a great deal of upheaval across the globe, and the business world has been affected to a massive degree. Many companies have been forced to move to a remote workforce model, rather than the office structure that they previously used. To some, remote working is the norm, but to others, it’s a completely new environment.

Remote working is not easy. To start with, it needs full commitment from the whole company to be successful and avoid conflict. Team members need to be diligent and visible in their working practices, and managers need to be kept informed.

Below, we outline some recognized best practices for turning remote workers into a high-performing work force:

  1. Communicate, communicate, communicate: Remote workers need higher standards for communication than traditional office-based staff. They need to ensure that other team members are kept informed of what they’re doing, what’s being worked on, when they’re working and when they’re not. Remote employees also need to be able to discuss any problems or roadblocks they may have, upcoming deadlines, and completed projects. This communication must go both ways: managers need to communicate with their remote team members too, ensuring the remote teams are kept informed and engaged, processes are up to date, and current company events are relayed.
  2. Set up your working environment: Create your remote work area so that you have a comfortable environment with everything you need to get your work done, with a level of privacy if and when you need it. Make sure that you have everything you need: computer hardware and software, network routers, stationery supplies, and adequate levels of heat, ventilation, and light.
  3. Plan your working time: Plan your working hours with the rest of your team to ensure that they know when you are available. Include start and finish times, lunch times and meeting times. If you work on a flexible schedule, ensure that you notify your team when you leave your work space, and when you return.
  4. Create Remote Working Processes and systems: Larger companies tend to have processes that document their remote work policies, but many smaller businesses will not have that information in place, especially those new to running a remote workforce. It is important to think about how you setup and manage your remote workers. Make sure you include the following when you create your documentation:
    1. Networking: How do remote workers access company resources?
    1. Computers and software: How do remote workers manage their computer resources, software updates, and any technical problems that might arise?
    1. Working times: Ensure guidelines are put down to give guidance to employees.
    1. Limitations: Make sure that remote employees know what they can and cannot do with their remote equipment and resources.
    1. Communication: Don’t forget to document all the possible methods that employees can use to collaborate and communicate. Include video conferencing software, email, phone, messaging, and other platforms.
  5. Be visible: It’s important that remote employees maintain a highly visible profile for the rest of the company. Communicate with other team members often, and remember to engage in casual conversation too; it often goes unnoticed that a great deal of discussion around the office is non-work related, so keep this up with other remote workers. It helps everyone stay in touch, engaged, and in a good place in regards to morale.
  6. Take regular breaks: Don’t let time run away with you! Remote workers should remember to take regular breaks as if they were at the office. It’s easy to get deeply involved in a project and lose track of time, but taking a walk or coffee break can help keep the mind focused and keen.


Remember that remote workers by default have a more flexible schedule and environment than office-based staff. Each worker will have their own way of managing themselves and their collaborative effort with other team members, so set guidelines rather than hard rules. That way, remote employees will remain engaged in the business, will work well together as part of the team, and will become valuable assets to the company.


TechPoint Can Help

For more advice and assistance on setting up remote workforces, call us today at 1-888-801-1777, email us at sales@tech-point.ca, or use the form on this page. You can also message us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.