Before the pandemic, 80% of Americans expressed the desire to work from home at least part-time. Now that so many have gotten their wish, experts estimate that up to 30% of the workforce will continue working from home in 2021.

That’s great news for your employees, but what about you as their employer? There are countless challenges to managing remote employees, especially if you had to make a sudden and unexpected switch.

Are you struggling to communicate effectively, meet deadlines, and keep everyone’s morale high while your team is working from home? If so, this article is for you.

Keep reading for 3 management best practices for remote workers you can start using today.

1. Set Clear Expectations

Working from home is the reality for many businesses for the foreseeable future. Rather than viewing it as a temporary inconvenience, it’s time to think about streamlining the process for the long-term.

If you haven’t already, make sure your employees know exactly what’s expected of them while working remotely. For example, do they need to work the same hours they did in the office? Or can they work any hours they choose as long as they get their tasks done?

How many meetings will you hold on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis? Is attendance mandatory? Is everyone clear on company priorities and performance goals?

Many remote workers struggle to find a healthy work-life balance, so make it easier on them. Do you expect them to respond to emails or messages after-hours, or can communication wait until the next morning?

2. Make Communication Easy

Speaking of communication, you need to give your employees plenty of ways to stay connected. Email and phone calls might have been enough at the office, but it’s not the most efficient way to manage a remote team.

Messaging apps like Slack provide a fast and simple way for everyone to stay connected. You can set up a general group chat that includes everyone, smaller chats for separate teams, and individual threads for private communication.

For video conferencing, you can use Zoom or Skype to host team meetings or one-on-one sessions. Many employers also use team scheduling tools like Asana to assign tasks and track everyone’s progress.

At the same time, be careful not to micromanage. You didn’t glance over your employees’ shoulders at the office, so you shouldn’t do that while they work from home. Lay clear expectations and be available if they have questions, but give them the space they need to do their job.

3. Keep Company Culture Alive

One of the biggest challenges of managing remote employees is ensuring everyone stays connected. With no more water-cooler chats or company outings, your employees might feel disconnected from each other and the goings-on of the business.

Remember that there’s more to running a business or being an employee than work. Use those communication tools listed above to host non-work-related activities. You could arrange a virtual happy hour, virtual team lunch, or a virtual game night.

Look for ways to celebrate small successes or company milestones. Keep everyone in the loop and stay as connected as possible, and you’ll be well on your way to successfully managing your remote workers.

Challenges of Managing Remote Employees: How a PEO Can Help

The tips listed above will help you overcome some common challenges of managing remote employees.

But what if, despite your best efforts, you’re still struggling to find enough time in the day to get everything done? It might be time to consider a PEO provider.

PEOs (employee leasing companies) are an ideal solution for busy business owners like yourself. They handle those time-consuming tasks like payroll, worker’s comp, and HR administration. This frees up valuable time for you to focus on running your business!

Give us a call at (877) 703-9033 or use our online contact form to request more information.