How to Know if Your Remote Workers Are Working

In the last five years, the use of remote workers has risen dramatically. According to B2B Reviews, approximately 12.3% of American workers are fully remote, and 4.7 million U.S. workers are remote at least half the time. They also estimate that by 2025, 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely. Meanwhile, the National Council of Compensation Insurance estimates that only 6% of workers worked primarily from home and three-quarters had never worked from home.  

The results may vary from worker to worker, but there are some notable benefits of implementing remote work. 

• Increased flexibility. 
  
  
• Cost savings. 
  
  
• Expanded talent pool.  
  
  
• Increased productivity. 
  
  
• Improved employee retention.  

If you are considering fully or partially switching your employees to remote work, or you have already made the transition, then you may be wondering what effect remote work will have on your workers' productivity.  

In this post, we will explain the importance of monitoring your workers. We will give you some ways you can monitor your employees' work-from-home productivity, and we will explain how you can set clear expectations and guidelines to set your employees up for success. Keep reading to learn more! 

The Importance of Monitoring Remote Work 

It is important to monitor your remote workers to ensure that they are using their time productively and focusing on relevant tasks. Though many employers choose to trust their workers to complete their workload on time, this can be a mistake that costs their business hundreds or thousands of dollars every week.  

This is especially true for larger companies where employees can fall through the cracks and do the bare minimum while they collect their paycheck and spend their workday away from their station. This phenomenon is called silent vacationing, and it is a serious problem that is only growing.   

Strictly enforce rules for employees who are away from their desk or attempting to quiet vacation. Treat your employees fairly, but don’t let them get away with frequent excursions during office hours.  

Additionally, review and revise your rules as necessary. If you find that a rule is not working or your employees need other accommodations, update the rules to ensure that they are fair for everyone. 

Choosing the Right Employee Monitoring Software 

Choosing the right employee monitoring software is crucial to ensuring that your remote workers are productive and meeting expectations. Here are FIVE key factors to consider when selecting the right software for your business: 

1. Features: Look for software that offers a variety of features to monitor employee productivity, such as time tracking, activity monitoring, screenshot capture, website and application usage tracking, and performance analysis. Make sure the software aligns with your specific needs and goals for monitoring remote workers. 

2. Compatibility: Ensure that the software you choose is compatible with the devices and operating systems your employees use. This will help ensure seamless integration and accurate monitoring of their work activities. 

3. Security: Choose a software solution that prioritizes data security and protects sensitive information collected from employee monitoring. Look for software that complies with industry standards for data protection and encryption. 

4. Ease of use: Select software that is user-friendly and easy to navigate for both managers and employees. This will help ensure the smooth implementation and adoption of the monitoring software within your organization. 

5. Customization: Opt for software that allows you to customize monitoring settings based on your specific requirements and preferences. This will enable you to tailor the software to meet the unique needs of your business and remote workforce. 

Most of all, look for software that fits your and your employees' needs. Below are a few of the most popular employee monitoring software. 

• Teramind 
  
  
• Veriato Cerebral  
  
  
• ActivTrak 
  
  
• Hubstaff 
  
  
• Controlio 
  
  

Set Clear Expectations and Guidelines for Your Employees 

One of the most important steps in ensuring productivity among remote workers is to set clear expectations and guidelines for their work. By establishing clear goals, deadlines, and communication protocols, you can help employees understand what is expected of them and how their performance will be monitored. 

When setting expectations for remote workers, consider the following: 

1. Establish clear objectives: Clearly outline the goals and objectives that remote workers are expected to achieve. This will help employees understand what is expected of them and how their performance will be evaluated. 

2. Set deadlines: Clearly communicate deadlines for projects and tasks to ensure that remote workers stay on track and complete their work in a timely manner. 

3. Define communication protocols: Establish clear guidelines for how remote workers should communicate with their managers and team members. This can include regular check-in meetings, email updates, or instant messaging platforms. 

4. Provide feedback and support: Offer regular feedback and support to remote workers to help them improve their performance and address any challenges they may be facing. This can help boost morale and motivation among employees. 

By setting clear expectations and guidelines for your remote workers, you can create a productive work environment that fosters success. 

Outsource Your HR with The Human Resource USA 

Making the move to a work-from-home or hybrid work environment can be a daunting challenge for modern businesses. However, doing so can reap great rewards for both employers and employees. Adding the right employee monitoring software to your team's suite can also help keep productivity high while allowing your employees the freedom to work from the comfort of their homes.  

Excellent human resource management also lends itself to this cause. Top-tier human resource management will help ensure that your work environment is consistent, fair, and beneficial for everyone. For many businesses, outsourcing their HR needs is the best choice for them. Outsourcing HR allows management to focus on what they do best, while also ensuring that employees have a resource for important matters in the workplace.  

The Human Resource USA is your HR partner. We are here to help you address the most pressing issues facing your business today, whether you are in-office, work-from-home, or hybrid.  

To learn more about how the Human Resource USA can enhance your daily operations, click here to start a conversation now! 

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