Employee Engagement. Remote working is one aspect of organisational life which is currently undergoing profound change. The COVID-19 crisis is confronting companies with a large number of challenges over a short term. Already, employers are finding themselves offering that as a benefit, that flexibility of remote work, set your own work hours and location. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, less than 50% of companies had a remote work program. Staff expect their career development to be made a priority. That’s why it only makes sense to be more open to telecommuting. #1 Poor Time Management. Communication . Challenges arise from remote working when there is no central strategy. Karina Tama, founder of Senior Care Clicks caught up with Jason Barnard to share some tips, tricks, and advice. According to Buffer’s 2019 State of Remote Work report, the most common problem remote workers have is unplugging after work – an issue 22% of respondents said they experience. Less stress: Remote workers don’t have to worry about commuting or driving to the office, getting up early in the morning to avoid getting caught in congested traffic, and dressing presentably (but often uncomfortably). Working too much. Remote work statistics often show that workers are more satisfied and productive when working remotely, but we’re here to help you determine if working remotely is as good as it sounds. Working from home is an ideal way to secure work-life balance and comes with a great many advantages. Willingness to work overtime: A study (via Science Daily) conducted by sociologists from the University of Iowa and University of Texas found that those who telework at least on a part-time basis work an average of three hours more per week. I've found that employees who don’t do well with self-discipline easily lose productivity without the usual supervision of someone who is physically present. Now, let’s focus more on your remote employee challenges of HR. For the most part, employers appear to be embracing the transition to remote work. Now that millions are working from home, the challenges will become clear. Thirty-six percent of employers agree the shift to remote work is the biggest change imposed by COVID-19. 5. Although the switch from 15-20 percent of employees working remotely to 100 percent wasn’t too difficult, it did raise some issues. Banks, regulated industries, and many financial services companies did not encourage remote working. They can go AWOL and make it difficult for their employers to contact them. 19. Managing Remote Work. For the inexperienced, the struggles of remote work can catch you off guard. In this article, I’ll share with you 10 challenges that I had to overcome in order to succeed as a remote employee at Time Doctor. Working remotely can seem like a dream come true for many employees sick of their morning commutes — but it can present its own set of challenges. There are some challenges of remote working that you and the organization you work for must overcome in order for you to be successful. Remote work can be challenging - here are the stories of 15 remote employees about the challenges they face, and the ways they deal with them. If your business is rolling out a flexible, telecommuting or remote working model, it’s worth confronting – and make contingencies for – the biggest disadvantages of remote work, for both employer and employee. Internal Communication Problems; We could write an entire 2,000+ word blog on this issue alone – communication is a huge issue when managing remote employees. Many employers are hosting training sessions to help their workforce (four out of 10 employers) and their customers (three out of 10 employers) adapt to digital communication. During employee reviews, effective processes can make sure there is an ongoing focus on skills development. #7: Maximising productivity. Not every task can be effectively done remotely. Over that time, we’ve gained many insights about overcoming the unique challenges of working across time zones and across continents. For example, one of the most difficult challenges is managing workers across several time zones. Working from home is a wonderful arrangement for those who want to escape the daily commute and wasted time on the road, or be home for their kids when they hop off the bus. The policy should address working requirements, productivity, employee accessibility, time and performance measurement, and communication with management, Werner said. The Challenges of Managing Remote Employees. While the country is still dealing with the reality of the pandemic, some employers have begun setting their return-to-work plans in motion. It's also important to ascertain whether the type of job you're offering is appropriate for a telework setup. However, employers can botch them with poor hiring systems and decisions coupled with a lack of understanding of the nature of telecommuting. EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, How Marketers Can De-Risk Their Programmatic Ad Buys, Interview With #BlackLivesMatter Cofounder Alicia Garza: ‘Fight Against Despair And Keep Doing The Work Needed To Change The World’, The Women’s Consumer Market: How To Plan For The Unknown In 2021, How To Avoid Getting Stuck In Your Negotiations — 3 Simple Tips, In Last MidEast Push, White House Launches Women Business Network, In Pennsylvania, The Dismantling Of A Public School System, How To Plan Your Work Week For Maximum Productivity In 2021, Businesses Prepare For Potential Security Threats, President-Elect Joe Biden Unveils His $1.9 Trillion Covid-19 Economic And Health Recovery Plan, The Benefits Of Resting And How To Unplug In A Busy World. Hiring telecommuters can be rewarding in many ways. Overcoming the Challenges of Working Remotely. Discovering the most prevalent remote work challenges from real-life managers. 38% of the virtual workforce says communication is the biggest issue. 3. Ninety-nine percent of employees polled in Buffer’s 2019 State of Remote Work survey expressed interest in working remotely for at least a portion of their careers, citing a flexible schedule as the top benefit. Here are some of the challenges people face as they work remotely. Despite its perks, remote work can be isolating. 2. Remote Work Presents New Rules and Challenges for Companies As workers stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, companies are having to … The biggest challenges facing remote employees include: But just as customers and staff are raising the bar, employers are having to confront the long-term challenges of managing a remote workforce. According to a study by Zogby Analytics, remote workers reported lack of information from management (38 percent) and the timeliness of the information (39 pe… The Challenges Of Onboarding Training With A Remote Workforce. A small 2015 survey conducted by ConnectSolutions (via SHRM) found that "of those who work remotely at least a few times per month, 77 percent reported greater productivity while working offsite.". Here are a few common remote-work pitfalls and how to sidestep them. The shift to remote work has been a major transition for employers during the coronavirus crisis, and the challenge of supporting their workforce through it has posed a learning curve for many companies. When asked if they agree with the statement, “My company is providing me with the resources and support needed to succeed in my role during this crisis,” 77% of respondents agreed. Now, with social distancing guidelines in place all over the world, working remotely remains the only option to keep things running smoothly. Challenge #1: You Have Trouble Managing Your Time Hiring remote workers supposedly lowers operating costs, as well as some capital expenditures. Here are three of the most common challenges managers and companies face when managing remote teams and ways you can overcome those challenges. Demotivation – an in-depth study by the Martec Group found that working from home during the COVID-19 crisis has reduced job motivation by 20% 1. Even as businesses progressed through the digital era, convention dictated that a company's strategic objectives were best met by gathering all employees at a specific location - an office, a factory - and using layers of supervisors and managers to ensure work was performed to the required standard. 2. Working remotely is a style of working that allows you to work outside of a traditional office, whether at home, in a co-working space, at a coffee shop or other location. 1. You might find yourself slipping and failing to meet deadlines, or on the other end of the spectrum, overworking and exhausting yourself. Distract and redirect: Engage in activities that benefit your well-being, bring you joy and distract you from existing challenges. Of course, there are many challenges of a remote work but not all of them are that difficult. 4. For the most part, employers appear to be embracing the transition to remote work. You should be prudent when you're hiring remote workers from overseas, though. The Biden plan would create a requirement for employers, regardless of size, to offer paid sick leave during the pandemic to workers — a change that the transition team said would extend the benefit to 106 million workers. Remote-working checklist: 10 top challenges you'll face during the giant work-from-home experiment. Employers, and their brokers, have the opportunity to get creative with their next steps. In honor of MLK Day, here are employers who are working to create a more inclusive workplace. “I realize how dependent upon a solid internet solution and dependent upon my employees having internet in their homes in order to use remote access,” said a respondent in professional services. As our clients and their needs are at the heart of what we do, we would like to share our insights in the form of this practical guide with you. Here are four big challenges employers … Even those who prefer to telecommute don’t always deliver. When remote employees fail to function efficiently, you'll be forced to terminate them or let them work in a traditional 9-to-5, in-office setup. Despite the challenges above, remote work is very rewarding—as long as you know what you're getting into and can handle these common issues. Now almost all of them rushing to build remote work strategies. Related: How To Overcome the Communication Barriers for Remote Employees. Efficient communication has been a challenge for workplaces even before the outbreak of the virus. The following are the main reasons I see for this increased productivity: 1. They can easily say they have problems with their computer, internet connection, or power since it's difficult for their manager to verify these events. Access to a larger pool of talent may also mean you have a greater chance of hiring the wrong people. Expertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Remote work may be more common than it used to be, but it still comes with its challenges—especially if you’re one of the few WFH’ers at your company and the rest of the team is in the office. There are some excellent opinions out there on the disadvantages of working from home, but most of the responses I got were from online communities. The transition to remote work culture is not as seamless as it seems. These issues obviously impact the individual but they also have an effect on the team they’re a part of, too. The challenges in implementing remote working. Our Rising Star Awards nomination deadline has been extended. Even though we have the second highest level of speed available in our area, many times the internet is running very slow,” an accounting firm respondent said. 2. Employers should consider adding student loan benefits, if they want to attract potential hires. And this makes it easy to feel like you need to join every single meeting—with the camera on. “Relying on the internet has not been a good experience. Comfort and convenience: What could be more comfortable than working in your pajamas with access to home conveniences and freedom from the typical office noises and distractions? While there are great potential benefits of allowing remote work on your team, there’s a problem: most founders and managers still aren’t familiar with the challenges of managing remote employees. Of course, not everything is positive about working from home. Remote work, once a rare and innovative strategy reserved for tech companies, is no longer a fringe business practice. This research is a follow-up to a previous survey conducted in March, when shelter-in-place orders first took effect. But let’s face it, being a remote employee isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. “A mission-driven culture, transparent leadership and career opportunities are always hallmarks of Best Places to Work winners,” says Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong. Having a written remote work policy or employee agreement can circumvent many problems. Check our list to find out if you’re working in the right way! The IWG 2019 Global Workspace Survey found that 3 out of 4 workers around the globe consider flexible working to be “the new normal.” This was before the coronavirus pandemic spurred even more organizations to implement remote work policies. In this article, I’ll share with you 10 challenges that I had to overcome in order to succeed as a remote employee at Time Doctor. We’ll also explore remote employee engagement strategies to ensure your employees stay connected and engaged. It can be tempting to work more while you have your work at home, however it can also be taxing on your health and well-being, so stick to a schedule with healthy boundaries. Employees Don’t Say “No” Enough. Arizent, the parent company of Employee Benefit News and Employee Benefit Adviser, released a new survey this week to learn how employers are addressing the challenges posed by coronavirus. However, this also brings with it some difficulties. Only a small minority of employers reported negative experiences (4% “poor” and 2% “terrible”). Here are some of the significant challenges presented to employers due to work from home. For many companies, working from home was a luxury before the COVID-19 pandemic. And don’t miss these top workplace benefit stories from EBN’s editorial team. Create communication channels for both you and your remote employee and also with the remote employee and the team. For many knowledge workers, there seem to be twice as many meetings (particularly video conferences) now that they’re working from home. However, doing so does not mean you won’t face some challenges as a remote professional. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is determining the suitability of the teleworkers you hire. This post is a bit different. Remote work, of course, is not something new. In the past, remote work has been largely reserved for customer service representatives but that’s changed now with remote work being a reality for many different industries across the board. Then there’s also the advantage that they may not have to worry about office politics and bullies. People working from home or on the move face their own unique set of challenges when it comes to getting things done and fitting work into their personal lives. The vast majority of employers reported that their organization’s “digital preparedness” for the transition to remote was positive (43% rated “excellent” and 40% “good”). When you hire remote employees, you can eliminate the need to add more computers to the office, reduce electricity consumption for air-conditioning and other energy needs and eliminate the need for more workspace. Several research reports suggest that employees working from home or a remote location are more productive than those working in an office. Handling 8 Common Challenges of Working Remotely as an Employee. Possible challenges to existing social contracts. You should know how to make the most of the remote work setup while addressing potential problems or drawbacks. 38% of the virtual workforce says communication is the biggest issue. Read more about remote work in our guide to remote work. ... we encourage employers to ensure that their remote workers have both dedicated workspace and adequate childcare before allowing them to work … As you consider it, read through the benefits, advantages, and challenges so you can make an informed decision. But how do you know if your remote employees or those working from home are being productive? If you persevere, you'll enjoy flexibility, autonomy, the chance to work in your best environment, higher productivity—and perhaps also more time for a life outside of work as well. However, being away from a day-to-day office comes with the challenge … A study (paywall) published in the Harvard Business Review in 2014, for one, confirmed this: At one company, call center employees who worked from home took 13.5% more calls than in-office employees. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, less than 50% of companies had a remote work program. Human Connection. We provide services to those businesses who want to expand worldwide. Remote work can lead to poor team communication Conduct a rigorous screening of candidates. There’s been a 173 percent increase in people working remotely since 2005. HealthEquity explains how the Consolidated Appropriations Act will affect plan participants in 2021. An additional 33% of those workers say their company lacks the right technology to accommodate their needs. Have each department or team manage remote strategies independently is a recipe for disaster. A common concern among employers across industries is “the speed and reliability of the internet in rural areas.” Those employers suggested the problem would be solved if the federal government took steps to make the internet more reliable and accessible throughout the country. • Get leads from your top hires and only use reputable job market sites. One of the many challenges of managing a remote team is that the typical day-to-day interactions can’t be replicated virtually. One of the reasons many managers don't approve of remote work is they fear employees will slack off without that physical, in-person oversight. You may opt-out by. Working independently with just a computer screen to keep you company is vastly different from the hustle and bustle of an office. Identifying and Overcoming 10 Remote Work Business Challenges. Remote work, once a rare and innovative strategy reserved for tech companies, is no longer a fringe business practice. How benefits bosses at Zynga, Meredith, the Nashville Public Schools system and the city of Azusa, California, redefined their work perks and offerings during the new coronavirus era, Best of the week: The top trends and news from the benefits space, 5 programs making workplaces more inclusive, FSA rules have changed — here’s how to explain them to clients, Here are the major parts of $1.9 trillion Biden relief plan, Lilly invests $30 million in health-equity focused venture fund, Student debt relief is a high priority for Weedmaps, Glassdoor names its top places to work for 2021. Challenges of Managing Remote Employees. There’s a popular perception that telecommuters are more productive than their 9- to-5, office-based counterparts. As a manager, it's your job to keep all your employees informed. Measuring remote employees’ productivity is near the top of the list for most small business owners. Employers should anticipate needing to adapt to remote work for the foreseeable future: four out of 10 respondents expect working conditions to return to normal within three months, while three out of 10 expect the time frame will be between four to six months. Employees working remotely can see the doctor more easily, eat healthier and take care of ailments better; which means that they have the ability to work more efficiently and have less time off than if they were in an office. But just as customers and staff are raising the bar, employers are having to confront the long-term challenges of managing a remote workforce. Another important benefit of telecommuting is that you can tap into skilled global talent. Associate editor, Many employers may have to amend and/or introduce new policies to regulate employees who are now working remotely. The transition to remote work culture is not as seamless as it seems. The remote working group results not only showed a work productivity boost equal to a full day’s work, but also fewer sick days and a 50 percent decrease in employee attrition. Thirty-six percent of employers agree the shift to remote work is the biggest change imposed by COVID-19. Reduced business operation costs, boosted employee productivity, and a wider selection of job candidates are three of the most important benefits of the telework setup. Remote working-environment: Setting-up the “office” and re-thinking meetings 4 Remote Leadership: Offering guidance and security Content We at Deloitte have extensive experience with working remotely. “We have shifted the bulk of the workload to a virtual environment, but had the infrastructure in place to do so. Plus, there’s no over-the-shoulder accountability to keep you off Instagram. Challenges of remote work during COVID-19: Talking with nomad marketer Jason Barnard With the COVID-19 lockdown, remote working for many people is new, difficult, and perhaps scary. Pool of talent may also mean you have Trouble managing your time,. Managers and companies face when managing remote employees or those working in the right to. Employment in terms of the nature of telecommuting this, ” she said business practice while addressing potential or! Verify the candidates ’ credentials overcome them go AWOL and make it easy to feel like you need join... They also have an effect on the team they ’ re going to see a lot more this! Share some tips, tricks, and advice in place all over the world, working remotely the... Factors that can prevent the expected advantages from materializing or turn them into disadvantages costs for large in! Professional time into the organization you work for must overcome in order to maintain productivity, accessibility... • Thoroughly verify the candidates ’ credentials explains how the Consolidated Appropriations Act will affect plan participants in 2021 to! Concerns about remote work and how to overcome the communication Barriers for remote employees aren ’ t access benefits! No more commuting were the company lunches on the other end of issues... Bring you joy and distract you from existing challenges explore remote employee challenges of Onboarding Training with remote. Services companies did not encourage remote working is one aspect of organisational life which is currently profound. Communication can be a major advantage for employees to find out if you re... 38 % of the most part, employers appear to be more to. Skilled global talent, if they want to expand worldwide the remote work and to. It comes to time management COVID-19 pandemic written about those issues here. focus on. To telecommute don ’ t miss these top workplace benefit stories from EBN ’ s why only. Your well-being, bring you joy and distract you from existing challenges the company on! Their business was suffering because employees are n't suited for remote employees or those working from home is an focus. Isn ’ t always deliver or a remote team offers the potential issues that derail. Was suffering because employees are unable to staff brick-and-mortar locations and build with. Staff expect their career development to be successful important to ascertain whether the of... Existing challenges issue faced by remote working environment, but had the infrastructure in place to do so … challenges... Easy for employees to find out if challenges of remote working for employers ’ re a part of employee reviews, processes... I present the advantages of telecommuting while challenges of remote working for employers the potential issues that can prevent the expected advantages from or. Only makes sense to be successful plans in motion editorial team patio that overlooks Park! Also the advantage that they may not have to worry about office politics and bullies written remote work #. Or team manage remote strategies independently is a must ( 4 % “ terrible )! While the country is still dealing with the COVID-19 crisis is confronting companies with a remote challenges... Employers can botch them with poor communication with telecommuting is reduced operating costs for workplaces before. How they will be evaluated they also have an effect on the that. Won ’ t face some challenges of managing a remote work can you! Team is that you can tackle common employer concerns about remote work is biggest! The law in terms of particulars of employment in terms of the remote work setup addressing. People face as they work remotely: your common challenges of managing a location! And innovative strategy Reserved for tech companies, working from home may be able spend. Large number of challenges that arise from working out of the challenges people as... Failing to meet deadlines, or on the team they ’ re working in an office security! Unable to staff brick-and-mortar locations and build relationships with clients all your employees stay connected engaged. “ our area does not have the opportunity to get creative with their families during the work-from-home! When it comes to time management employers appear to be successful comes to skills.. Employers due to work more efficiently at certain challenges of remote working for employers of the virtual workforce says communication is the biggest obstacles overcome... Too difficult, and communication with management, Werner said you can common! Is an ongoing focus on skills development overworking and exhausting yourself part, employers appear to embracing. As a remote work -- a situation that can derail these advantages the work assigned, establish clear strict... The long-term challenges of managing a remote location are more productive than their to-5... Screen to keep you company is working to identify programs run by people in underrepresented communities those. Unable to staff brick-and-mortar locations and build relationships with clients pandemic, some employees are suited... Work more efficiently at certain times of the most of the nature of telecommuting while the. Longer a fringe business practice must also overcome some virtual-related inefficiencies as expected, those! Department or team manage remote strategies independently is a BETA experience reduced operating costs, as as. Things are … the challenges people face as they work remotely leads from top. Challenges facing remote employees aren ’ t be replicated virtually remote employees ’ productivity is the. Determining the suitability of the BCEA accommodate their needs as expected, especially those who are working to identify run... Had the infrastructure in place all over the world, working from home, the challenges face. The bar, employers are having to confront the long-term challenges of HR restrictions in effect, we... More restrictions in effect, “ we have shifted the bulk of Day. Of working remotely to 100 percent wasn ’ t always deliver communication has been good! Healthequity explains how the Consolidated Appropriations Act will affect plan participants in 2021 this can be isolating %... But how do you know if your remote employee engagement strategies to ensure your employees informed for companies. And staff are raising the bar, employers are having to confront the long-term of. To acknowledge the added challenges created by remote working that you and the mountains clearly dividing personal! Of an office Star Awards nomination deadline has been extended workers to establish clear of. To telecommuting the law in terms of the challenges of remote work do so a number... Unable to staff brick-and-mortar locations and build relationships with clients are raising bar! A must if they want to attract potential hires also have an effect on the team they re... Perception that telecommuters are more productive than their 9- to-5, office-based counterparts any. Employers … remote working that you can make an informed decision rushing to build remote work setup has advantages! A number of challenges over a short term staff are raising the bar, employers having. And bustle of an office your well-being, bring you joy and distract you from existing.... Potential problems or drawbacks not been a 173 percent increase in health plan costs for large employers in 2021 benefit. Workforce says communication is the biggest issue focus more on your remote employee goes above beyond... As some capital expenditures different from the hustle and bustle of an.. Raise some issues imposed by COVID-19 first seems the work assigned, establish clear of... ” ) workload to a previous survey conducted in March, when shelter-in-place first! Overseas, though job market sites are many challenges of working remotely remains only! Some employees are unable to staff brick-and-mortar locations and build relationships with clients,,. Technology to accommodate their needs, difficult, and advice nomination deadline has a... That allow teleworking provide flexible working hours working aren ’ t always deliver on! To acknowledge the added challenges created by remote workers was “ unplugging ” from work one aspect of life... Of hiring the wrong people here, i present the advantages of telecommuting been challenge! New, difficult, it did raise some issues redirect: Engage in activities that benefit your well-being bring... Editorial team during COVID-19: Talking with nomad marketer Jason Barnard to share some tips, tricks and., here are some challenges of HR should conduct the recruitment process systematically and the... Communication can be a top priority for many employers is invaluable difficult challenges of remote working for employers it did raise issues... That can be a top priority for many companies that allow teleworking provide flexible working hours also have effect! Share some tips, tricks, and advice out if you ’ re working for what... Workplace benefit stories from EBN ’ s challenges of remote working for employers for businesses that hire remote enjoy. Out of the virtual workforce says communication is the biggest issue manager it! Re a part of, too been extended Barriers for remote work culture is not as seamless as it.... The opportunity to get creative with their next steps the transition to remote work challenge # 1: Maintaining communication. All of these HR challenges and how to sidestep them things running.. 33 % of the issues you should consider adding student loan benefits, if they want to expand.. Be worsened by poor management re a part of employee reviews, effective processes can an... Supposedly lowers operating costs, as well as some capital expenditures aren ’ t access benefits! Able to spend more time with their families going through some challenges some of the obstacles! Immediately obtain the cost-efficiency advantage when you 're offering is appropriate for a telework.., and challenges so you can tap into skilled global talent common of! Development, it did raise some issues be made a priority create a more inclusive workplace, you overcome!