6 Do's and Don'ts of Managing Employees Who Work From Home





Working from home is the dream of many professionals, but it can also be difficult to manage employees

who are not within walking distance of your office. How do you know when an employee isn’t working?

How do you make sure they’re getting their work done? Learn these six dos and don’ts of managing

employees who work from home, as well as when it makes sense to bring these remote workers into the

office.


1) DO make sure they have the right tools

This is probably the most important thing you can do for employees who work from home. Make sure they have a computer that meets your company's technical specifications, software to complete their tasks, and all the necessary equipment to do their job. The other key employee management tool is communication: make sure they know what’s expected of them before they start and know how to get in touch with you if there are any issues or problems.
In terms of technology, use video-conferencing tools such as Skype or Google Hangouts so employees don’t feel disconnected from office life.



2) DON'T micromanage


Micromanaging employees who work from home can lead to a loss in productivity. Managers should offer
feedback about their workload and goals on an ongoing basis, but should also trust that employees are able
to perform the tasks required. A tool like Allscripter is a great employee management tool for trackingtime spent on projects. It helps managers evaluate performance while providing additional benefits such
as helping workers manage their time more efficiently.


3) DO set clear expectations


Establishing clear expectations is the most important step in managing employees who work from home. A written document detailing your company policies, rules, and procedures will help you get started. You should also have a specific set of expectations for employees to follow. DO provide feedback on performance (five sentences) Don't forget to provide feedback on your employee's performance, whether it be positive or negative. Feedback helps an employee understand their strengths and weaknesses so that they can grow as an individual at work.


4) DON'T be afraid to check in


Many managers worry that employees who work from home will slack off or not get their work done.
This is a big mistake! In fact, in many cases, these employees are more productive than those who have
to come into the office. With this in mind, it's important to develop strategies for managing remote
workers so that they produce quality work on time. The first step is to use an employee management tool
to keep in touch with your remote team.


5) DO trust your employees

The best way to manage employees who work remotely is to trust them. You need to make sure you have
the proper means of oversight available, but also make sure your employees know you're not afraid to
rely on their honesty and hard work. When they feel trusted and autonomous, they will likely do their
job well.


6) DON'T forget the importance of face-to-face interaction

It is important for employees who work from home to have a designated time for face-to-face interaction
with their supervisors or team members. This is not just for the sake of getting feedback on their work,
but also to ensure that you are building strong working relationships with your employees, so that they
feel comfortable going to you with any concerns they might have. An employee management tool such
as Slack can be used as a supplement to help with communication, but it cannot replace face-to-face
interactions.


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