Businesses today have the ability to hire people from around the world to contribute expertise and imagination to their operations. One of the most popular trends for employers right now is offering employees the opportunity to work remotely. To effectively hire, manage, and retain remote employees, human resources professionals need to consider the unique challenges presented by this set-up.
ConnectSolutions conducted a survey of professionals across a variety of industries and found 63 percent of remote workers had a more positive attitude. Global Workplace Analytics found remote workers to be more productive, as they weren't interrupted by meetings or visits from co-workers throughout the day. The bottom line is employers and employees enjoy remote capabilities.
How can HR develop successful remote workers?
Any opportunities for professional development presented to internal employees should be extended to remote workers as well. It also takes a keen eye to hire the right people for this job. The Daily Muse stated the key to hiring the right workers for remote offices or off-site work is face-to-face interviews and skills assessments.
Face-to-face interviews
It's imperative that applicants interested in remote positions are self-motivated and productive. Body language and tone of voice can tell an employer a lot about what a person is really like. If the candidate can't come into the headquarter office for an interview, conducting a video interview is a great idea. This allows HR to get a stronger impression of the candidate's personality, values, and goals.
Skills assessment
Remote workers, if they are hired specifically to work off-site, likely will not receive the same training as internal and local hires. HR managers need to accurately assess new employees' skill sets prior to hiring to ensure these fresh faces will be able to not only handle the work load but improve over time. It's a good idea to hire remote workers with extensive experience and excellent references.
Invest in meaningful technology
Businesses must provide all employees with the appropriate technology to ensure collaboration between internal and remote workers. Cloud-based applications that allow different departments to access the same files and view each others' updates instantly provide the opportunity for efficient and clear collaboration.
Businesses should also consider investing in HR management software. A robust platform keeps all workers' records, payroll, and personal information organized. This type of software can assist HR when it comes to maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations, many of which may be different for each remote worker, depending on their location.