Remote Worker Management
Holly Perryman, President and Human Resources Consultant at HR Managed, LLC
World At Work recently released a survey that said 42% of employees would take a pay cut and a lower title to work from home and have more work/life balance. And, based on various surveys I have read, 50% to 60% of employers are saying they will continue with some type of work-from-home option even after Covid-19 concerns have ended. So, it is safe to say that remote work arrangements are something we all need to get used to and learn how to manage well…emphasis on the word ‘well’.
Years ago I had a manager who liked to say he used the “management by walking around” approach. Without putting much effort into it, he could simply walk through the office to make himself available for questions, peak into a cube, wave at someone on the phone, or buy someone a soda while chatting in the break room. I have lost touch with that manager, but I bet he is having to rethink his management approach in this brave new world of remote work.
Managing remote workers requires more planning, being more intentional, and showing a deeper interest in what (and how) employees are doing. If you have not yet made that shift, here are some ideas to get you started.
- Reach out to each employee (individually, no cheating with mass messages) daily with a simple “hi…how are you…have a great day…thanks for that thing you did” kind of message. Short and simple, just enough to let them know you know they are there. It can be via email, text, or instant message; just make sure it is delivered on a platform they see daily.
- Establish a standing one-on-one with each team member, perhaps every two weeks or, at a minimum, once a month. Never be late and don’t cancel or reschedule. Turn off your phone to avoid any distractions. Let that person know that he or she is important enough to command your undivided attention on a regular basis. Focus on the quality of time, not the quantity.
- Schedule speed networking events via video conference. I have hosted these in my years as an HR manager and people loved them. Invite the entire team, then send groups of 4 to 5 people into breakout rooms for 10 minutes or less. Every few minutes shoot out a fun discussion question to keep the conversation going. When time is up, bring everyone back, reshuffle the groups, and send everyone off into new breakout groups to do it again with new questions.
- Send a hand-written note to the employee’s home address. You know that great feeling when you go to the mailbox expecting bills and junk mail and instead there is a bright pink envelope containing a personal note that makes you smile. Yeah, that.
How are you keeping the camaraderie and engagement in your remote workplace? What approach has had the biggest impact? Share your ideas with us!
Need assistance making your workplace a great place to work? HR Managed, LLC is a human resources consulting firm helping top decision makers attract and retain top talent and build powerful teams to achieve business goals. Let’s talk about how we help manage HR so you can manage your business.







