Connecting with Remote Workers
Marissa Mayer the CEO of Yahoo! fueled national debates earlier this year when she implemented a ban on telecommuting. Whether you agree or disagree with that decision, Gallup’s State of the American Workplace report shows that nearly four in 10 employees surveyed do some remote work and those remote workers tend to log more hours and be more engaged.
McKinley works with a number of clients that support telecommuting. Such practices enable our clients to expand their reach to find skilled marketing resources outside of their local region. If your company has a telecommuting program or is looking to implement one, we have gathered some technology tips to help you better manage a remote worker.
Technology Practices
BYOD: Have you heard of the ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD) movement? Many companies rely heavily on Microsoft Windows-based solutions leaving Android and iOS users with two sets of devices for personal use and nine-to-five productivity. BYOD is a practice that allows employees to use their personal mobile devices at their workplace to access privileged company information and applications. It allows companies to stay connected with employees on and off work hours.
Cloud Computing: It is essential that a remote worker utilizes cloud-based applications such as DropBox, SharePoint and Google Drive, which are generally complementary tools in the office environment. An employee who is offsite should be able to seamlessly transition their work product across multiple devices during their work day, whether they are in the home office, a coffee shop, or at a little league game.
Social Tools: Social tools like Google Hangout, WebEx, and Skype are valuable to the remote worker. The face-to-face interaction that such video conferencing provides can help overcome some of the “disconnection” that can arise in a remote work situation. A company that supports remote workers can select versatile and user-friendly collaboration tools that can be accessed on all devices and can share information beyond just files and calendars.
