Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies have shifted their operations to full-time work-at-home. Although working from home is a massive convenience to most employees, it burdens the project managers as they must put in extra effort to keep track of their team. Since the first time companies implemented teleworking, employees have found a way to slack off and deliver lesser-quality work than when companies still need to implement it. Some employees find it hard to adjust to these working conditions and prefer the professional setting of an office to work efficiently. Regardless of the reason, when employees do not work to their full potential, it directly impacts the employer and the company. Therefore, remote workforce management becomes a necessity. However, managing a remote workforce is difficult, especially when the team is in different locations.
Moreover, it may upset the employees if the management repeatedly pinpoints their mistakes and shortcomings. Thus, the perfect solution to this problem is project management software that helps you keep track of teams. Please make no mistake: we are not against remote work or telework. It has a promising future thanks to technological advancements in workforce productivity. However, fundamental human behavioral issues must be addressed for a comprehensive remote working policy to succeed. However, installing such software is more challenging than it sounds, as one must be careful to maintain professionalism. Some things are acceptable with remote workforce management, and others aren’t. So, let’s look at the dos and don’ts of project management from the employer’s end.
Remote Workforce Management on Large Scale Projects – Do’s and Don’ts
The employer or management head must remember to ethically use attendance tracking, task scheduling, and project management tools.
- The Right Way to Manage Remote Projects
Time tracking and other remote workforce management forms are standard, as the administration needs to ensure that the employees are working during their company time. So, the right way to do this includes: - Set expectations upfront
Maintaining employee-management trust is crucial. So, if you plan to install any software in their systems to track their performance, make sure that they are aware of it. Doing so also benefits the company, as employees tend to become responsible when they know they can be held accountable. - Trust your employees
Installing project management software only solves some things; other things should also be considered. The most important one is to trust your employees. Tracking them is completely fine and legal, but you must only bother them sometimes as it will disturb them, and they will be unable to concentrate on their tasks. - Keep communication open
Before installing employee performance review software, communicate with the employees. Ensure they understand its importance and be calm if they oppose it. Ensure them that their boundaries will be respected and that there will be no tracking outside company hours. Maintain communication when necessary, such as when clocking in and out or when some essential information is to be relayed. - Tell them the benefits of the software.
Similar to being straightforward and keeping open communication, telling them how their teleworking performance will be monitored will help them be more receptive to the idea. Also, convey how they can benefit from this new management technique. Some expected benefits include stored information, such as when they put in overtime and want to have that on record. Attendance tracking proves they have been abiding by the company’s regulations. Thus, it is beneficial to both parties if records are maintained regularly.
Things to Avoid When Managing Employee’s Remote Projects
As mentioned above, some employees may react poorly to the change, transitioning from not being monitored to being monitored during all working hours. Thus, the points listed below should be avoided to avoid offending any employee.
- Do not hide things.
If the management has decided to go forward with installing tracking software, the employees should be informed beforehand. Do not do this discreetly and breach their privacy if they get to know about it; later on, the management will be in hot water. Most importantly, it is not allowed for any company to install software for employee scheduling on an employee’s device. - Do not micromanage
Remote workforce management tools allow managers and employers to track every move of the employees. However, managers should only expect them to be available at any time of the day. Avoid micromanaging them during work hours and focus more on the output. If the remote project team delivers work on time, they should not bother over little things. - Do not hold back on appreciation.
Remote working may cause some employees to lose morale as they may feel cooped up in their homes. The employer and the management can help to combat this issue by praising the employee’s hard work and dedication. Thus, take your time with words of appreciation and encouragement when someone performs well. On the other hand, be polite when an employee’s work is not up to par and convey your issues with respect.
So, that sums it up for the dos and don’ts. Now, let’s look at the advantages of working remotely and how they emphasize the right tools.
How the Right Tool Can Help a Company Amplify Teleworking Results
The advantage of working remotely is that employees can do tasks from the comfort of their homes. However, this working arrangement may misplace some critical data as the whole team is scattered and may need more proper communication. All issues that restrict the management from getting appropriate details about the progress of essential projects are combated with great software like Coexsys. It has various enterprise features, so you no longer have to reach out to every employee for updates. Thus, the team’s efficiency will become much better. So, what are you waiting for? Improve the productivity and communication amongst your remote teams with the help of Coexsys Project Cloud Project management time tracking today!
