How to Introduce Remote Work Monitoring to Your Company
Like everything else, remote work has pros and cons. You could argue it increases productivity, while someone else is 100% convinced that it doesn’t.
As a business owner, you surely had your thoughts and reservations when it comes to remote work. What is more, you need to be certain your remote workers are actually working. The best way to do it is to introduce a remote work monitoring software to your company, and here’s how to do it.
Evaluate the Situation
Before you even start talking to your employees about a time tracking system you should assess the current state of your company. How many employees do you have? Do you want to track everyone who is working remotely or only one part of the team? Why would you even want to track your team members? Do you have suspicions about their productivity?
Think about these questions, write down the answers if necessary. It will help you determine if you really need a tracking tool or not.
Talk to Your Remote Workers
Tracking systems make us think about untrusting relationships, which is why you need to be transparent with your team from the get-go. Organize a meeting where you’ll explain why you’re getting the employee tracking software, how will it work, and what can employees expect from it.
Explain that you’re not introducing the software because of lack of trust. Instead, show them that the data collected will be used to close time leaks, and determine the profitability of the company’s assets. What is more, this tool will show if some of the remote team members need additional training. And stick to your promises. Don’t collect the data and use it for purposes which were not discussed in the beginning.
The biggest perk of having remote workers is hiring top talent from around the world. Before you introduce the tracking system, consult your legal team and make sure employee monitoring is legal in your employee’s country, and to what extent. Some countries allow you to track email and social media, while others have their restrictions.
Select a Suitable Monitoring Software
There are many computer monitoring software options today, and the selection process could be quite overwhelming. Our recommendation is to create a list of basic features the ideal tracker must have, such as:
· Time tracking with proof of work — A feature which allows users to log their working hours every day. At the same time, this option records which websites and apps the employee used. It’s a way for you and your clients to have solid proof of the number of worked hours as well as productivity.
· Remote worker’s screenshots — Besides having the analytics of app usage and productivity, you should also have screenshots of your employee’s devices. Most tools have an option of setting up the time frequency at which the screenshots will be taken.
· Payroll calculation — Based on tracked hours, this feature will automatically calculate the amount of money you need to pay to your remote workers (and save you the headaches of manual calculations).
Additionally, you can look for some advanced features, such as integration with certain apps, or even customization. However, these completely depend on your needs and industry requirements.
Besides thinking about your features, you should be thinking about the cost, simplicity and time required to set up and maintain the remote work monitoring software. These factors will influence your decision and you should definitely do thorough research before settling for one software.
Final Thoughts
The most important thing in introducing remote work monitoring software to your company is the presentation. Don’t go in too strong when notifying your employees that you’ll be getting the software. Take time to explain all aspects and benefits of such tool. Furthermore, listen to what your team members have to say and try to respect their opinions and wishes.
