Strategies for Managing Remote Employees Small Business Edition – Part I: Top 5 Potential Challenges
Navigating remote work has become vital in the modern workforce. All types of businesses are increasingly turning to remote teams to access talent and foster flexibility. In fact, 64% percent of recruiters find that remote work policies attract high-quality talent because many candidates yearn for the flexibility remote work provides.
Only 6% of workers worked remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic and that number is now about 25%. Upwork claims that 22% of the workforce will be remote by 2025. Are you:
Considering hiring a remote employee?
Considering remote work for a recently hired employee?
Considering the remote work option for your employees?
We'll explore some of the potential hurdles that businesses may encounter when embracing remote work that can impact the work productivity and the well-being of remote workers in the first part of this blog series. In the second part, we’ll provide effective strategies to successfully manage remote employees. Our hope is you receive the answers you need to make a sound decision on if remote work aligns with your business values.
Research has found that technology-assisted communication, such as videoconferencing, is not a capable substitute for in-person communication.
Potential Remote Work Challenges
Before exploring the potential challenges of remote work, remember that not all barriers affect every remote worker in the same way. Everyone’s experience is unique and the only way to understand if these challenges affect your team is to inquire directly with your employees. The challenges provided below are only to provide possible challenges to be mindful of when considering remote work for your team. You must determine what work arrangements work best to institute in your business.
1. Communication Barriers
Remote employees often face challenges in communication due to the lack of face-to-face interaction. Research has found that technology-assisted communication, such as videoconferencing, is not a capable substitute for in-person communication. Substituting face-to-face interaction with videoconferencing, email, instant messaging, and text messaging for in-person communication can pose problems such as:
Misinterpretation of tone in writing.
Delays in response times.
Utilizing the incorrect channel to deliver a message.
Intermixing different communication styles (example: someone who is more direct in their communication than someone who is not).
Difficulty in conveying complex ideas.
A quarter of remote workers said they have experienced “Zoom fatigue” with the uptick of videoconferencing. Common problems with videoconferencing are:
Distractions such as an overcrowded screen with multiple faces or others in the background (pets, children, etc.).
Individuals talking over each other.
Technical issues.
Lack of nonverbal cues.
Stress from having background noise (doorbell ringing, lawnmower running, etc.).
2. Sense of Isolation
Working remotely can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection from colleagues; these feelings may impact morale and motivation. The Social Connection in Remote Work survey revealed that 68% of workers find social connection throughout the workday at least somewhat important and 55% feel lonely at least some of the time.
Remote employees may miss out on spontaneous interactions and opportunities for socialization and connection that occurs in traditional office settings. For example, unexpectedly meeting in the break room at the same time to grab coffee may spark an impromptu exchange among employees about their weekend which builds trust and interconnectedness.
Recognize that the level of loneliness experienced by remote workers ranges based on personality traits and neurodiversity. The overarching problem with lonely workers is that they are less satisfied at work and more likely to quit. But addressing these feelings of isolation is crucial for maintaining employee satisfaction and retention.
3. Time Zone Disparities
Managing remote employees across different time zones presents logistical challenges, making it challenging to:
Schedule meetings.
Coordinate project deadlines.
Engage in real-time communication.
Communicate with employees at appropriate times.
Set expectations for being available to work.
Effective communication and collaboration across diverse time zones requires careful planning, setting clear expectations, and compromise.
4. Work-Life Balance
The pandemic also brought on “The Great Exhaustion” due to remote work blurring the boundaries between work and personal life. Surveys revealed that 86% of remote employees have experienced high levels of exhaustion and 61% find it difficult to unplug from work after work hours. Home offices are within short walking distances in an employee’s home or sometimes even the same areas remote workers spend time with their family. The inability to disconnect after work hours makes it challenging to stop working at a decent time and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Overall employee well-being can suffer with remote workers. Remote work burnout also increases with workers who lack emotional support such as a supportive partner or access to mental health resources – 48% of employees working remotely said they lack emotional support. Pressure from management, customers, and clients contribute to low work-life balance. Less rest and time off lessen worker productivity and increases employee turnover.
5. Technology Obstacles
Reliance on technology for remote work exposes these employees to more frequent technical issues such as connectivity and cybersecurity threats. Consistent internet connectivity is important for business productivity. Remote workers who may lack access to decent internet speed and bandwidth may cause business operations continuity issues.
Remote workers who encounter technology issues make it more difficult to troubleshoot in a remote environment. You or your IT team have access to technology that can best help assist remote workers. But, these tools can be expensive for a small business owner.
The increase in cybersecurity threats pose a concern for businesses. A Fortinet survey, revealed that 62% of organizations experienced a security breach during the past 2-3 years at least partially attributed to a remote employee. Remote workers have access to the same confidential information and data they had in an office environment, but are surrounded by other non-employees which poses a risk. Remote workers can potentially access sensitive data through unsecured wi-fi networks that lack the sturdiness of systems present while in an office. People with bad intentions nearby can easily tap into their connection and steal confidential information. Addressing these challenges requires proactive IT support and fortifying defenses against cybersecurity threats.
Conclusion
Small business owners must proactively be aware of and mitigate the possible challenges associated with managing remote employees. Stay tuned for Part II, where we'll provide actionable steps to help you effectively manage your remote employees while also achieve your business goals.
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