Is Telecommuting Right for Your Business?
Posted February 18, 2014 & filed under Hiring Resources
Telecommuting has grown by 73 percent over the past 6 years, but is it right for your business? It is a controversial topic even among the top companies in the country. But whether or not telecommuting can help your business lies entirely in your own assessment of your employees and business model.
That being said, it is likely that many of your employees would prefer to work from home (at least some of the time), and should you choose to let them, these tips can help you do it in a productive and efficient way.
Work out the legal details
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but telecommuting (like everything else) is affected by federal and state laws. Before letting any employees work from home, it is a good idea to check with your legal department to iron out the details. Everything from worker’s compensation claims to compliance with employment laws can be discussed. You don’t want to take any chances of leaving your company susceptible to a lawsuit.
Develop a plan
Once the legal groundwork has been established, you are free to set up the details of telecommuting processes with your department heads and employees. Ask yourself what needs to be done throughout the company, what can be done from home, and whether or not it is a good idea to do so.
It is always a good idea to have a list of deliverables that need to be done daily and weekly. This will not only let employees know what needs to get done, it will also help keep them on track
Stay in touch
The most crucial factor of letting employees telecommute is the ability to stay in touch. Although employees can be productive on their own, it can hurt the synergy of the team if they are left alone for too long. Scheduling daily or weekly meeting (whether via phone, Skype, or in office) is essential to maintaining a strong company. It is also important to know what your employees are doing and vice-versa.
By Kevin Withers
