How can you make remote work policies work for your talent pool?

I’d encourage organizations not to get anywhere near the weeds this article suggests. One of the biggest mistakes about making remote policies work for an organization is trying to design them to a level of specificity that’s unreasonable to govern at an enterprise level. The best people to assess the minutia of remote team needs and dynamics is the manager, not the corporate HR function. When you fail to do this well, you put the manager in an impossible position trying to uphold corporate policy and the needs of their team. Instead, focus on defining the minimum viable guardrails you need to have in place. From there, focus on providing managers with the resources and development to determine what they need and how to manage it well.

There are factors to consider when assessing the talents needed which includes effective communication that covers clear objectives and expectations from your talents. When, where and how you want them to deliver based on timezone, region or culture of a place they live in. How work experiences can harmonize team synergy and collaborative prowess. How does this support their career development and personal growth? These are what should be considered in a remote setting talent management.

Communication, set clear expectations of work goals and deadlines. If the work is getting done and the employee is attending the required meetings etc. in the timeframe. I don't feel there is a need to monitor if they are on for exactly 8 hours or from 8 to 5pm etc.

"Remote Work" is the flip-side of "Forced Location" but no company talks about a Forced Location policy. Try switching those terms as you write your policy; you'll get a better result. Employees with autonomy & flexibility are happier & more productive. Your policy should state when in-office ("Forced Location") is preferred or mandatory & when Remote is preferred or mandatory (e.g. client facing sales) & make all other cases discretionary for managers & employees to agree work practices & performance measures. Large organisations benefit from decision-makers based in locations near their customers (or roaming) rather than in a central HQ. Modern technology can bridge that location gap as long as team-members know & trust each other.

Remote work offers numerous benefits, but in-person collaboration remains valuable for team bonding, creativity, and certain types of projects. Striking the right balance between remote and in-person work is key to a successful remote work policy that truly serves the talent pool's needs and the organization's objectives.

Remember a policy document will remain unread, except when someone is unhappy and is looking for their legal rights. Remote working policies need to be demonstrated with actions every day.

Establish clear guidelines and expectations for remote work. Clearly communicate the policies, including working hours, communication channels, availability, and deliverable expectations. Ensure that all employees understand and agree to these guidelines.

Three years ago, I joined a fintech startup as its first Head of People. During my tenure, I expanded teams across three countries, and we shifted our performance policy from KPIs to Key Results Objectives (KROs). This transformation enhanced alignment and agility, empowering our global teams and boosting our growth.

Our remote work policy aims to provide flexibility and work-life balance for our employees while ensuring productivity and effective communication. Employees have the option to work remotely for up to three days per week, with the remaining two days to be spent in the office for team collaboration and essential meetings. To be eligible for remote work, employees must apply and demonstrate their ability to work independently, maintain regular communication through virtual tools, and meet their performance goals. It is expected that remote employees adhere to standard working hours and have a dedicated workspace that promotes focus and professionalism.

One of the most complex elements in defining a remote work policy is to translate it into local laws in global organisations. I recommand a « glocal ». For example you can have a worldwide tenet such as « we want to meet in person in the office once a week » and let each market tweak it. In this case Spain will edit contract addendums for all employees when France will establish a collective remote work charter.

Our biggest challenge is the output vs time conundrum. If I need to do something and I'm a super speedy efficient worker and I get it done by 12.00, is it OK that I go to the beach for 2 hours and read a book? Am I slacking? Is the person who does the task slowly, sitting at their desk til 3pm valued more? Ultimately it comes down to hiring amazing people who are invested in success that you trust.

At our organization, we have implemented a flexible remote work policy that allows employees to work remotely on a regular basis. We understand the benefits of having a work-life balance and believe that remote work can enhance productivity and job satisfaction. Our policy allows employees to work from home or any location outside of the office, provided they have the necessary tools and resources to fulfill their job responsibilities. We rely on clear communication and trust between employees and their supervisors to ensure that work is being completed efficiently and effectively. Regular check-ins and team meetings are encouraged to maintain collaboration and engagement.

It can be done by utilizing various channels like email, company intranet, or virtual meetings for dissemination. Address any questions or concerns promptly to avoid confusion. Encourage open communication to maintain transparency and alignment.

Clear communication is more difficult in a hybrid environment. Sometimes onsite work is needed. Sometimes remote work is fine. Recruits likely want some certainty in their schedule. Accordingly, hybrid work environments should try their best to provide a realistic picture of how often onsite vs. remote work will be required.

Encourage regular communication and collaboration to maintain a sense of connection among team members. Foster a culture of open communication, where team members can easily reach out to one another for support, feedback, or clarification. Utilize video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management tools to facilitate effective communication.

This is tricky. How do you monitor remote policies without tracking time spent at your desk or output? How do you quantify critical or creative thinking. Tread carefully monitoring and measuring.

Monitoring remote work policies is crucial for organizations to ensure productivity, efficiency, and compliance with company standards. This can be achieved through various methods such as regular check-ins, tracking work progress, and utilizing technology tools for monitoring time and attendance, project management, and communication.

Rather than solely focusing on monitoring activity and compliance, it may be more effective to monitor employee results and output. Everyone has their own unique approach to tasks, and there are often multiple ways to achieve a goal. Encouraging a creative pathway towards achieving results can benefit the entire team. It's important to provide employees with support and encouragement, which can ultimately lead to increased productivity.

Remote work cannot be synonymous with disconnection and lack of communication. Organizations must have people focused on actively listening to workers to understand levels of performance, engagement, well-being and mental health. This permanent active listening, which can be planned in terms of a timeline, allows policies to be adjusted taking into account all stakeholders.

I tracked and measured indicators like productivity, quality, satisfaction, retention, and innovation. The results were mind-blowing! Productivity soared, and the quality of work improved significantly. Collecting and analyzing data and feedback from my talented employees opened my eyes to the power of remote work. It allowed me to identify areas for improvement. Monitoring my policies helped me evaluate their effectiveness and make necessary improvements over time. It's a continuous learning process, and I'm thrilled to see the positive impact it has on my team. Have you monitored your remote work policies? Let's discuss!

Never forget to include them in communications and necessary meetings! It's easy to forget if one or more people aren't in the same space but excluding them will not work for anyone.

In our company, which has employees from different locations, we maintain a Google Meet room throughout the day. This virtual space serves as a hub for meetings and individual work, simulating the environment of a physical office. By encouraging spontaneous conversations and collaboration, we foster improved communication and productivity. Additionally, this setup allows for informal interactions and appreciation of diverse cultural backgrounds, strengthening team connections. The proximity of colleagues just a Google tab away helps reduce feelings of isolation and facilitates efficient management of remote workers.

Supporting remote talents at work requires a strategic and empathetic approach to harness the full potential of a dispersed workforce. As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent, organizations must prioritize initiatives that foster collaboration, engagement, and well-being. Establishing clear communication channels is fundamental, ensuring that remote employees feel connected and informed. Utilizing virtual collaboration tools facilitates seamless interactions and enables real-time communication, overcoming the barriers of physical distance. Beyond technology, it's essential to establish robust remote work policies that provide clear guidelines on expectations, working hours, and promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Supporting remote talent is crucial for their success and the success of the organization. Providing them with the necessary tools and technology is essential to ensure they can effectively carry out their work and collaborate with team members. Regular communication through email, video conferences, or messaging platforms helps bridge the distance gap and promotes a sense of inclusion. Offering resources and training to remote employees helps them develop their skills and knowledge, enabling them to contribute at their fullest potential. And also, fostering a culture of trust and autonomy empowers remote talent to take ownership of their work and demonstrates that their contributions are valued.

Supporting remote talent is crucial for us. We utilize tech to facilitate communication and collaboration, ensuring everyone stays on the same page. Professional growth is a focus; remote employees can access virtual training and workshops, leveling the playing field with in-office staff. To build community, we host virtual team events and ensure regular one-on-one check-ins for both performance reviews and emotional support. Overall, my aim is to provide a remote work environment that's both inclusive and nurturing, where each member feels valued and supported.

Establish clear metrics and performance indicators to evaluate remote employees' productivity and success. Focus on outcomes and deliverables rather than micromanaging work hours. Regularly assess performance and provide constructive feedback to help remote employees thrive.

This is a very important issue that is often overlooked. Assessing whether remote work is supported or made more difficult by the organization should be done with people from the organization. How have the needs of the organization changed, and what do the remote workers actually need.

Maintaining open channels of communication, whether through regular video meetings, instant messaging platforms, or project management tools, is essential for remote teams to stay connected and aligned.

Evaluate how well your current remote work policies are meeting their intended objectives. Analyze metrics such as employee satisfaction, productivity levels, communication effectiveness, and adherence to guidelines. Identify any gaps, challenges, or emerging trends that need to be addressed.

Regularly review your remote work policies based on feedback from employees and evolving needs of your organization. Adapt as necessary to address any challenges that arise or take advantage of new technologies that can enhance remote collaboration.

What to keep in mind and how to make policies? Flexibility: Manage work hours and location responsibly. Performance: Focus on results; meet expectations. Technology: Use provided tools securely. Balance: Maintain work-life balance. Inclusion: Respect diversity and accessibility. Collaboration: Engage with team, regardless of location. Compliance: Follow local laws and regulations. Feedback: Share input for continuous improvement. Reviews: Adapt to remote performance assessments. Onboarding: Integrate into company culture remotely. Emergencies: Know procedures for disruptions. Expenses: Clarify remote work-related costs. Legal: Comply with employment and tax laws.

If you're certain you've done a great job to hire the right talent, trust them enough to self-manage. Train your Line Managers to not micro-manage. As long as the work environment is enabling people to do meaningful work, the work style is neither here nor there. Pay attention to the maturity of your organisation and its leaders, let that guide what policies are implemented to drive productivity.

Strong communication strategy is significant in running remote! 1.Cultivate a culture of open communication 2. Have predictability of your way of communication 3. Use visual aids.. Have podcasts 4.Nurture soft skills. This will help in imbibing culture 5. Define Team norms

Remember that every organization is unique, so tailor your remote work policies according to your specific talent pool's needs while keeping in mind legal requirements and industry standards related to remote work practices in your region.

Invest in the right tools to measure output! The most common issue I hear from clients on implementing remote policies always stems from an underlining fear of the possibility of 'less performance' Explore and invest in the proper monitoring tools to not only give you peace of mind but to measure changes in performance through remote working. Although the foundation of remote policies is always trust, utilising tools just gives you that added comfort.