If you're a small business owner, you might be considering allowing your employees to work from home. You're not alone: According to a joint report by FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics, in 2017, 3.9 million employees in the U.S. — amounting to almost 3 percent of the total workforce — telecommuted at least half of the time. That's an increase of 2.1 million employees since 2005.
However, before making a decision that could impact how your business functions and the quality of the services you deliver, it's important to first evaluate the pros and cons. Here are some important points to think about.
- You need the appropriate management techniques to supervise remote employees. Managing remote employees is different from managing an on-site team. You'll likely rely more on written communication skills, plus, you need to know how to motivate people and know how to bring them together as a team — even when they're not in the office. You also have to measure their performance to ensure they're meeting their responsibilities and working toward their and your company's goals. This might require you to adapt your management style and employ new strategies.
- You'll need to invest in the right technology. To ensure your remote employees have access to the tools and data they need to do their jobs, you'll need a secure technology platform that enables virtual collaboration and communication.
- It may be challenging to provide advancement opportunities for employees. According to The Society of Human Resource Management one study showed that while remote workers performed better than on-site employees, they were half as likely to get a performance-based promotion. This could be because they're overlooked, or it could be because many companies want their managers to be on-site. Since employees aren't likely to stay in a company where they can't grow, it's important to think about how to provide advancement opportunities for remote workers before establishing a telecommuting program.
Working from home offers a lot of advantages, but it also has some significant disadvantages that you need to take into consideration. Yet with the option to work remotely growing in popularity with everyone from baby boomers to millennials, there's no doubt that this trend is here to stay for workers and companies alike