In light of the Coronavirus crisis, companies are asking employees to work from home as much as possible. Remote working is here. It’s time to put a plan into place to manage your organization’s remote workers.

According to an Owl Labs survey, 34% of U.S. workers would take a pay cut of up to 5% in order to work remotely. And those who do work remotely say they’re happy in their jobs 29% more than on-site workers.

Here are 8 tips to help you manage and nurture your remote workers:

Create clear expectations

Make sure your remote workers know exactly what you expect from them. For instance, how often do you want to communicate with them throughout the day or during the week? Do you want them to keep track of their time, or do you expect them to manage their time wisely?

Some employees may need to work around spouse’s hours or take care of kids at some point during the day. Others may work 9 to 5 hours. Rather than try to micro-manage how employees get work done, look at the quality of work being produced and if deadlines are being met. 

Make remote workers feel included

Create a remote workforce atmosphere that engages employees and provides a genuine connection to your organization. Make time for small talk and check in as often as you feel necessary with remote workers to ensure they feel respected and valued. Build a strong rapport with each remote worker, and let them know you’re available to talk any time.

Schedule regular team meetings

Whether your team is partially remote or fully remote, it’s important to set up regular group meetings and live virtual events to make sure everyone feels connected. Team meetings give remote workers the chance to share ideas and discuss project details and expectations. The more cooperation and communications the better your internal and external employees will be able to collaborate and meet goals.

Set up time for one-on-one meetings

Remote workers often miss impromptu meetings and small updates that might come up during the course of the workday. Try to hold one-on-one meetings with each remote worker on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Give remote employees at least 30 minutes to ask questions, raise concerns, or talk about anything they want.

Build a community of inclusion

Building a community for remote workers helps engage your remote workforce. Err to the side of too much communication. Incorporate tools like video chat, Slack, Google Docs, Dropbox, Trello, Wrike, etc. Include remote workers on group phone calls and video chat, and give them the option to opt-out if they feel their time could be better served elsewhere. Constant contact and interaction will help remote workers feel included and engaged with your organization.

Provide an open-door policy

Adopt an open-door policy to let remote workers know that they can contact you at any time. In-office workers can tell if you’re in the office or out at meeting, but remote workers are less likely to know what you’re doing. Be sure to respond back to remote employees as quickly as you can.

Trust your team

If you’re new to managing remote workers, it can be worrisome that work may not get completed at the same level as if employees were in the office. It’s important to manage expectations and stay focused on goals being accomplished. Concentrate on what is being done. If deadlines are being met and great work is being produced on behalf of the company, then you are reaching our goals.

Use a mobile app to connect your workforce

A connected workforce unifies the mobile workplace and provides employees – both remote and in the office – with the tools they need to thrive in any situation. By providing a mobile app for workplace connectivity, your business can transform your corporate culture and create an environment that fosters innovation, productivity, communication, and a higher level of job satisfaction.

ALSO READ: 6 Strategic Ways to Empower Your Mobile Workforce

Want to learn more about how the CatalystXL mobile app can help you manage and nurture your remote workforce? We can launch a private-label mobile app in 2 hours with enterprise-class features and functionality, including Connected Workforce and Sales Empowerment. We can make your app available in the Apple Store and Google Play within 48 hours.