How to Manage Work from Home Employees

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his year ICICI bank announced an iconic initiative of giving a yearlong work from home (WFH) option to their female employees in support of young mothers or expectant mothers. This move was highly appreciated by all employees. This new wave of flexibility at the workplace is seen as the first step towards healthy work-life balance in India.

Advanced technology and easy communication tools makes the Work- from- home (WFH) program a viable option for employers all over the country .Internet access and user friendly software is all you need for working for home employees. Accessibility to all employees with the necessary technology tools can help bridge the gap between home and the office space. Working from home also leaves room for employees to be flexible and self-reliant when it comes to work. The flexibility also boosts employee happiness and motivation. Apart being popular among employees, organizations can definitely benefit from the WFH program as it is a highly cost-effective alternative to expensive office spaces.

Apart from the various advantages, work-from-home alternative gets a bad reputation in corporate India because how it can lead to employees becoming unproductive and sometimes do more harm than good for the organization. A major reason why many employers become hesitant to implement the working from home option is the difficulty in managing employees.

Here are 4 ways to effectively manage work from home employees

1. Access to the right technology

Technology is one of the main reasons why work from home option can be implemented. The most important way to ensure the successful implementation of the work from home policy is giving access to all employees of a smartphone, fast internet connection and all necessary software tools for a productive and efficient working environment.  Investing in right technology is a must to make sure work is not disrupted.

2. Constant monitoring

Managing your work from home employees can be difficult when your team isn’t in the same physical space as you. Keeping in constant touch with your colleagues and team mates and constant monitoring is the driving force to a successful work from home program.

Having short daily meetings over Skype to get an update on the various assignments and projects can help managers understand how productive the employee is being. Constant interaction between teams using Instant Messaging can help in uninterrupted communication and ensures productivity.

3. Training employees for Time Management and IT skills

Time management and IT skills are very important if you are going to implement the Work -From- Home option (WFH) for your employees. Employees need to learn to manage their time effectively and ensure that work isn’t compromised on in any circumstances. Proper training needs to be given to all WFH employees in IT skills and Time management so that work goes on as usual.

4. Rethink data security

Data Security can be compromised if employees are using their home network for official purposes which could leave your important and confidential data at risk.  Make sure the necessary measures are taken to ensure that your information is secure .