Frank Talk About Outsourcing: Preparing Your Workforce for Virtual Coworkers
Four effective ways to get ready for the new batch of employees
Remember when the status quo for a business was to have workers in at nine, out at five, and pretty much chained to their desks all day? Well, that’s changed. For one thing, some offices don’t even have traditional desks anymore, with companies allowing employees to work wherever they feel comfortable. And sure, some people may be on a 9-to-5 schedule but now it may very well be 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Oh, and there’s another thing: Some of these workers may never set foot in the office.
These days, businesses are seeing the real advantage of hiring virtual workers. For one thing, it can save money, as the office can stay small (if an actual office is even needed.) Also, using virtual employees presents the opportunity to recruit the best people anywhere in the world, not just locally.
Having a team of virtual employees does come with challenges, however. It can be much easier to create camaraderie when you see the same people in the office every day and perhaps play them in a spirited game of foosball now and again. But overall, virtual workers can be a huge asset to a company as long as employers pay attention to these areas:
Communication
Nothing can derail a project faster than poor communication. This is why everybody needs to be on the same page and have the ability to communicate with one another easily. While it’s important to have the right tools, such as Skype or Slack, it’s even more important that they are used wisely. This could mean investing in new equipment or tech as well as providing targeted training. Seamless communication will definitely be worth any extra expenses, as its essential for fully integrating outsourced and remote workers.
Regular check-ins
It’s quite easy to see what’s going on with your in-office personnel. But if you only hear from your virtual workers through online meetings or email, it may not even seem as though they are part of the team. This is why you should plan to check in with them regularly with an actual conversation, probably once a week. Go out of your way to include them in whatever’s happening in the office and make them feel like part of the group.
Incentives and rewards
If your team has had some recent success or has been working hard, what do you do to show your appreciation? Perhaps you take everybody out to lunch, throw a party, or have some food brought in. But virtual employees who may have contributed just as much as anyone else can’t join in the celebration. You can still reward them, however. Make sure there’s some money in the budget so you can send them a little something, perhaps an Amazon gift card or maybe something a little more personalized if you know what they like.
Social interaction
Creating cohesion and teamwork in an office can be difficult with virtual workers, but it’s not impossible. One great way to do this is by encouraging all employees to interact with each other socially. Now, somebody who lives on the other side of the country won’t be able to meet at the local bar for a beer, but everybody can mingle on social media, which will allow coworkers to get to know each other better.
Your business shouldn’t fear hiring virtual workers, as they can be extremely beneficial to your organization. And Capital Markets Placement can help you find the best talent, whether they’re in-house or located across the planet. Contact us today and let us know exactly who you’re looking for.
