Technology Can Help Round the Rough Edges of Telecommuting Work

Isolation is perhaps the biggest issue when it comes to remote employees.

Studies have shown that working from home raises productivity. A recent study by researchers at Stanford University, for instance, showed a 19 percent gain in productivity for the home worker.

Letting employees work remotely also saves costs for most businesses, as there’s the need for less office space and equipment.

But, the question of isolation must be addressed.

The issue of isolation takes three forms: There’s the emotional toll it takes on the worker, there’s the lack of collaboration with other employees, and there’s the possibility that some workers will slowly reduce their workload the prying eyes of bosses and colleagues.

All three of these issues can be addressed with a little thoughtfulness and technology, however.

They key is recognizing that even though a remote worker might not be physically present, this worker can still be integrated into the company.

In addition to e-mail, two key technologies for ensuring that workers are woven into the fabric of the business are VoIP and the virtual PBX.

With VoIP and a virtual PBX, the home or mobile device of the remote worker becomes an extension of the office. VoIP lets employees take the office phone with them, staying plugged into the corporate telephone system, and a virtual PBX means that these remote employees can transfer calls to other employees and be as reachable as if they were still in an office cubicle.

It also is important that employers engage with these remote employees often, ensuring that they not only are connected but also that they feel connected.

This takes two forms.

First, it is important to set metrics that keep the remote employee engaged and accountable. While deadlines are an important part of any good business, they are especially crucial for the remote worker since these workers do not have any other external motivators to keep them focused on the work at hand.

Clear metrics also are the benchmark upon which remote workers show their effort. Unlike those in the office, who are working by dint of just showing up, the remote worker is largely defined by his or her output. Metrics define what outputs matter.

Second, it is important that employers reach out periodically to the remote worker. It is easy to leave the remote worker to his or her laptop, maybe sending an e-mail from time to time checking in. But for the remote worker to truly overcome the isolation of working remotely, regular calling also is key.

So while remote work has its benefits, make sure the right technology is in place, and both clear metrics and good communication routines are established.

Edited by Alisen Downey