If you manage remote workers, you probably trust them for the most part. But every now and then you may have some suspicions that a certain employee isn’t working as much as they say they are. After all, you can’t see them sitting at their desk, so it can be tough to know for sure.
But as it turns out, there are some ways to ensure your employees are working when they should be.
No, we’re not suggesting you monitor their every move. That would end badly for everyone. Instead, you could try out some of the tips below on how to make sure your employees are working, without crossing any lines or invading their privacy.
Here’s how to tactfully make sure your employees are working:
Set measurable goals.
One surefire way to ensure that your employees are meeting their goals is to actually set some up for them. You can easily see if your workers are working if they are able to complete the tasks and projects assigned to them. This applies to a fully remote company as well as those that offer flexible schedules.
Track their productivity.
Beyond short- and long-term goals, a good way to ensure that your remote workers are staying true to task is by tracking their productivity. Look to see if work is being turned in on a consistent basis, and if emails and status updates are readily given by your workers. That can help you determine if your workers are working on a daily basis instead of waiting for a big project to be turned in on time.
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Schedule check-ins.
The thing about making sure that your remote workers are keeping busy is that it can feel a little Big Brother-esque, almost like you’re spying on them because you assume that they’re, well, not working. So you should be upfront about wanting to know what your employees are working on by scheduling check-ins. They can be weekly (not daily), bi-weekly, or even monthly. The check-in should be a mini meeting that offers you a snapshot of exactly what your worker was doing during that time period. It also gives you a chance to answer any questions they might have, or even head off any potential problems.
Speak with other employees.
If you have suspicions that one of the members of your staff might not be performing up to your standards, you can always schedule a meeting—with your other workers. They would know first-hand if your employee is missing deadlines or passing on work to them unfinished, especially if they’re collaborating on tasks together. You can ask questions to find out if everyone is working well together, if there are any issues between team members that might be causing friction, and if they feel that everyone is pulling their virtual weight. That way you can figure out if your employees are working without invading their privacy.
Try tools.
In a remote work environment, collaboration tools are often used to help keep everyone working together cohesively.
Here are some tools that can help you track an employee’s productivity:
Time Doctor
Time Doctor is time management software that helps track tasks in real time, taking screenshots every three minutes to ensure that employees are working.
Trello
A cloud-based program, Trello helps keep teams organized by keeping them in sync.
Asana
Asana is a monitoring software that allows workers to track their time. The bonus for employees is that it allows them to see how much time they spend on a task—and for employers, it shows them how much or how little an employee is working.
Todoist
The Todoist software shows all tasks (such as individual assignments, team projects, and other to-dos) along with their deadlines. Productivity is tracked by the tasks that are completed by their deadlines.
If you’re new to managing a remote workforce, it can be a little disconcerting to have employees all over the world—and not really know if/when they’re working. Unless your company has set working hours, you can try implementing any of these tips to make sure that your telecommuting team is on task—all the time.
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