Managing remote workers is difficult but increasingly common in the digital age. Eric Czerwonka, Co-founder at Buddy Punch shares how employers can manage, pay and track remote workers whether they have one location or multiple locations around the world
Roughly 3.9 million U.S. workers are working remotely at least half the time, and that number is on the rise.
In fact, according to a recent report by the International Data Corporation (IDC)Opens a new window , remote workers are expected to make up nearly 75 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2020.
If you have a mobile workforce, then you know that finding tools to manage your team effectivelyOpens a new window is a vital part of ensuring their success. One such tool is Buddy Punch time tracking software; a web-based solution that’s able to track the time of a remote workforce. No matter where your team is located, or how many workers you have, a robust time tracking system is a vital way to stay on top of hours worked, ensure accuracy, improve accountability and productivity, all while managing expectations and helping to keep everyone on the same page.
If you’re in the market for a new time tracking solution, or considering the implications of letting your team work part-time from home, read on to discover a few things that you’ll want to look for in a remote time tracking software program, as well as some tips for implementing a new system successfully.
Features of Remote Time Tracking Software
- Syncs With Your Payroll
Your remote workers or employees who are working from home need a way to get their timesheets to the payroll department. **Finding a time tracking system that syncs up with your payroll is a great way to save time, and improve accountability, while helping to ensure that everyone is paid accurately and on time**.
- Collects GPS Data
You need a way to verify that your team is where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be. A time tracking solution that collects GPS data is one of the best ways to keep track of a remote team.
- Contains Important Security Features
Security is an important consideration any time employee data and sensitive company information is concerned. With over half of all U.S. small businesses having experienced at least one data breachOpens a new window , it’s important for companies today to do everything that they can mitigate the risk of employee data falling into the wrong hands. Make sure the software solution that you choose offers encryption for sensitive data and includes an option for data backup.
- Offers Help and Support
Finally, if questions or issues arise with your new time tracking system, you need to be able to find answers quickly and easily. Make sure the software solution that you choose includes help and support.
Implementing a New Time Tracking System
Once you’ve found a time tracking solution that’s a good fit for your company, it’s time to go about implementing it. In order to make the transition a smooth and straightforward process, there are a few steps that you can take to help get everyone on board with the new system.
- Communicate Openly
When introducing something new, it’s normal for there to be some level of reservation or resistance from your employees. Often, this hesitation is due to a fear of the unknown. To help make the whole process less daunting, be sure to communicate openly with your team about the new system. Let them know in advance that you will be rolling it out, and give them a timeframe when they can expect the changes to take place. You’ll also want to take the time to outline the benefits of time tracking software; including improved accuracy, accountability, and often the ability to sign in and check their schedules and manage time-off requests.
- Provide Training
Be sure to provide training for your team; showing them how to use the new system. Don’t leave your staff to figure it out on their own; it’ll eat into their time and could result in more frustration. Instead, plan a brief orientation meeting to show them how to use the new program. For remote workers, consider creating a short guide or video using a tool such as Screencast-o-MaticOpens a new window to walk them through the system.
- Thank Them
Finally, it takes time to get used to a new system. Don’t forget to thank your team for their patience, and for being excellent team players. You may even want to consider offering them a small token of thanks, such as a gift card, to help them warm more quickly to the new system.
Whether you have remote workers or are considering implanting a policy that will allow your team to work from home one or two days a week, make sure you have the tools that you need to make remote management a success. **With time tracking software that has all of the features that you need to monitor and compensate a remote workforce, managing your team remotely will become a simple and straightforward process**.