Managing Remote Employees With Enterprise Social Software

Years ago when I worked at Sun Microsystems, we were ahead of the times as 40% of the workforce was part of what we called the iWork program. Largely seen as an employee benefit, folks were able to telecommute at the discretion of management. But telecommuters didn’t always have the same career opportunities and some leaders just couldn’t get over the stigmatism of ‘working from home’. Granted while leading many a conference call, I am convinced that I heard folks snoring and even taking bubble baths – but that’s a whole other topic.

The number of employees working remotely has increased dramatically in recent years, a trend that brings with it challenges ripe for a social solution. Research at Cornell University’s Center of Advanced Human Resources (CAHRS) has revealed that the most rapid growth in remote work arrangements (a segment previously owned by contract workers) is now being seen among full-time and part-time employees. In short, the researchers note, “remote workers no longer represent the fringe but rather a sizable and growing segment of today’s workforce.” When I came across this study, I was also struck by the fact that four of the nine companies participating in this research are NewsGator customers - Charles Schwab, CitiGroup, General Mills, and JPMorgan Chase – all pioneers in the enterprise social software revolution.

Managing remote employees offers a host of potential benefits to both the company and the employee, including increased productivity, lowered costs, higher employee satisfaction and retention rates, increased flexibility, and improved work-life balance. These benefits don’t come without challenges. Companies that support remote work agreements must equip virtual employees with the technology to connect them to the business, to prevent professional and personal isolation, and to promote equity between virtual and non-virtual employee. Effective uses of enterprise social software tools offer one way to meet these challenges.

Microblogging, video conferencing, activity streams, online communities, and other social tools on corporate intranets can help virtual employees maintain constant communication with their colleagues. This contact replaces the day-to-day informal communication of the physical workplace, augments formal work processes, and decreases the opportunity for virtual employees to feel disconnected. Employee contributions are captured seamlessly and exposed in transparent work streams.

Of course you can conduct corporate training and change management initiatives to displace the archaic notion that remote work is less valuable to the company. But you can also incorporate progressive social technologies like badging and recognition on your corporate intranet to effectively promote equity between virtual and non-virtual employees. Since these merit-based rewards are independent of location or rank in the company, virtual employees have the same opportunity to be recognized for their work as their non-virtual counterparts. In this way, virtual employees can see the impact of their contributions to the business without actually being physically present in the office. When managing remote employees, you can use enterprise social software as a means to connect with and successfully manage virtual employees. We’ve heard repeatedly from our customers with large workforces that providing a welcoming and supportive online environment is key to the collective success of their globally dispersed knowledge workers. 

While enterprise social software tools provide an effective means to make remote working arrangements work, companies should understand that enterprise social tools by themselves are not a sufficient solution. Virtual employees need self-discipline, excellent communication skills, and an uncanny resourcefulness. Provided that your virtual employees possess these character traits, enterprise social software tools will make your remote workforce flourish regardless of where they choose to get their work done. Do you agree?