Navigate the challenges and opportunities of remote work. Follow these 10 steps of structured monitoring and strike a balance between monitoring and maintaining trust.

Managers can stroll around cubicles and in offices to observe what employees are working on and ask for progress reports. They can also spot physical cues of unproductivity, like absent-mindedness or task aversion. Remote managers, on the other hand, have the unique opportunity to harness trust and technology to determine whether employees are working. This technological empowerment allows them to manage their remote teams, even without physical proximity, effectively.

The job landscape is changing significantly, especially in digital firms. It’s not as sudden as some may believe that the trend toward remote work, which gained significant traction in 2020, is happening. According to data from the ONS cited by Quotezone, just 4.7% of UK employees worked from home prior to the pandemic. By 2023, that number had skyrocketed to 44%, with 16% of these workers doing so permanently.

According to a startling new report from FlexJobs, a trailblazing job search engine for flexible and remote work opportunities, 95% of employees now say they prefer to work from home, either completely remotely or in a hybrid environment.

The 2024 Workplace Flexibility Trends Report highlights notable differences in the adoption of hybrid work models and the use of efficient management methods for such arrangements, as the corporate world continues to change in the post-pandemic era. Even though working remotely is becoming more and more popular, a shocking 75% of workers say managers lack remote team leadership training. This underscores a critical problem with current workforce management approaches.

It’s an understatement to say the way we work has changed in recent years. What we’re seeing is nothing short of transformation. The nine-to-five grind is gone. Companies are hiring from a global talent pool, even SMEs. Hybrid work schedules are the rule rather than the exception. This flexibility has been great for businesses, employees, and managers, but it hasn’t been without its hiccups.

Is remote work the way forward, improving employee happiness and productivity, or just a passing trend that is undermining teamwork and business efficiency? Since the rise of home-working during the COVID-19 pandemic there’s been an ongoing dilemma of when, or if, employees should return to the office. As businesses transitioned to remote work setups, workers have come to appreciate the benefits of working from home.

Learn how to track remote employees to enhance workload distribution, efficiency, and security. Get the scoop on the best tools on the market for time tracking, project management, and email activity analysis.

Wondering how to measure the productivity of remote workers? Get straightforward answers and read about the importance of establishing clear goals, monitoring employee activities, and fostering a positive company culture.

With the surge in remote work trends, businesses are increasingly reevaluating their remote team structure to ensure optimal performance and productivity in virtual environments. While remote work offers flexibility and convenience, it also presents unique challenges that require thoughtful planning and adaptation. To thrive in this new era of work, organizations must prioritize optimizing their team structures for remote success. Here are eight strategies to achieve just that.