Mastering Remote Work Best Practices for Global Teams

Transitioning your team to fully remote work might be an appealing option — it certainly comes with desirable perks, and you've likely already seen other companies do the same. But before you make the switch, it's essential to know how to implement a remote workforce strategy. Setting remote work expectations can be challenging for employers, and managing remote employees comes with its own unique hurdles.

If you're employing a remote team, you should assess your current remote work strategy and consider whether you're following best practices. Continue reading to learn the key challenges and benefits of remote work, along with our 12 best practices for remote working.

Understanding the Key Challenges of Remote Work

Keeping Regular Hours

Traditional office hours typically go from nine to five, Monday through Friday. But employees working from home may find it more challenging to create a similar structure. In some instances, working from home has extended the workday by up to two and a half hours. This lack of a clear boundary between work and personal time can lead to burnout and decreased productivity over time.

Gonex Solutions for Keeping Regular Hours

At Gonex, we understand that maintaining a structured work schedule can be particularly challenging for remote employees. To address the issues surrounding "Keeping Regular Hours," we offer several tailored solutions. Firstly, we provide access to innovative time-tracking tools that enable team members to log their hours effectively, ensuring accountability and promoting a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, Gonex facilitates online training sessions focused on time management and productivity techniques, helping employees establish and adhere to regular work hours. Our platform also supports the creation of flexible work schedules that align with individual preferences while maintaining team collaboration. By leveraging these resources, companies can foster a culture of discipline and collaboration, mitigating the risks of burnout and enhancing overall productivity in remote teams.

Maintaining Personal Connections

One of the main benefits of in-office work is the ability to connect with co-workers. Conversely, working from home can sometimes feel isolating, and employees may feel disconnected from their teammates without adequate team-building efforts. Strong personal connections are crucial for maintaining morale and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Gonex Solutions for Maintaining Personal Connections

At Gonex, we recognize that fostering personal connections among remote team members is essential for sustaining a cohesive work environment. To combat feelings of isolation, we offer a range of innovative solutions designed to enhance team interaction and camaraderie. Our platform provides virtual team-building activities and social events that encourage collaboration and communication in a fun and engaging manner. Additionally, we advocate for regular check-ins and one-on-one meetings to facilitate open dialogue, allowing employees to share challenges and experiences. Gonex also supports the implementation of mentorship programs, pairing less experienced employees with seasoned professionals to cultivate deeper relationships and knowledge sharing. By prioritizing these initiatives, Gonex helps organisations nurture a strong sense of community and belonging within their remote teams, ultimately boosting morale and productivity.

Hiring International Employees

Whether an existing employee wants to move abroad or you're interested in hiring remote candidates from foreign countries, it can be time-consuming, risky, and expensive to hire international employees. Consider using a global staffing solution like an Employer of Record (EOR) to easily hire candidates from all over the world while ensuring compliance with local employment laws.

Gonex Solutions for Hiring International Employees

At Gonex, we understand that hiring international employees can present unique challenges, especially in the context of maintaining personal connections within remote teams. To facilitate effective hiring and integration of international talent, we provide comprehensive support services that promote inclusivity and connectedness. First, our platform offers onboarding strategies tailored to diverse cultural backgrounds, helping new hires acclimatize to their roles and the company's culture. We also implement regular virtual meet-and-greets that enable international employees to connect with their colleagues globally, fostering relationships across borders. To further enhance collaboration, Gonex encourages the use of multilingual communication tools, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder team interaction. Additionally, we promote cross-cultural training sessions which equip employees with the skills to understand and appreciate their colleagues’ diverse perspectives, ultimately fostering a cohesive and supportive work environment. By prioritising these approaches, Gonex aids organisations in building strong, interconnected global teams that thrive despite geographical distances.

Functioning as a Team

Without an effective communications strategy, it can be difficult for your remote employees to remember they're participating in an entire team. Tools like Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams can ensure employees work together more effectively and have open lines of communication with one another.

Gonex Solutions for Functioning as a Team

At Gonex, we believe that effective teamwork is paramount to overcoming the challenges of remote work, particularly when it comes to maintaining personal connections among team members. Our innovative global HR platform provides a suite of services designed to enhance team collaboration and cohesion, ensuring that remote employees feel like integral parts of their teams. We facilitate the implementation of collaborative project management tools that allow team members to stay aligned on tasks and deadlines. Additionally, our platform offers guided virtual brainstorming sessions and workshops, encouraging creative collaboration and relationship building in a structured setting.

To foster a sense of unity, Gonex also promotes regular team recognition initiatives, where achievements, big and small, are celebrated publicly within the team. This not only boosts morale but also reinforces interpersonal bonds. Furthermore, we support flexible team structures that allow for subgroup collaborations, enabling team members to connect over shared projects or interests, thereby enhancing relationships beyond typical work interactions. By prioritizing these strategies, Gonex helps remote teams to not only function effectively but also thrive, cultivating a supportive and engaged workplace culture in a virtual environment.

Managing Employees in Different Time Zones

As you're hiring remote employees, you have the option to hire from all over the world. While this opens you up to an enormous candidate pool, having employees who live in different time zones can make it challenging to communicate effectively and set deadlines. Establishing clear communication protocols can help bridge these gaps.

Gonex Solutions for Maintaining Personal Connections Across Time Zones

At Gonex, we recognise the unique challenges posed by managing employees in different time zones, particularly in relation to maintaining personal connections. Our global HR platform is designed to provide tailored solutions that enhance communication and camaraderie among remote teams, regardless of their geographical locations. To address these challenges, we recommend implementing a flexible scheduling system that incorporates team members' availability, allowing for regular virtual coffee breaks or social hour sessions that promote casual interactions.

Furthermore, Gonex offers sophisticated tools for asynchronous communication that ensure all team members feel included, even if they cannot attend meetings in real-time. These tools include shared digital workspaces and project updates, ensuring collaboration continues seamlessly. Additionally, we encourage the establishment of mentorship pairings that cross time zones, providing opportunities for employees to connect and learn from one another at their convenience. By leveraging these strategies, Gonex helps organisations foster genuine relationships among their remote workforce, ensuring that personal connections remain strong, despite the complexities of varying time zones.

12 Remote Work Best Practices for Success

Set Schedules for Team Meetings

One of the best practices for working from home is scheduling regular video team meetings. It's essential that your employees don't feel isolated or think to themselves, "I'm the only one doing any work around here." You can nip this in the bud by reminding them they're part of a team.

Through weekly calls, you're not wasting your employees' time with endless meetings. At the same time, you're still allowing your team to meet and discuss what they're working on. They can also use this time to clarify any questions they may have and foster a good working environment amongst each other.

Provide Employees with a Flexible Schedule

You'll have a far more productive team if you offer a flexible work schedule to your employees. While you should draft a policy around your business hours and what times employees are expected to be available, employees will be more empowered if they can control their work hours.

According to a study from Owl Labs, employees feel more productive, balanced, and loyal to their companies when they have flexibility. In addition, remote workers typically work more than their in-office counterparts. Airtasker reports that employees who work from home work an average of 1.4 more days per month than those working in an office.

Enable Effective Collaboration

The technology industry has the highest share of remote employees worldwide, with 67.75% of global tech industry employees working fully or mostly remotely. Unfortunately, one of the top concerns of tech leaders is enabling effective collaboration.

Plus, 53% of people who work at home at least some of the time say remote working hurts their ability to feel connected with their co-workers. Here are two great ways to enable effective collaboration for remote teams:

• Implement the Right Tools: Invest in reliable and user-friendly communication channels to allow teams to keep in touch. Enabling people to message in a Slack channel or talk face-to-face on a Zoom call are just a few examples.
• Organize Virtual Team-Building Activities: Help remote employees bond by hosting lighthearted team-building activities like online scavenger hunts or virtual coffee breaks. This helps build relationships between remote teams, ultimately contributing to successful teamwork and collaboration.

Prioritize Your Remote Company Culture

On top of effective collaboration, tech leaders are concerned about preserving their organizational culture in hybrid and remote work environments. It can be hard to create a strong company culture when employees are distributed around the world. However, maintaining a strong company culture is important for any business. It can increase motivation, improve job satisfaction, and boost employee retention.

There are lots of ways you can improve your company culture with a remote team. Having regular catch-ups with remote team members, rewarding hard work, investing in professional development, and promoting a healthy work-life balance are just a few examples.

Don't Skimp Out on Employee Recognition

One of the primary drawbacks of remote work is a feeling of employee isolation. Therefore, it's essential for remote employers to show their employees how much they care and recognize their hard work.

Whether you choose to do this with holiday bonuses, employee stock options, or corporate retreats, employee recognition programs matter to your workers. Employers who implement employee recognition programs experience a more than 31% reduction in voluntary employee turnover.

Employee recognition should occur on a micro level, with managers continually checking in with their subordinates, and on a macro level, with your organization showing its appreciation for your entire team.

Be Proactive with Potential Cybersecurity Threats

Preparing for potential cybersecurity threats is essential for employers of remote teams. When employees work onsite, they typically use company computers to perform their duties on a company-wide server.

However, remote teams often use personal computers and work laptops with fewer restrictions, which can ultimately lead to compromised security. According to a survey of IT professionals, 54% believed that remote companies are at a higher risk of cybersecurity threats than those whose operations occur in a central location.

Best practices for remote work include regular training for all employees regarding cybersecurity and an IT project management team that oversees and manages the potential threats to your company.

Set Aside Time to Discuss Professional Development

Show your employees that you care about the value they bring to your company by setting aside time to discuss their professional development. Building connections across departments and companies is easier in an office setting, and remote employees lose many opportunities to mingle face-to-face with supervisors in other business areas.

Take time to find out how your virtual employees want to grow within your organization and what you can do to help them achieve their goals. Whether you provide employee scholarships for continued education, opportunities for cross-training, or mentorship programs, investing in your employees’ future will not only make them feel like valued members of your team, but it will also provide them with deeper insights into growing and improving your company.

Measure Employee Motivation

Fifty-five percent of organizations with hybrid and remote employees are concerned about not being able to see signs of demotivation among team members. If you’re concerned about spotting demotivation in your remote workforce, here are some signs to look out for:

• Frequent sick days
• Reduced productivity
• Lack of engagement in calls and meetings
• Lack of focus
• Negative comments or communications

To turn things around and increase motivation, you can follow some of the steps we’ve already outlined here. Offering professional development, setting time aside to catch up, and focusing on employee recognition are all known to increase motivation and make employees feel valued as part of the team.

Make Your Company Values Clear

Your company values matter to your employees, and finding remote workers who will be a good fit is essential to the overall success of your business. By making your company values clear, you'll be sure to attract the right candidates.

One survey found that 77% of job-seekers care about company values so much that they take the company's culture into consideration before applying for a job. Consider making your company values more transparent with clear messaging regarding how your business positively impacts the world and the lives of its employees.

Also, make sure to let the top talent know why they should work for you, highlighting items like fair wages, competitive benefits packages, and generous time off.

Promote Employee Engagement Through Team-Building Activities

Engaging remote employees can be challenging, but it's essential for maintaining a connected and motivated workforce. Hosting virtual team-building activities can help bridge the gap and make employees feel more included and appreciated.

Some popular virtual team-building activities include online game nights, virtual happy hours, and collaborative workshops. These events can help employees bond and foster a sense of community, even when working from different locations.

Incorporating these activities regularly into your remote work strategy can significantly improve employee engagement and overall job satisfaction.

Track and Evaluate Remote Work Performance

Regularly tracking and evaluating remote work performance is crucial for ensuring your team stays productive and aligned with company goals. Implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) and conducting performance reviews can help you measure progress and identify areas for improvement.

Use project management tools to set clear objectives, track tasks, and monitor deadlines. These tools can also help you maintain transparency and accountability within your remote team.

By consistently evaluating performance, you can provide constructive feedback and support to help your remote employees grow and achieve their full potential.

Encourage Open Communication

Open communication is vital for maintaining a healthy and productive remote work environment. Encourage your employees to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns openly and honestly. Create channels for feedback and ensure that your team feels heard and valued.

Regular check-ins, virtual town hall meetings, and anonymous feedback surveys can help facilitate open communication within your remote team. By fostering a culture of transparency and trust, you can create a more cohesive and collaborative work environment.

The Benefits of Remote Work for Employers

Remote work offers numerous benefits for employers, making it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes. Some of the key advantages include:

• Cost Savings: Remote work can significantly reduce overhead costs related to office space, utilities, and office supplies. These savings can be redirected towards other essential business functions or employee benefits.
• Access to a Global Talent Pool: By hiring remote employees, you can tap into a diverse and talented workforce from around the world. This can lead to increased innovation, creativity, and overall business growth.
• Improved Employee Retention: Offering remote work options can boost employee satisfaction and loyalty. Flexible work arrangements can lead to higher retention rates, as employees appreciate the work-life balance that remote work provides.
• Enhanced Productivity: Remote employees often report higher productivity levels compared to their in-office counterparts. The flexibility to work during their most productive hours and the absence of office distractions can contribute to increased efficiency.

Is It Time to Make the Switch to Remote Work?

Remote work has proven to be a viable and advantageous option for many businesses. However, it's essential to carefully consider the unique needs and goals of your organization before making the switch.

If you're ready to transition to remote work, our 12 best practices can help you create a successful and sustainable remote work strategy. By addressing the key challenges and leveraging the benefits of remote work, you can build a thriving remote workforce that drives your business forward.

For more personalized guidance on transitioning to remote work and managing a global team, consider booking a consultation with our experts. We're here to help you navigate the complexities of remote work and achieve your business goals.

Gonex: Your Partner in Global Remote Workforce Solutions

At Gonex, we understand the challenges and opportunities that come with managing a remote workforce. As a leading global human resources platform, we provide a comprehensive range of services tailored to support businesses in their transition to remote work. Our offerings include:

• Payroll Management: Streamlined payroll solutions that ensure timely and accurate payments to your remote employees, with competitive pricing designed to fit your budget.
• Compliance Assistance: Expert guidance on international labour laws and regulations to help you navigate the complexities of hiring remote talent across different countries.
• Employee Benefits Administration: Customizable benefits packages that cater to the needs of your workforce, enhancing employee satisfaction while remaining cost-effective.
• Talent Acquisition: Access to our extensive network of qualified candidates worldwide, allowing you to hire the best talent while reducing recruitment costs.
• Performance Management Tools: Robust systems for tracking employee performance and productivity, enabling you to maintain high standards and drive continuous improvement.

By choosing Gonex, you gain a partner that offers competitive pricing and a tailored approach to meet your unique business needs. Our commitment to supporting your remote workforce ensures that you can focus on achieving your business goals while we handle the intricacies of human resources.