The working environment has changed ever since the COVID-19 swept across the world earlier this year. While some countries and companies have decided to resume operations in recent weeks, many are still hesitant.

If you are in the latter section, you may have substantial advantages over your competitors.

That is because you can cut down on the cost of operations and office maintenance. But the question is, how effectively can you manage remote employees without sacrificing productivity? In this article, we will identify the top ways you can do so.

Empathy

It is crucial to acknowledge the adverse impact the pandemic has brought into the life of your employees. People are experiencing financial difficulties and feel stressed due to added responsibilities.

Moreover, the future remains uncertain, and mental health problems have increased. It is imperative to devise policies that recognize these circumstances. Start by giving your employees some space and avoid unnecessary demands.

Your employees already live complicated lives and have to manage a variety of problems. Treating them with empathy can improve how they feel towards you and the company.

Communication

You can’t achieve empathy without excellent communication, which does not only refer to verbal exchanges. It refers to the way you orient yourself towards your team. It is also about how you set expectations. Setting deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and developing a system of accountability is also part of this.

Furthermore, you must also enable your team members to raise any issue. This way, you will establish compatibility with each individual, which brings us to our next point.

Develop & maintain personal relationships

There has been much debate about this issue. Some advocate for a detached relationship, while others for a more personal one. However, the former is unreasonable with remote employees because it can distance employees even further. It is okay to talk about family, vacations, hobbies, and daily activities.

Create a light-hearted environment. This way, your employees will feel as if they belong to the organization. They are likely to invest their time, energy, and genuine effort if they feel that way.

Flexibility

Many managers fail to think about flexibility in a versatile way. What does it mean? Well, it depends on the circumstances. For example, your employees may face many distractions at home, particularly if they have children. Similarly, it may be difficult for them to balance working hours with domestic work.

Review your company policies over matters such as leaves and working hours. It could also be about how you distribute their salaries. Examine if it is all right for them to complete their tasks outside of working hours. Remember, the point is to ensure that your team does not feel overwhelmed.

Accountability

We previously discussed the changes you can make for your employees. When it comes to accountability, the roles are reversed, though. Accommodating your team members does not mean you forgo the liability of their work.

On the contrary, it is vital to make sure that each individual is held responsible for the relevant task and behavioral guidelines. The most effective way to achieve accountability for remote employees is to create a clear set of rules and expectations. You can also use employee monitoring apps to improve transparency.

Employee monitoring

Employee monitoring tools are not required when everyone is working at the office. The requirement appears when you are unable to see them in-person. There is a clear need to view their activities and measure performance. Your demand for a system of accountability is understandable, given the compromises you make.

So, how do you go about implementing such a system with remote workers? Well, there are plenty of digital tools designed just for that. Some apps offer task-management & monitoring tools. Alternatively, some apps offer an integrated communication system that allows you to keep track of their activities.

There are also apps specifically designed for smartphone monitoring. If you choose to opt for smartphone monitoring, make sure that you install the program on company-owned devices. Communicate this with your team too. Let’s take a look at one of the best smartphone monitoring apps.

XNSPY

XNSPY has seen rapid growth in recent months because it offers a comprehensive list of features tailored for employee monitoring. And it works both on both Android and iOS devices.

So, what can you do with it? Well, you can monitor all calls and messages. You can also identify the location of each employee and view their internet activity, including emails. Multimedia files, instant messaging apps, and productivity management tools are also available.

For example, you can block an unsuitable app and see what web pages they are viewing. You can even automate the monitoring process with XNSPY’s instant alert function. It is a unique feature that informs managers about relevant things, saving significant time.

All the data collected from the device is available on XNSPY’s centralized control panel, accessible anywhere and any time.

XNSPY works under a subscription-based model. The subscription can cost between USD 4.99–USD 7.49 per month. The former price is for the basic version and the latter for the premium.

The only downside to XNSPY is that it may require rooting for some features. We suggest you check out the app’s official page and go through a list of similar apps before making a decision.