The option of working from home is becoming more and more available and has a host of advantages. Virtual offices have a positive environmental impact, save money, and have shown employees to be generally happier and more productive.  Despite the advantages remote working is not without its challenges. Here are the top 8 difficulties with virtual offices and how to fix them:

1)   Questioning Productivity:

Historically face time has been mistaken for productivity. Many managers think If Barry is at his desk he must be working. An employee working across the ocean seems much more difficult to monitor. The best way to monitor productivity is by creating metrics and deadlines. If a manager is clear about expectations and the employee delivers there is no need to question whether or not they are working or sitting on a beach chair. Perhaps they are doing both but it doesn’t matter if they are able to deliver.

2)   Isolation an Lack of Social Interaction:

The downside to being able to wear underwear while filing your TPS reports is that it probably means you are working alone. The nice thing about working in an office is the human interaction and getting to know your colleagues. While nothing virtual can replace the actual exchange of chatter over Martha’s red velvet cupcakes, opportunities for interactions and building of trust can be formed.

The creation of virtual teams will lend itself to creating familiarity between virtual workers as well as creative problem solving possibly through a discussion about shared love for the ‘Cagney and Lacy’

3)   Feeling Undervalued

It can be easy for virtual staff to feel undervalued and forgotten. As a manager it is important to keep remote workers in the loop and publically credit them for a job well done to the rest of the team. If possible, bringing everyone in to head office on a semi- regular basis for team building and face to face meeting time adds a feeling of value and tangibility to the work.

4)   Across Time and Space

Working across borders can come with its frustrations. While it’s great to be exposed to new people from different cultures unfamiliar norms and separate time zones can be the cause of misunderstandings.  Having employees create personal profiles as well as a few tidbits about their country and culture will not only be a fun exchange of knowledge but also help people understand one another. Delayed responses across time zones can be frustrating but many problems can be averted by created defined response times.

5)   No Water Cooler

Getting to know co workers in a non work capacity can be difficult when no one is ever in the same room. Using social media to create communities on non- work related subjects within the virtual workplace can be a valuable tool for building as sense of teamwork. It’s a amazing what a ‘Game Of Thrones’ thread among a bunch of accountants can do to create lasting relationships.

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Here are eight ideas…

Work On a Long Term Plan

Find out where this person wants to be and what they want to do at each stage over the next five years. Nurture their plan to get there within your organization.

Mix it Up

Shake up the monotony with Happy Hours, an occasional 3pm burlap sack race, or popsicle party. Keep things interesting and let people unwind together.

Tradition Tradition Tradition

People also love fun traditions, and annual charity bake sale, Halloween trick or treat a thon or a holiday potluck. It’s something to look forward to and it feels festive.

Make People Count

An environment where people from every level feel free to share their ideas gets people thinking of ways to improve the company. It also creates a sense of pride and agency in their work.

Use People’s Strengths

Everyone has a strength or a talent. An opportunity to employ someone’s gift is good for the company and makes the person take pride in their special project.

Acknowledge Achievement

Create Flexibility

This can mean flex hours, the ability to work remotely, or just being allowed to bring their Chinese Crested dog to work on Fridays. This gives people a sense that they are being trusted and appreciated and can raise productivity.

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