3 Necessities to Set Up Your Developer Employees Remotely
Posted April 23rd, 2014
Flexible work schedules are in hot demand, and they are one of the things that top talent looks for when researching companies. Therefore, as a savvy employer, you should allow your developers to work remotely if possible. But how do you get set up? What policies and procedures should you establish?
Well, it comes down to the 3 C’s – Culture, Communication, Collaboration. When you provide a way for telecommuting employees to actively engage in company culture, and provide them with multiple ways to effectively communicate and collaborate, your telecommuting program will be a success. A successful telecommuting program draws top employees to your company.
Keeping Your Culture From a Distance
Maintaining the company culture outside a physical office is a critical factor. Employees who telecommute often feel isolated and removed from the office atmosphere. Celebrating holidays, or participating in public service projects or even having impromptu get-togethers in the cafeteria can bond office buddies, but can isolate remote workers.
Work to replicate your culture across multiple locations otherwise you will find yourself with many disparate geographical hubs that can potentially disrupt workflow. Start small and work with a couple of key telecommuters to figure out what tools are necessary to get the job done and to replicate the corporate culture.
Failure to Communicate is Not an Option
Communication is a critical to any business, and become much more difficult when telecommuters are added. It becomes almost impossible to have impromptu meetings at the “water cooler”, and you cannot simply pop by anyone’s desk if those desks are spread apart by 2 time zones.
Therefore, planning becomes essential. Set up a weekly call to brainstorm and discuss open projects, timelines, upcoming events and workloads. You might not need to touch base every week – there can be impromptu phone calls – but at least if something is on the calendar, being out of sight does not equate to being out of mind. Video conferencing (via Skype or WebEx) is another way to keep telecommuters and office workers in sync.
Technology is great, but there really is nothing better than face time. Allow telecommuters to travel into the office as needed, and provide them adequate workspace to be as productive as possible while they are there
Collaborate, Collaborate, Collaborate
Collaboration tools, such as Basecamp, Sharepoint or Tello, play a crucial role when you are dealing with telecommuters. They provide an environment where your employees can share and build on ideas. Whichever software or service you choose make they are easy to use and understand. Non-intuitive technology may look great during the sales presentation, but it will not get used. If it does not get used…. no benefits will accrue.
At Bayside Solutions, we can help you find the right developer for your needs – whether onsite or remote. We have the recruiting expertise you need to find the right people for the jobs you need filled today! If you are looking for developer recruiters in San Francisco, contact us today.
