The Future of Remote Work: Leveraging HR Tech to Manage Distributed Teams 

The modern workplace has undergone a significant transformation, majorly driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. Remote and hybrid work structures have become more prevalent, with no signs of slowing down any time soon. As per reports, it was concluded that, as of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees are working remotely, whereas 28.2% operate under hybrid work models. This shift is only expected to grow by 2025, as it is reported that by that time, 32.6 million Americansn will be working remotely. 

Challenges Faced by Remote Workers 

Despite the benefits of flexible work models, remote culture brings its own set of challenges that several organizations have faced globally. However, these organizations must address the issues to maintain productivity and employee satisfaction. Some of these pressing challenges include – 

Lack of Communication 

With a decrease in face-to-face interactions and spontaneous conversations, employees find themselves in a position where instances of collaboration are much fewer. They may also have a more difficult time reaching their managers in case of any issues, which can lead to them feeling less supported. This can further lead to a lack of clear expectations and uncertainties about their contributions.  

Increased Stress

While many employees have reported higher productivity when working remotely, there has been a significant increase in burnout levels as well. In a survey conducted by Owl Labs, it was indicated that around 55% of remote workers reported feeling they are working for hours, compared to in an office setting. Furthermore, a survey by NordVPN, cited in an article published on Bloomberg, showed that remote employees often work up to three hours longer per day than their office counterparts, significantly contributing to mental fatigue and decreased productivity. 

Decreased Employee Engagement 

With decreased impromptu interactions, it is no surprise that employee engagement seems to have taken a nosedive. While interfaces like Teams and Zoom do provide an interface for face-to-face interactions, they still struggle to facilitate growth in employee engagement rates. A lack of engagement leads employees to be less likely to be involved in collaborative instances, which in turn reflects upon their performance.  

An article published by Forbes also reflects how executives harbor clear bias towards unengaged employees, with 92% of them agreeing that these employees “probably don’t have a long-term future at their companies.” 

Leveraging HR Tech to Combat These Challenges

Advancements in HR technology and various workplace management platforms offer solutions to these challenges discussed above. The Human Capital Management (HCM) software, like Akrivia HCM can be employed in maintaining an engaged and motivated workforce. Here’s how that will work – 

Communication and Collaboration 

Most HCM software, cloud-based or otherwise, comes with in-built communication interfaces that can be used for building internal workplace communities. This software can also be integrated with pre-existing software that companies are already using.  

These management software ensure organizational transparency by streamlining workflow chains, which can lead to greater collaboration opportunities among peers, regardless of their physical presence.  

Performance Management Systems 

With the help of these software, managers can have better visibility into their reportees’ productivity. From assigning tasks to tracking their progress to sharing feedback and appreciation, managers can communicate with their team more effectively. Workers receive a transparent view of their duties, which can help them plan their work schedule better as well.  

Employee Engagement 

With internal community forums and chats supporting features like stickers and gifs, employees can communicate with their peers more freely. Besides, managers can also share their appreciation publicly on internal forums, uplifting their employees and boosting their confidence. This will also encourage the employees to seek support from their superiors when they require it. All of this combined leads to a more engaged workforce.   

Data-driven Decision Making 

Performance management software can help managers track employee perforce and potentially identify areas of improvement. This can help them identify skill gaps and create tailored upskilling programs to help their employees grow professionally while also allowing them to work towards company objectives. 

Work-life Balance

When the boundaries of home and workplace merge, it’s easy for work-life balance to go off-kilter. But with performance management software, employees can plan their workdays better, taking advantage of the flexibility. By emphasizing efficiency, companies can also go the extra mile and enforce organizational policies that promote work-life balance. This approach also calls for less micromanagement, helping both employees and managers be productive at their own pace. 

Summing Up

As advances in HR tech begin to explore AI and machine learning implementations in workplace management software, the underlying focus on productivity and efficiency can gradually morph into prioritizing employee experience. Since remote/hybrid work models already allow employees greater flexibility, these tools can help them beat the apparent challenges of remote work, all the while promoting employee well-being.