Improvements in technology and the way that we communicate have made it even easier to have employees working abroad, whether this is a short-term assignment or a more permanent one. Of course, time differences, being in another country and the sense of isolation this can sometimes bring, and cultural differences can take their toll on people. As an employer it is important to consider the welfare of your remote workers in just the same way as you would those who are working closer to home.
Let’s look at some of the things you may want to consider doing.
1. Schedule regular check-ins
It is important to check in with remote employees regularly to keep an eye on their well-being. Schedule a weekly meeting and check to see how they are doing, remember to offer support in case they need it. Address any issues that there might be with work arrangements or if there are adjustments that need to be put in place. If you need support, think about improving your leadership skills to do this effectively and spot where there might be issues.
2. Consider safety and wellbeing
There may be a situation where an employee’s work arrangements are not ideal and could affect performance. It is important to be open to communication so that your employee is able to come to you with any issues. Whether it’s cultural differences or a wellbeing issue, it is important your employee feels they can discuss things with you. Watch out for sick leave, late starts or absences, which could point to a bigger issue. Ideally pre-empt any issues by developing good lines of communication.
3. What to do in an emergency
It is important to know what to do in the event of a worst-case scenario. Your employees might find themselves in a financial emergency or have a health-related emergency. It is important that a plan is in place to assist them. Picking up on clues that could indicate there is a looming issue is difficult when you work in different locations. Regular check-ins can help you to see if your employees are struggling long-term, but they won’t necessarily pick up on an emergency until it is too late.
There is a limit to what you can do from a distance, but having a plan in place, including having next of kin contact details on file, can be a really important way of helping your employee.
When you are located in a different country from your employees, keeping an eye on their well-being can be difficult. Having a robust plan in place with regular check-ins and good, open lines of communication will go a long way. This will not only ensure that you are there for your employees but also that they know you are available.