Remote work management is no longer just about devising makeshift “rules” for managing employees working from home. Diplomas and short-term leadership courses on effectively managing colleagues in different locations are available. The importance of ongoing discourse on this topic cannot be overstated.
People often say that a team is as good as its managers. As an extension of that logic, we can also say that managers are as good as their management tactics. Remote teams need effective management that’s also sensitive to their needs.
Leadership is responsible for providing guidelines and strategies to maximize productivity, compliance, communication, and cohesion.
Here are the top 12 must-haves for remote teams working for onshore leadership:
1. A Proper and Clear Communication Channel for Remote Work Management
Remote workers rely heavily on digital communication tools to stay connected, exchange information, and collaborate across time zones. Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom are backbones of remote communication. They help keep team members aligned with the company’s goals.
Offshoring providers often support the development of these channels. They are experienced in working around international time zone differences and cultural nuances, which helps. They are also expected to advise you on how to set up these interactional protocols to integrate remote teams into the broader company culture.
2. A Great Remote Work Management System
Remote work management means overseeing remote workers’ day-to-day tasks and productivity levels. With the right system, tracking progress, assigning tasks, and meeting deadlines can be more straightforward. Asana, Trello, and Monday create structured workflows, clarify the ownership of specific tasks, and keep everyone accountable.
Offshore remote teams must also ensure the necessary digital infrastructure is set up. They need to assess the tools they use beforehand carefully: everyone needs to monitor performance and productivity without breaching international labor laws.
3. Secure Payroll and Benefits Management
Managing payroll for remote employees is a major challenge, especially when dealing with workers in different countries with varying currencies, tax regulations, and labor laws. Remote teams need a payroll management system that is secure, efficient, and compliant with local regulations.
Offshoring providers who handle payroll take care of the complex tasks of processing payments, handling taxes, and setting up a regular system so workers receive their benefits according to their local laws. Payroll management isn’t a worry if you’re in the hands of a capable offshoring company.
4. Compliance with Local Labor Laws
Every country has its own labor laws, wage regulations, benefits regulations, working hours, and termination policies. Your remote workers must comply with local labor laws, or employers will be vulnerable to many legal risks and potential fines.
Most offshoring experts are aware of these rules and changes in these rules. Remote workers are hired according to local labor laws, tax policies, and employee benefits requirements. Their services likely cover employment contracts, tax filings, and reporting for global teams.
5. Time Zone Management for Global Collaboration
This one is always tricky. Workers are hired according to the needs of the onshore leadership: if heavy collaboration is expected, workers in a timezone close to the headquarters are hired. If round-the-clock productivity is a priority, professionals in a completely different timezone are given preference. In both cases, managing this collaboration needs real expertise.
Offshoring guides can help you deal with this. They can identify the best times for meetings and collaborations so the “time zone pressure” is equally distributed and no one team needs to be stuck adjusting to skewed schedules. Deadlines can be adhered to without disrupting work-life balance.
6. Access to the Right Platforms
Remote communication is entirely dependent on the chosen collaboration platform. Tools built for real-time collaboration on documents, designs, and projects—like Google Workspace, Figma, and Notion—keep remote teams functioning.
Offshore or not, teams have to choose their platforms according to the nature of their work, although offshoring guides will be able to share valuable tips on the kind of platform you might need. Many of them will help set up and optimize collaboration tools for your remote teams. They also know if these tools comply with local data privacy laws and can protect your company from potential legal issues related to cross-border data sharing.
7. A Well-Defined Remote Work Policy
Are your expectations from remote employees clear and well-defined? Remote work policies should be in place before employees or teams start their journey with you. A document outlining the expectations for remote employees, including working hours, communication protocols, security guidelines, and productivity expectations, should be prepared and shared with everyone.
Offshoring providers are experienced in crafting remote work policies compliant with local regulations. This is especially important when managing international teams, as labor laws vary significantly across regions.
8. Employee Engagement and Team Building
Remote work can be isolating for employees. Disengagement can decrease morale and productivity, so we need systems that boost camaraderie and motivation. These can be virtual team-building activities, recognition programs, and wellness initiatives tailored to your remote teams. They provide insights into culturally appropriate engagement strategies and ensure that all employees, regardless of location, feel connected to the company’s mission.
This is also deeply tied into company culture. The more inclusive your company culture is, the better remote employees will feel in their daily work lives.
9. Reliable Technological Infrastructure
Reliable internet, devices, and software are the backbone of all work; remote employees need access to these. Offshore providers can offer IT support and help set up the technology infrastructure required for your remote teams. Whether providing VPN access, ensuring cybersecurity, or coordinating tech shipments, they can help throughout the process.
In many cases (like InCommon), providers equip offshore employees with the necessary tools to perform their roles effectively.
10. Data Security and Privacy Protection
Protecting sensitive company information and ensuring compliance with data privacy laws (like GDPR) is non-negotiable. Remote work mustn’t mean compromised data.
Offshoring experts are familiar with international data privacy laws and can implement measures that protect your data across borders. They establish secure data-sharing protocols and ascertain that all employee data is handled in compliance with local and international regulations.
Conclusion: Remote Work Management with the Right Support
In today’s global workforce, managing remote teams requires more than good communication tools—it demands an integrated approach that considers legal compliance, payroll management, and team cohesion. InCommon’s management techniques are simple, effective, and compliant. Our EoR and payroll services are critical add-ons to help businesses manage their remote teams better and with more ease.
From payroll and benefits management to employee engagement and collaboration tools, our services help companies operate better in the increasingly complicated remote work scenario.
