“The future we envision for work allows for infinite virtual workspaces that will unlock social and economic opportunities for people regardless of barriers like physical location. It will take time to get there, and we continue to build toward this” – Andrew Bosworth, Facebook

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But how to make sure employees are working from home and achieving (at least) as much as they would in the office? For businesses operating under a fully remote or hybrid model, this is a vital question and we have the answer.

Effective Methods to Assess Remote Work Productivity

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Remote work offers significant benefits, such as attracting and retaining top talent, reducing office expenses, and enhancing work-life balance.

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Yet, WFH also brings potential challenges like decreased productivity, communication hurdles, and collaboration difficulties.

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Read more about the top tools for monitoring and managing the productivity of your remote employees:

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1. Task Management Systems

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Utilizing task management systems can provide insights into the workflow and the necessary time to complete different tasks. It also highlights potential issues that prevent a task from being completed in the expected timeframe.

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Thanks to the data these systems collect, managers can easily organize project timelines and ensure timely delivery of work.

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Recommended tools:

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⚡Monday.com: Monday enhances project management efficiency with customizable dashboards and automation. Downsides include limited integrations and the potential for cluttered displays.

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⚡Smartsheet: Smartsheet combines a visual spreadsheet-based approach with automated workflows and a rich set of integrations to effectively manage complex projects for large organizations.

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2. Time Tracking Apps 

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Monitoring your team’s hours alongside their output can highlight any productivity issues. Implementing time-tracking software or requesting daily summary emails from employees can help. These emails should detail what they achieved, what they plan to tackle next, and any obstacles they faced.

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Recommended tools:

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⚡Insightful: Insightful offers both automated and manual time-tracking solutions, allowing accurate payroll and productivity assessments. The software also monitors employee attendance, productive versus idle times, and break and overtime periods.

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⚡Clockify: Clockify offers time-tracking services that allow managers to prioritize urgent tasks and facilitate client relations and payroll, though its productivity monitoring capabilities are limited.

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3. Employee Monitoring Tools 

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Many companies opt for remote monitoring tools, which simplify the process of overseeing remote workers. These tools can track screen time, keystrokes, email activity, and usage of different websites and applications. Still, the efficiency of monitoring software depends on its customization options and the way it analyzes the collected data.

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Recommended tools:

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⚡Insightful: Insightful allows custom monitoring settings for each employee. Managers can choose different apps, websites, and permissions depending on each employee’s tasks and clearance. Productivity is calculated in real time and can be viewed via an easy-to-use dashboard.

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⚡Monitask: Monitask provides various monitoring options including screenshot captures to maintain focus. Nevertheless, its intensive monitoring capabilities might not scale well with larger teams, potentially complicating management rather than simplifying it.

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Addressing Common Remote Work Issues 

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Your organization is unique, and probably needs to battle a set of remote work issues that are tied to its specific processes.

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On the other hand, there are problems that at some point arise in the majority of companies that embrace remote work. Here they are along with the strategies to manage them:

❗ Problem: Poor Collaboration

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💡 Solution: Facilitate Better Communication

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Ensure that remote workers have access to the necessary technology to participate in online meetings. Regular one-on-one chats, virtual town halls, and team-building activities can also foster a stronger sense of teamwork.

❗ Problem: Low Quality of Work

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💡 Solution: Be Clear about the Goals & Expectations

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Clarify your expectations and KPIs to your remote team. Organize initial project meetings and periodic performance evaluations to keep the team aligned with the goals.

❗ Problem: Accumulated Stress

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💡 Solution: Set up Burnout Detection & Treating System

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Remote work can be rather challenging, so observing signs of stress or changes in behavior is important. Consider adding mental health days to your PTO policy and encourage employees to reach out to HR or management if they are facing difficulties. Insightful is a good ally in these efforts since it offers a tool for spotting early signs of burnout.

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Conclusion: Continuing to Build Your Team’s Resilience

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Many business gurus believe that the future of work stretches far beyond small cubicles and open-space offices. Remote work is laden with opportunities for growth for both employers and employees.

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Still, to utilize the full potential of remote work, companies must first identify and address the challenges this work system sets for their employees. They can do this only if they create a culture of open communication and rely on comprehensive monitoring tools such as Insightful.

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Only once they have built trustworthy relationships with their employees will their remote teams be strong enough to defy challenges and thrive remotely.