HR, shorthand for human resources, always has various challenges to face and overcome. Virtually every company needs an HR department, no matter how small or large. HR handles many of a company’s responsibilities, including keeping everyone feeling safe and secure while they work.
How can HR handle employee concerns with a mobile workforce, though? It’s an interesting question and one many companies must address in 2024. Overcoming mobile workforce management challenges can definitely create some headaches, but it’s crucial. We’ll talk about the unique concerns facing HR departments with companies that have accepted a remote work model right now.
What Does A Mobile Workforce Mean?
A mobile workforce means a company’s employees don’t visit a centralized location or spend time there. Remote work also describes this concept.
This resembles hybrid work, but it’s not quite the same. Hybrid work means the employees spend some time at the company’s physical offices, but they also spend some days away from them. On those days, they do home-based work.
Many employees want either totally remote work right now or a hybrid model. Some companies may fight against this, but they’re having a hard time retaining their workers.
Now, let’s talk about how HR departments can handle a remote workforce.
A Comprehensive Work Platform the HR Department Can Monitor
Companies that embrace remote work can find many online content management and communication systems. These usually resemble Slack or similar software platforms.
These platforms usually cost money. The company pays a certain amount each month. The business world calls this a software-as-a service model, or SaaS.
Employees sign into the system when they’re working, and their boss can monitor them that way. Their supervisors and coworkers can see when they’re online and active. Employees can message each other throughout the day, work on projects together, and even have live chats face-to-face or through instant messaging.
When workers get away from this platform and start messaging each other privately, that’s when the HR department can’t monitor them as well. That’s why many HR departments tell workers they should communicate only on the designated platform, whether that’s a proprietary one or one a parent company offers and manages.
If two workers start messaging each other off the designated platform, HR can’t monitor that so well. However, if harassment or inappropriate behavior occurs, a worker can still share private text messages or other communication with HR if necessary.
What Happens Online Has the Same Basic Rules
HR departments have started discussing inappropriate behavior during each employee’s onboarding process. They might do this by sending over reading material that describes the company’s policies. They can also do a live chat via Skype or a similar tool with each new worker.
The HR department usually makes the company’s policies clear. They expect employees to follow specific behavior mandates, whether they’re online or in person.Â
This includes not saying or insinuating anything offensive or inappropriate. Most employees understand this and follow the policies, but there’s something about the remote work model that can cause unruly behavior, and HR departments must monitor and discourage such activities.
Why Does The Remote Work Model Encourage Poor Behavior?
In theory, employees working remotely won’t influence their behavior, especially when you can monitor what they’re doing via the platform your company has selected. They will have the same assignments, and you can watch over their activities and see their productivity in real time.
However, some individuals forget themselves when they’re behind a computer screen. They might say or do something inappropriate, even if they can’t hide behind anonymity.
HR departments must know about this and police it. They can let each worker handle their conduct, but if they see an individual making an insensitive comment or anything along those lines, they must step in.Â
Every worker should feel welcome and respected, whether in a digital space or a physical one.
In general, HR departments have the same issues handling remote employees as they do handling in-person work. They can do payroll, address any employee concerns, handle paid time off and maternity leave, etc.
If a worker isn’t conducting themselves appropriately, an HR representative can discuss that with them. Often, a written reprimand will remind them that they must remain respectful and on task.
The remote work model has its challenges, but in general, modern companies and workers like it. HR departments do too, but their duties look a little different in the digital workspace. Â
Guest Writer
Â
