A few years ago, 100% remote work seemed like a privilege reserved for a select few. However, advances in technology, the democratization of internet access, and the workplace transformation driven by the pandemic have made remote work a reality for many.

While employees benefit from this mode of employment, employers face a major challenge: how to manage remote workers located in different countries.

The Talent You Need Can Be Anywhere in the World

For HR leaders, remote work means access to highly qualified professionals from around the world. In the past—when working in-person was the only option—it would have been impossible to recruit these individuals. However, remote work allows organizations to hire the talent they need to drive growth, regardless of location.

This explains why, in Latin America, the number of people working from home jumped from 3% to around 30% between 2019 and 2021, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

In fact, a study by the consultancy IDC predicts that in the coming years, 68% of companies in Latin America will incorporate remote work into their HR policies.

Tips for Managing Remote Employees

Despite the many advantages remote work offers in terms of talent availability, managing a team of remote employees comes with challenges.

Without a proper strategy, running a company with workers in different countries—even without having branches in those territories—poses challenges related to communication, work organization, and employee equipment, among others.

Here are some tips to help you overcome these obstacles:

1.Foster Smooth Communication

While effective communication with peers, managers, and subordinates is crucial for any company's success, communicating from miles away is not the same as doing it face-to-face.

To avoid communication breakdowns, business leaders should promote interactions via video calls, phone meetings, emails, and messaging systems like Slack or Discord.

Encouraging employees to communicate and making it clear that communication channels are always available is key to proper remote management.

2. Set Work Structures Aligned with the Business

Do you need employees to be online during certain hours? Or will they work with total flexibility based on objectives?

Before hiring someone from another country—where time zones may differ—it’s essential to determine the work model and communicate it effectively to avoid future conflicts.

Additionally, it’s important to set clear expectations about what is required from employees and give them adequate timeframes for responding to messages and emails.

3. Trust in Employees' Performance

One of the critical points when managing remote teams is to avoid micromanagement.

Encouraging autonomy and trusting that employees are doing what they need to do to complete their tasks on time is the best way to boost their performance and motivate them to take responsibility.

4. Combat Isolation

One of the drawbacks of remote work is the sense of isolation that many employees often experience. This feeling, besides being uncomfortable, negatively impacts their productivity.

To combat this, it’s necessary to establish internal communication systems (such as company social portals or dedicated channels within messaging systems) where employees can connect with colleagues.

5. Ensure Employees Are Properly Equipped

Lastly, for remote employees to work, communicate, be monitored and monitor others, interact with managers and peers, and combat isolation, they need to be properly equipped.

This means that companies must provide the necessary hardware, such as laptops, monitors, smartphones, accessories, and tablets, among others.

However, organizations may sometimes face difficulties in delivering the necessary equipment, either because they don’t have branches in the countries where their employees are located, lack an internal team to handle this task, or must deal with multiple suppliers, complicating the purchasing department's job.

Hiring a company that provides hardware solutions for remote employees is the best way to resolve these issues.

At TecsPal, we help companies in LATAM and APAC by providing the hardware their remote workers need in these regions.

We work with multiple suppliers, allowing us to offer a wide variety of brands and models. Additionally, we ensure the equipment meets the needs of each client, guaranteeing the best price possible.

Spend your time finding and recruiting the right talent. We'll take care of ensuring they have the hardware they need to reach their full potential.