Today’s workforce is no longer chained to the cubicle. In fact, with sources like Inc. magazine reporting that mobile workers can save companies up to $11,000 per employee annually, smart companies are exploring more ways to transition their workforce to a mobile labour force.
Still, even seasoned managers can face significant challenges in organizing and communicating with mobile employees. These are four challenges of managing a mobile labour force and how to address them.
Lack Of Tracking
What are your mobile employees doing all day? The job duties of your mobile labour force are probably unique to each employee. But without some understanding into what your employees are accomplishing, managers may wrongly think employees are underperforming or mistakenly assuming their job duties are being accomplished. Implementing a workforce management system is a simple way for managers and mobile employees to come together to track important work milestones and record communication to make job duties clear and concise. Establishing a tracking system gives managers and mobile employees a method to get on the same page regarding job performance.
Addressing Security Concerns
Sending employees out into the public comes with its share of potential dangers. Having company information in the hands of multiple employees in a variety of environments can be a recipe for disaster without the proper safeguards. Managers with a mobile labour force need to work closely with their IT department or vendors to establish a safe and effective way to communicate and dispense company information. Education needs to be part of that equation both for managers and mobile employees to ensure that everyone in the company is aware of the proper way to communication while in the field. Security concerns, particularly in the healthcare and security field, make it more difficult for managers with a mobile workforce but by building relationships with IT, they can overcome these challenges.
Increasing Communication
Communication is a two-way street and while many managers place value on their mobile employees keeping in contact with them, they don’t foster open communication. Rather than meeting face-to-face during morning rounds or in the break room, managers need to contact their mobile employees on a consistent basis using messaging, video conferencing, or phone calls to develop a relationship with that employee. Not only does this help managers understand how their employees are spending their days but it also gives mobile employees an avenue to discuss new ideas, resolve challenges, and improve productivity. Managers with a mobile labour force need to establish a consistent method encouraging communication and establishing relationships.
Improving Commitment
Humans are social creatures and while a mobile position may be preferred by some employees, they still crave interaction with their company and their colleagues. When mobile employees don’t feel plugged into their company, they become less incentivized to produce quality work and are more likely to seek opportunities elsewhere. Improving the commitment of mobile employees by including them in company meetings and celebrations is essential. Whether that means having employees work a certain number of days in the office or having mobile workers video conference in for meetings, managers need to find ways to improve the commitment of their mobile workers by making them part of the company culture.
Managing a mobile labour force may seem like an easier assignment than in-house employees but to effectively manage mobile employees, managers need to implement a stringent system for tracking performance, ensuring security, increasing communication, and ensuring those employees feel as though they are a part of the company. These four challenges need to be addressed by any manager who hopes to effectively support their mobile labour force.
