Our New Normal
Managing and Leading Employees Working Remotely
Managing and leading employees under normal operations and times of face-to-face interactions is challenging. Add the uncertainties of a pandemic, and the challenges become magnified when managing and leading employees virtually. Whether managing employees onsite or remotely, communication is key to the success of a team.
Communication is more critical when employees work from home. One of the common challenges of remote work is social isolation. Interactions and connections between team members in the office are removed. As a manager or supervisor, ensure employees continue to be connected as a team by scheduling daily and/or weekly check-ins or meetings. During the check-ins or meetings, allow a few minutes prior to the start of the meeting for some non-work social interactions to catch-up with each other such as “How was your weekend?” Also, include time for virtual social lunch times, and encourage other non-work social interactions such as a virtual office celebration or group wellness challenge.
For additional resources on how to manage a team while working remotely, visit the Supervisor Toolkit.
