How is remote work changing the world of human resources?

 How is remote work changing the world of human resources?



figure 1 remote work (big stock,2004).

In the previous five years, remote work has grown by 44%, according to current data. In
addition, many businesses have implemented some type of remote workspace since the COVID-
19 epidemic began. HR departments are faced with the issue of managing a dispersed workforce
of remote workers, some of whom may be located across the nation, because of this significant
expansion. Global HR departments now play a different game as a result of growing trends in
remote employment. Companies still need to offer the same resources to employees, whether
they work in an office or from home, despite these obstacles (Pacific Oaks , 2023) .


HR’s Role in the World of the Remote Workforce

  •  Facilitating Communication
Frequent and continuous communication. Their advice for managers, such as to check in
frequently, use video conferencing when practical, and be accessible, is also helpful for HR
specialists who support the management of telecommuters. Additionally, respondents to the
survey stated that they valued managers who developed relationships with them outside of the
workplace. These relationships can be developed outside of the direct report structure through
company events and online communication hubs.


  •  Virtual Onboarding
Since managers and coworkers are the only people who need to be involved in training a new
hire, some businesses attempt to manage onboarding without the assistance of HR services and
professionals. However, excluding HR from the onboarding process means passing up chances to
develop company culture and promote teamwork. In the case of remote employees, building a
relationship with HR early on may assist new recruits in connecting with individuals outside of
their immediate workgroup, which in turn can help them feel more connected to the business as a
whole.

  • Expanded Search & Recruitment
HR professionals have long had a significant hiring duty, but as more employees choose to work
from home, the search and hiring process has undergone a significant shift. Today, geography is
no longer a barrier to finding the right person. Some professions now allow workers to work
remotely free, thanks to improved communication and collaboration tools. The number of
participants on the field increases as a result, although this does not necessarily make the game
simpler or better. Experienced recruiting professionals are essential to ensuring the success of a
team that includes remote employees since it may be dangerous to hire outside of your orbit,
whether that be in terms of geography, connections, or skill, particularly when paired with the
particular difficulties of managing a remote workforce.

  •  Digital Engagement
HR services may truly succeed when it comes to fostering engagement for remote workers. As
one tactic, the company’s major events and accomplishments should be communicated to
everyoneactic, the company’s major events and accomplishments should be communicated to
everyone. A weekly or corporate bulletin that covers company objectives, fresh projects, and
personnel issues may serve to ensure that staff members are generally on the same page and,
depending on the topic, may even inspire enthusiasm for their job. Regular performance
evaluations are another tactic. The platform for frequent feedback may make all employees—not
just those who work remotely—feel more content, despite the fact that it may not sound
interesting.


  • Strategic Leadership
Beyond its conventional functions of hiring, compliance, and pay planning, HR services are now
a crucial component of a company's strategic business leadership team. Today, there is such a
strong emphasis on the employee experience and company image that any business goals that do
not take the people involved into account are likely to be challenging, if not impossible, to
accomplish. In the era of the remote worker, HR is being challenged to go beyond personnel
management and build businesses that anybody, anywhere, would want to work for (HR
Collaborative, 2023) .

Factors that may hinder engagement in remote working teams



Figure 2 : challenges of working from home (Erin,2021).

  •  Lack of physical interaction
Informal relationships inside a company are just as significant as professional ones. We have
been affected by lockdowns and physical separations, so as an HR manager, it is important to
stay in touch with the workforce. Over time, a lack of communication may have an impact on the
employees performance and ability to grasp their jobs.

  • Psychological stress
Every person is currently experiencing great anxiety and uncertainty. The need to monitor a
worker's mental health cannot be overstated. Wendy Cartwright, a taskforce member, stated in
2014 that there is a risk of burnout in situations with high engagement but low wellbeing, and
that in situations with high wellbeing but low engagement, employees may feel generally content
and well but be disconnected from the organizational purpose.

  •  Misinterpretation
Physical contact and regular encounters are lacking in distant employment. In turn, this results in
confusion, misunderstandings, and, in the worst scenarios, long-term loss. Thus, cultivating a
favorable influence on employees is essential.

  •  Technology fatigue
It gets boring to participate in ten or more online meetings every day. Staying still for long
periods of time makes screens and networks even more of a hassle. Some employees place a high
value on technological factors. Sometimes, the effects might be detrimental to the company
instead of positive. Workers who are drowsy become distracted and lose interest. On remote
teams, this might result in unintended mistakes and issues (Mehta, 2023) .

Conclusion

With the ease and affordability with which a fully functional workspace can be set up at home or
on the road, working remotely is becoming more and more common. Even more essential for
productivity, worker well-being, and worker safety is the proper remote workplace. It is
necessary for everything, including building, safety, and transportation. While you prepare for
remote teams or remote working arrangements, a capable HR team may take steps to ensure your
team's success.


References




HR Collaborative, (2023). HR Collaborative. [Online]
Available at: https://hrcollaborative.com/2018/05/what-is-hrs-role-in-the-world-of-the-remote-
workforce/
[Accessed 2 May 2023].
Mehta, S., (2023).People Box. [Online]
Available at: https://www.peoplebox.ai/blog/role-of-hr-in-employee-engagement-for-remote-
teams/
[Accessed 2 May 2023].
Pacific Oaks ,( 2023). Pacific Oaks. [Online]
Available at: https://www.pacificoaks.edu/voices/business/how-is-remote-work-changing-the-
world-of-human-resources/
[Accessed 2 May 2023].









Thank you and appreciate your comments.

D.M Nilushi Thushantha Dayarathna.
00174809.

Comments

  1. You've explained it better., thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good Article Nilush. One key challenge for HR departments in this context is ensuring that remote workers have access to the same resources and support as office-based employees. This may require developing new policies and practices to ensure that remote workers have access to the necessary tools and technologies to perform their jobs effectively. HR departments may also need to provide additional training and support to remote workers to help them adjust to working from home and to ensure that they are able to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for your very good comment.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree with Ruzly. Anyway the Presentation of the post is very good. Good job.

    ReplyDelete

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