| Today's economy is really giving the Virtual | | | | The same hours that would apply in the office |
| workforce a boost. Many companies are allowing | | | | should apply virtually. |
| employees to work from home several days a | | | | Setting clear expectations and an open relationship |
| week and freelance workers are gaining popularity | | | | between manager and employee will help maintain |
| as businesses are cutting down on office space, | | | | trust and therefore create a productive |
| equipment and headcount. | | | | environment and successful team. |
| Telecommuting has many benefits to the | | | | Essential Technology is Necessary |
| employee, employer and the environment. Some | | | | Having the right technology available is an integral |
| of the benefits include flexibility to parents in | | | | part to the success of a virtual workforce. |
| regards to daycare costs and to commuters who | | | | Staff and management must stay connected and |
| are sick of paying countless dollars in gas every | | | | communicate effectively. Video conference via |
| week. Telecommuting also has been reported to | | | | the internet is extremely useful. Such webinar |
| greatly reduce employee absenteeism and | | | | software as MegaMeeting, and Polycom provide |
| increase overall satisfaction. It's no wonder many | | | | full service video conference and VOIP services. |
| organizations are instituting telecommuting pilot | | | | If the budget is tight, Skype is also a useful |
| projects! | | | | service for video conferencing. |
| While the benefits are high, virtual workforces are | | | | Skype and Polycom are extremely valuable for |
| very new and therefore very scary to the | | | | teleconferencing. They both use Voice Over I.P. |
| employer who is used to physically seeing | | | | (VOIP) systems and are therefore extremely |
| employees and their work habits on a daily basis. | | | | affordable. |
| There are many questions and concerns, which is | | | | Other tools that are essential to the success of a |
| a given when a new concept is introduced, | | | | virtual workforce are the standard Microsoft |
| however this doesn't mean it cannot work, and | | | | Office products such as PowerPoint, Excel, |
| work very well! | | | | Outlook or Lotus Notes. It is also extremely easy |
| Telecommuting is consistently being proven that it | | | | to keep in touch with free messenger services |
| can indeed work. Here are some tips to | | | | such as MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and |
| successfully work with a virtual workforce. | | | | IBM Lotus Sametime. |
| Establish Trust | | | | Training and Support |
| Without trust, a virtual workforce simply won't | | | | Since the virtual office is such a new concept, |
| work. On the other hand, without trust, offices | | | | many employers and employees are not sure |
| are hard to work in. Management simply must | | | | how to create the proper structure or manual for |
| trust that the employees they found competent | | | | their virtual business. With any introduction to new |
| enough to hire after the interview, are also | | | | technology, training is essential when an entire |
| competent to complete assignments on their own | | | | office team is expected to learn and develop new |
| and on time. | | | | skills. It also increases employee morale and |
| Managers in charge of virtual workforces should | | | | boosts trust between management and |
| also understand that working remotely does not | | | | employee, both qualities are vital to a virtual |
| mean that the employee is reachable at all times. | | | | workforce. |