Technology is a beautiful thing, and for many businesses out there, it’s the backbone of their operations. Without the software and tools that technology offers, many companies would struggle to succeed. Nowhere is this more obvious than in companies that rely on global remote teams. This enables a business to hire top talent from around the world, without worrying about borders and locations.
However, it isn’t always easy to work with global remote teams. If you own a business that employs a remote team from around the world, then you know just how challenging things can get. Before you get too bogged down by the stress, here’s a look at three common challenges global remote teams face and how to overcome them.
What Do You Do About the Legality of Hiring in Another Country?
One of the greatest advantages of global remote teams is being able to recruit top talent from around the world, allowing you to hire the best of the best in their field. But this can also pose a big challenge in terms of legality.
When your business isn’t located in the country where you plan to hire an employee, you can run into legal problems. You may not be able to offer them full-time employment. And it doesn’t stop there; it can also mean those employees cannot take on a car lease, mortgage rent, and more. Because you don’t want top talent to slip away, it’s important to find a solution.
This is when you’ll want to look into an EOR company to solve this challenge. An EOR company, or an employer of record organization, can hire an employee who works for a different company. Things such as compliance regulations, local payroll and more are then looked after by the EOR company. It’s a simple solution and one that allows you to continue to find the best of the best, regardless of their location.
While it’s true you could take the route of hiring independent contractors, the problem is that a full-time employee is offered a lot more benefits, so many qualified people tend to prefer this type of employment.
How Do You Effectively Manage Employees from a Distance?
Another common challenge that companies face when relying on global remote teams is how to effectively manage employees from a distance. How do you ensure that everyone is on track with their responsibilities and that departments are communicating effectively? Once again, here’s where technology can provide you with solutions.
There are many tools, apps and software meant to help with organization and communication. Employees can connect in real time regardless of where they are located. As any manager knows, communication is pivotal to the success of a company. This means encouraging employees to stay in communication with one another and collaborate in a digital sense.
This solution may take a bit of tweaking before you find the right tools for your needs, so be patient and stay laser-focused on your goals. Micro-managing isn’t necessary for global remote teams to be successful and productive.
Social Isolation Is a Real Issue and Needs to Be Recognized
From the outside looking in, it may sound great to work from the comfort of one’s home, but that isn’t always the case. Social isolation is real and it can affect your employees. Because you aren’t sitting in a room together, it can create a sense of loneliness.
Because you don’t want social isolation settling in and negatively affecting employees, be sure to create a welcoming and collaborative vibe. Encourage open communication and remote interactions so that it feels as though you’re sharing the same space.
The good news is that each of these challenges is common and there are solutions for each. It’s important to address issues when they pop up and not allow them to snowball.