Managing Off-Site Staff for Small Business

Make the move to off-site staffing!Does your business need more employees but you don't have the office space to accomodate them? Does someone on your staff want to work from home? Do you want to promote a flexible work environment but fear losing profits? Off-site staff may be the answer.The changing face of today's workforce and workplace means that employers need to seek alternative solutions to accomodate the needs of workers and expand their businesses. Managing Off-site Staff for Small Business provides managers with the tools to set up and mantain a productive off-site staffing program that benefits both employees and employers.This book explains how to:Determine whether off-site staffing or telecommuting is right for your companyAssess new and current telework candidatesTrain telemanagers and teleworkersHelp off-site staff to copeCommunicate effectivelySet up the home officeMeasure the success of your programTake care of the legal details

Make the move to off-site staffing!Does your business need more employees but you don't have the office space to accomodate them? Does someone on your staff want to work from home? Do you want to promote a flexible work environment but fear losing profits? Off-site staff may be the answer. The changing face of today's workforce and workplace means that employers need to seek alternative solutions to accomodate the needs of workers and expand their businesses. Managing Off-site Staff for Small Business provides managers with the tools to set up and mantain a productive off-site staffing program that benefits both employees and employers. This book explains how to: Determine whether off-site staffing or telecommuting is right for your company Assess new and current telework candidates Train telemanagers and teleworkers Help off-site staff to cope Communicate effectively Set up the home office Measure the success of your program Take care of the legal details

Learn how to set up and manage distance workers with confidence! Managing Off-site Staff provides managers with the tools they need to set up and maintain a productive telecommuting program that benefits both employees and employers.

CONTENTSNotice ixForeword xiIntroduction xv1 Telecommuting: What It Is and Why You Need to Know 1Executive Summary 31. The Origins of Telecommuting 52. The Terminology of Telecommuting 73. The Trend toward Telecommuting 94. The Growth of Telecommuting 105. Myths and Misconceptions 126. The Drawbacks and Challenges 146.1 For employers 146.2 For employees 167. The Benefi ts and Rewards 177.1 For employers 187.2 For employees 198. Case Study 22101forSMALL BUSINESSiv Managing off-site staff2 Getting Started 25Executive Summary 271. Which Jobs Are Best for Remote Work? 292. Is Your Business Ready to Manage 33Off-site Staff?3. Handling Resistance from Managers 35and Employees4. What Resources Are Required? 374.1 Offi ce equipment and tools 384.2 Safety considerations 395. The Characteristics of a Successful Program 396. Case Study 413 Policies And Procedures 43Executive Summary 451. Policy Considerations 471.1 Work hours 481.2 Work assignments 481.3 Evaluation 481.4 Salary and benefi ts 491.5 Overtime 491.6 Equipment 492. Documenting Your Policies and Procedures 492.1 Policy statement 492.2 Selection criteria 512.3 Expectations/responsibilities of off-site employees 512.4 Work schedules 522.5 Equipment and supplies 522.6 Insurance 532.7 Employer’s right to inspect workplace 532.8 Privacy and confi dentiality 542.9 Performance measurement 542.10 Company policies 542.11 Termination of the agreement 542.12 Employment-at-will disclaimer 553. Case Study 55Contents v4 Off-Site Relationships with Existing Staff 57Executive Summary 591. Working Remotely Is Not for Everyone 622. Selection Criteria 633. Assessing Candidates 644. Traits of Successful Teleworkers 675. Perils and Pitfalls 675.1 It just doesn’t work 675.2 It’s not fair! 695.3 My manager won’t let me! 696. Case Study 705 Recruiting Employees For Telecommuting Positions 71Executive Summary 731. Social media for recruitment 762. The Internet as a Recruiting Tool 781.2 Effective online recruiting 801.3 Using your own website 812. Other Sources of Applicants 813. Steps in the Hiring Process 823.1 Position requirements 833.2 Selection criteria 843.3 Interviewing candidates for off-site jobs 853.4 References 864. Perils and Pitfalls 875. Case Study 886 Training Off-site Workers and Their Managers 91Executive Summary 931. Employee Training 961.1 Characteristics of employee training programs 961.2 A structure for training 971.3 Making it real 992. Supervisor/Manager Training 992.1 An unnerving transition for managers 100vi Managing off-site staff2.2 A structure for supervisory training 1002.3 Supervisor’s checklist 1033. Team Training 1034. Training the Rest of the Staff 1045. After Training 1046. Tips for Starting Telecommuters 1057. Case Study 1067 Managing Telecommuters 109Executive Summary 1111. The Truth about Managing Off-site Staff 1132. Traits of Successful Remote Managers 1143. Setting Objectives 1163.1 Establishing job standards 1173.2 Establishing goals 1184. Providing Feedback 1205. Communication 1215.1 The technology of communication 1216. Maintaining Involvement 1247. Motivating Off-site Staff 1258. If the Relationship Doesn’t Work 1269. Additional Tips for Managers of Off-Site Staff 12810. Case Study 1298 Program Outcomes 133Executive Summary 1351. Measuring Program Outcomes 1372. Why Alternative Work Arrangements Fail 1383. Case Study 141Contents viiAppendixes1. Telecommuting Proposal 1452. Telecommuting Policy 1473. Telecommuter’s Agreement 1574. Telecommuting Agreement 1595. Telecommuting Resources 1636. Merritt Group Elecommute Program 1657. Merritt Group Cell Phone/Smart Phone Policy 1678. Remote Access Permission 169Tables1 Percentage of Organizations Offering 21Various Flexible Working Benefi ts2 Flexible Work Benefi ts by Year 223 Flexible Work Benefi ts by Organization Size 224 Assessment for Suitability for Telecommuting 655 Example of Goals Outlined for 118Telecommuting EmployeesSamples1 Common Traits of Successful Telecommuters 682 Examples of Job Recruitment Postings 803 Sample Outline for a Telecommuting 98Training Program4 Teleworking Issues — AG Communication 130Systems Telework Handbook5 Managing Telecommuters: Tips for Supervisors 131Figures1 Barriers to Implementation 35Checklists1 Telecommuting Safety Checklist 402 Supervisor's Checklist for Telecommuters 102