August 2021
Still a Hot Topic: Considerations for Offering Remote Working
Remote working continues to be a hot topic as many businesses are still navigating the return (or lack of return) to the office as restrictions eased off in the UK last month. Is remote working a permanent option you should consider for your business?
Remote working has many rewards for both employers and employees – a better work life balance, more scope for hiring talent far and wide, reduced running costs and occasionally greater efficiency, among many other benefits. Of course, as with any big change there are some challenges for a business to overcome before they can cash in on the benefits.
If you’re ready to take on the challenges to cash in on the remote working benefits, we’re here to help. We’ve gone over the key details you’ll need to consider before you offer remote working as a permanent option for your team:
PAYE Outside the UK
There’s so much variety present in remote working – where employees are working from, how long for etc. – that you need to prepare for the different challenges it can present. One of them, which only really applies when employees are working outside of the UK, is making sure you know tax laws you need to obey in order to stay compliant.
Not all countries have the same arrangements with the UK, and as the employer, ensuring the right PAYE is being paid will be down to you and your accounting department. Luckily, the government has provided a thorough guide to overcoming this hurdle, available online. If you’re still unsure, it pays to talk to a finance professional to stay on the right side of tax law.
Getting the Best Tools
Remote working’s mass expansion has been made possible thanks to the rise in Cloud-based technology and the solutions its paved the way for. Obviously, if you’re going to implement remote working, then you need to make the most of these solutions and have them put in place before an employee orders their first latte and settles down to work in their local coffee shop.
You’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of tools available to help remote working take off smoothly (and stay under control), such as Lunar’s bespoke CRM solution, featuring integration with a multitude of third party apps. Well, we couldn’t not mention it, could we?
Understanding Expectations
Remote working success is built on a foundation of trust, and a huge part of that trust means meeting expectations – both between you and the employee(s). This means outlining what is expected from different members of the team, including catching up at regular intervals, and explaining the conditions for remote working (for example, if it’s two days in the office, three out).
On your side of the table, your team need to know what to expect from you, for instance, if they need help or want to catch up. Between you, you’ll need to foster the kind of trust which will leave both parties feeling confident, connected and ready to be remote.
Communication, Communication, Communication
Whether it’s through email, phone calls, WhatsApp or your bespoke CRM, you’ll need to work out how communication will be carried out, as well as how often. The best teams are the ones who stay connected and on the same page, and it’ll be up to you to work out how best to approach this challenge.
Managing this communication is also part of the package, and ensuring that everybody is adjusting to the new way of communicating will be a task in its own right at the beginning – but once everybody is used to the changes, it’ll come naturally.
Ask Yourself ‘Is it Fair?’
Finally – and an important aspect of remote working, but one that is often overlooked – you must ask yourself if the remote working scheme in your business is fair. Are you offering it to everybody, or just a select few? Will you consider requests from some but not others? Is there a way you can make the whole process fairer?
They’re tough questions to ask yourself, and yet they’re key to making sure the whole team is happy with the remote working opportunities on offer. Answer them honestly and act on your decisions to create a remote working opportunity to be jealous of!
What are you waiting for? Get started on your remote working journey with a cloud-based bespoke CRM from Lunar CRM – available with third party integration to enhance your experience (and keep your favourite apps). Find out more on our website or get in touch to arrange a free demo.