Monitoring Employees In A Changing Work Environment
 
Jul 19, 2016
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Supervising employees is equal parts art and science. The science involves the process of ensuring that tasks are completed, working time is logged, and skills are sharpened. The art is more about understanding the people, knowing what motivates and inspires them.

Both aspects of the role as a human resource worker are challenging, but the science, in particular, is reasonably easy to manage. Today's workforce isn't always situated in rows of cubicles or a long stream of workers along an assembly line. They are mobile, off-site, or even home-based, and they require all the same supervision that in-house employees require.

The challenge here is obvious. How do we maintain contact with far-flung workers who must maintain a high level of productivity and efficiency with a low level of company interaction?

Fortunately, the same communication and Cloud technology that permits those workers to operate from elsewhere can also make sure that they are properly monitored without intrusive or time-consuming constant contact from management.

The use of software and phone apps by HR departments is helping companies maintain the best of both worlds. They get all the access of employees who are at headquarters or other company locations, yet they have the freedom to put them wherever it's most effective to do so.

Such systems are successful for several key reasons. The value of these monitoring systems is clear from these benefits that they provide for companies of all sizes.

Equal Monitoring

It can be very destructive to an employee's morale if he or she feels singled out by management for closer monitoring or heavier supervision. With an automated system, everyone is overseen equally.
This is much easier for the supervisor as well. His or her time is used more efficiently because employees are kept in electronic view at all times. There's no wondering who stepped out for a break, who has been called elsewhere to help, or who is off sick. Everything is right there at the supervisor's fingertips.

Expected Oversight

Nothing creates accountability quite like the expectation of being checked on. There is a misperception that supervisors must be present all day, every day to prevent inappropriate use of time. That's a myth.
The only thing that's necessary to keep employees accountable is the expectation that a supervisor will be in contact. If a worker is aware that his or her supervisor could pop up on video conference, telephone, text, or email at any given moment, he or she will be more conscientious about punctuality, attendance, and staying on task.

Efficient Upkeep

Paper is now officially out of favor. There's no need for a constant stack of wasted trees to handle tasks that we can now do electronically. Submission, editing, processing, and archiving are faster, cleaner, and simpler when they are done via the computer or smartphone.

Supervising employees is just another example of that sleek performance. Logging work hours, managing employee communication, and providing information is much easier when it's done electronically, freeing up time for the real mission of the company.

The more technology takes workers away from each other, the more it can pull them back together. The wide array of programs and apps available to companies today makes it ever easier to keep a tight-knit workforce despite the miles between them.

Written by Jane Brown