Given the unprecedented turn of events the world has experienced recently, it would be safe to say days of mass employee migration into work are numbered. While face-to-face employment will inevitably continue in some capacity, many businesses and experts now expect that flexibility will become the new standard. The extraordinary course of business in 2020 has necessitated remote work on a scale never before experienced. Given that many have become used to working remotely, what should we expect to happen as life returns to normal?

A Break Against Tradition

Lots of businesses have had to adjust, searching to find the balance that works for them. Once all of the systems and mechanisms work to achieve the end goal, there’s no reason to change anything. Businesses like this have no doubt experienced resistance to departure from tradition. These are likely the same organisations that have had the hardest time adapting to remote work. So, the adage seems to ring true – old habits die hard. But sooner or later, things always change. New technologies, competitive nature and dynamic social and professional norms force businesses to change with the times. Those that stand still against the tides of modernisation punch a one-way ticket to obsolescence. Today, remote work is becoming increasingly common – the most adaptable organisations are implementing the systems they need to support their geographically separate employees.

The Evolving Role of the Employee

The working experiment presented by the pandemic has proven to many that the wheels will keep on turning even when team members are geographically separated. But businesses beware, the responsibility regarding employee safety and wellbeing doesn’t stop just because fewer are in the office. As they move away from the traditional workplace, remote worker management systems need to be implemented to fulfil that responsibility.

Technological Contact

The importance of staying connected in the modern – and increasingly remote – workplace cannot be understated. Working from home or operating in any other remote capacity comes with pros and cons. Independence and flexibility need to be balanced with isolation. Beyond safety, is the crux of remote worker management – wellbeing. Remote work can open employees up to anxiety, loneliness and other afflictions perpetuated by separation. Remote worker management and communication technologies are fundamental when dealing with these risks. Remote worker management solutions keep people in contact – and contact is invaluable.

Staying Connected and Safe

Legal and moral obligations are why remote worker management has become so important to modern business. Remote worker management is the technology by which organisations keep regular contact with and assess the safety and wellbeing of their employees. The optimal solution is thorough enough to provide complete oversight of staff’s wellbeing and safety but also considerate and non-evasive for users. But that can be a tricky line to tow.

SafetyIQ’s remote worker management solutions checks all of these boxes. Whether they are travelling through an isolated area or are working from home, users complete a quick and easy risk assessment to communicate their welfare status to their managers. A check-in system confirms employees’ safety and affirms that the organisation is keeping in contact with them. As a remote worker management platform, SafetyIQ’s software solutions are regularly updated as development progresses. For example, recent integration with Geotab allows businesses to quickly identify their employees travelling in tagged vehicles, while an upcoming update with Power BI will offer organisations intelligent and advanced analysis of their data. The number of influencing factors changing business and work seem to be too many to count. But the fact that the role of the employee continues to evolve is undeniable.

Although change is challenging, it’s a part of progress – remote worker management is evidence of this. Employees have more time and flexibility in their days and businesses have a happier cohort, all the while remaining connected through innovative technologies. For more information on remote worker management, get in touch with the team at SafetyIQ.