Using Time-Tracking Software To Monitor Remote Workers

Good time-keeping has always been a vital part of team accountability. Yet, with the current health crisis seeing more people than ever working remotely, how do you know your employees are doing the work that they should? That’s where time-tracking apps come in.

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WHAT ARE TIME-TRACKING APPS?

A time-tracking app records the programmes and apps being used at any time on a device. It logs when users are at their desk and whether they are working productively or not. In addition to this, it generates an automatic report on time usage, which it delivers to the account administrator or supervisor. Some examples of such apps include: Time Doctor, Timely and idonethis.

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HOW WILL MY TEAM FEEL ABOUT IT?

Managers of remote teams must be aware that the use of these aps will likely bring misgivings from team members. After all, the software can feel a lot like your bosses are spying on you and your computer at home. Managers should listen to the concerns of their individual team members before starting use of this type of software.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

They make it easier to invoice for overtime and additional time spent on work-related tasks.
It helps to build trust. As an employer, you can know that the work you are paying for is being completed on time and as efficiently as possible.
Remote employees are more accountable to their output each day. Thus, they are more likely to be motivated and produce greater results on a regular basis.
Timesheets and activity reports can be shared with clients so that they can closely monitor a project’s progress, and see which parts of the process require the most time and resources

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HOW TO IMPLEMENT REMOTE MONITORING: BEST PRACTICES

If you’re wondering how to implement remote monitoring policies in your company, here are some steps for you to follow:

WHY? – Think about why you want to implement time tracking within your business. Is it to keep an eye on employee productivity, monitor performance, increase billing or another reason?
SOFTWARE – look for software that has the necessary features to accurately monitor your workers and provide information for your goal.
EMPLOYEES – Introduce the policy to your employees, framing it as a hugely positive addition to your company.
CHECK IN – After a period of time, check in with your employees and let them give feedback. You can also use this time to discuss what you’ve learned about work patterns and productivity since you started monitoring.

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CREATE A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY

It is crucial that you create a culture of time tracking and monitoring in your organisation. To do this, managers should lead by example by sharing your time sheet and activity levels with their staff, and encourage the sharing of time sheets among remote teams. Openly sharing time sheets can help increase employee motivation. It also helps individual employees benchmark their performance, efficiency, and productivity against all other members of a company. This can lead to whole teams actively improving their daily work habits.

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