A new project to help small businesses manage employees who work from home more effectively was launched this week.
The Remote Manager’s Toolkit, launched by BT Business on Tuesday, will provide practical advice to small businesses on managing remote workers.
The project was launched off the back of research which found almost nine in ten small business managers have no formal training in managing home workers.
However, almost three quarters of small businesses operate ‘some form’ of home working – yet nearly half say they struggle to know how their remote workers are performing.
The toolkit contains advice from a panel of experts including Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Workwise UK; Nick Isles, director of advocacy at the Work Foundation, and Dr John Gundry, from remote working consultancy Knowledge Ability.
The panel came to a number of initial conclusions, including findings that some managers feel remote workers pose a threat to their jobs, with a lack of trust hampering the uptake of remote working.
They said the government needs to do more to support remote workers and employee rights to flexible working, urging businesses to learn from and adapt to the ‘MySpace generation’, who are increasingly comfortable with virtual interactions.
Bill Murphy, managing director of BT business, said despite the growth in home working among small businesses, there is a worrying lack of both management and IT skills.
“The launch of the Remote Manager’s Toolkit will ensure small businesses don’t miss the boat when it comes to the full benefits of remote working, including a happier and more productive workforce.
The Remote Manager’s Toolkit is due to be published later this year.
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2008
