Are My Employees Actually Working Virtually?

Remote work has a number of benefits for companies and employees alike. For companies, it has allowed teams to easily coordinate from all around the world. For individuals, it has provided the flexibility to achieve a better work-life balance. Also, because of the reduced commuting time, it is beneficial for the planet.

As a result, the majority of companies are continuing to provide work-at-home options in the vaccine era.  Even in the post-pandemic world, most companies plan on continuing to allow at least some of their employees to work remotely.

The obvious question is, why wouldn’t everybody move to remote work? For starters, it is not practical for all jobs. Factory and retail workers, for example, have no practical way of working from home. But even many office-based companies have been hesitant to transition to a remote work environment.

There are several reasons for this. For one thing, many people prefer to work in person, where they can also form friendships. For some people, working from home can require extra money for equipment.

Another major reason is that it can be tough for employers to know whether their employers are actually working. When you are in the office, you need to at least pretend to be working. When you are at home, it is far more tempting to play hookie and pretend to work. If you don’t know whether your employees are working, they might be sitting around playing video games, or out having thier car detailed.

Time Theft and Your Business

Time theft is what happens when an employee is only pretending to work. It is a type of theft because they are not delivering the work they were paid for. According to some estimates, as much as 20 percent of all payrolls are wasted on time theft. No matter how you cut it, that is a big part of your company’s bottom line.

For an in-person business, this is challenge enough. But with a remote work environment, it is even more difficult. As a result, it is understandable that some companies are concerned about letting employees work from home.

Consider a Software Solution

One way to make sure your employees are actually working is to use employee monitoring software. There are many of these services available, with various degrees of access. This may cost some money, but it is much cheaper than losing a bunch of time to time theft.

Keep in mind that all your monitoring software needs to comply with relevant privacy laws. For example, you cannot record your employees without their knowledge. For this reason, it makes sense to use a reputable monitoring service, rather than going it alone.

Instead, most remote monitoring software relies on monitoring user activity. It tracks which apps are being used, and when. It also tracks when apps go idle. If someone is spending all their time on social media, you will know. Similarly, if they are actively using work-related software, you are going to know that as well. This can help you identify wasted time, and pinpoint opportunities for improvement.

Contact Our Coral Springs Business Law Attorney for More Information

Attorney Matthew Fornaro represents business owners and companies throughout Florida. Our legal team can help you with your startup, answer questions about employee matters, or assist you with business litigation. If you have a question about business law matters, we are here to help.

Call 954-324-3651 or contact us online to schedule an appointment or for more information about our business law services.