With so many working from home, a great deal of the ordinary communication and team energy of the office is lost. It’s important for managers to counter that by using available technologies, according to a report, “Best Practices in Remote Working for Staffing Firms,” released by SIA.

The report, based on a survey of more than 13,000 internal staffing firm workers, noted that loss of communication, coordination and socialization was a top disadvantage to working from home.

Comments from the internal staff surveyed included:

• “When you aren’t around the account managers, you miss the opportunity to ask questions, and face time is important with them.”
• “We are a phone-driven business, and things happen in real time, which can be difficult to coordinate remotely.”
• “You really need the team energy that you get from working in the office.”

“When you walk into a well-functioning staffing office, you can feel an energy and enthusiasm that is part of what makes it work — people supporting each other, communicating key information rapidly, etc.,” said Jon Osborne, VP of strategic research at SIA. “It takes an effort to duplicate that among a dispersed workforce, but there are useful steps that can be taken.”

To fight the effects of isolation, encourage virtual meetings, phone and instant messaging, and emphasize that you are available to your staff; they should feel connected to you as well as each other. Use of video technology for remote meetings is important. Further, find the right balance; some communication is good but too much can result in workers feeling overwhelmed. Follow the same best-practice rules for virtual meetings as you already use for in-person meetings.

The report contains other best practices and ideas for managing a remote workforce, from key metrics to tips for creating a work-from-home environment. It’s available for corporate members of SIA.