How to Stay Connected with Remote Workers

21^st century offices don’t need to be based in an office at all. Behind pay, flexible working is the main reason workers choose to switch jobs. It can be beneficial because it means you get to attract and keep the best staff, such as those who are perfect for the job but have time commitments or travel difficulties that mean it would be tricky to get into an office every day, and it might mean that the position no longer becomes a strict 9-5 job, but one where your employees work at a more convenient time and become more productive as a result.

With 84% of people saying that they would change their jobs for a better work/ life balance, it is becoming increasingly important for employers to offer some flexibility in their workplace setup. One way to stay in touch and retain the office appearance to clients is using a VoIP package. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, works by using the internet as a means to transport your phone calls, meaning you can set up a network of phones which work on the same number but don’t need to be on the same phone line.

The great thing about VoIP is that you can keep all the useful office features, like having everyone contactable on the same company phone number, and keeping extensions for each individual, meaning clients can be transferred to the correct person quickly. This means that even when your staff are working from home, you can still contact them throughout the working day. This is better than email as it allows clients immediate contact to the people they are dealing with, which is reassuring and more professional.

VoIP can also be useful if you spend a lot of time on the phone to colleagues and clients abroad. It can push your phone bill up dramatically if you call abroad frequently, so by using the internet as a means of communication, your costs will come down. It’s effectively like a phone-based version of Skype, except you don’t need a computer.

In an age where it’s becoming extremely important for staff to be able to work around their other commitments and a lot of customer-based work takes place remotely, it can be a good idea to free your employees from their stressful commute and allow them to work from home or somewhere more convenient. As long as everyone is set up on the same network and can stay in touch, your virtual office will hopefully be more productive and more motivated.

Kyla Brunton is an office communications adviser who regularly blogs about the changing face of business telecoms.