We have remote employees at Check Issuing. Heck, I’m remote! It’s fabulous, let me tell you! Being remote means using my own toilet and snacking whenever I enjoy doing so (I’ve gained a pound or 10, though).
Hiring remote employees can be great, but they can also often feel a little insecure, almost ‘out of the mix.’ Silence, when you are remote, can be deafening. Being in an office environment means a lot more chatter, a lot more impromptu conversations breaking out. It involves eye contact and facial expressions, as well as reading someone’s inflection and mood. Being remote can be a strain on both employees and managers. First, learn how to manage yourself, the manager, better.
But it doesn’t have to be that way for your remote employees. Explore these management tips for your remote team. Managing remote employees is undoubtedly a challenging task. However, let’s explore ways to improve it.
Communicate even when there is nothing to say. You don’t have to burden someone with conversations about the weather on a minute-by-minute basis, but you should always check in a couple of times a day, even if just to say, “good morning.” This will make the employee feel as though they are part of the larger schematic. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to identify if the remote employee has any issues or concerns that they may be withholding due to feeling a bit detached. Employees can also become complacent when there is a lack of communication. They might feel a little less important and work less. You want them inspired. Reach out on a daily basis.
Ensure you have all the latest remote capabilities and that your remote employees are properly trained on them. Skype is a wonderful and obvious starting point. Ensure you use screen sharing to connect more effectively and solve problems, as well as learn new tasks. A product known as Jing is also wonderful for creating videos that show, on screen, exactly what you are talking about. Having all the latest software and ensuring that all remote employees are trained on it means you can effectively turn your home into a virtual extension of the office.
Offer a visit or meetup. If it is in the remote employee budget and possible, meeting and talking in person is never a bad idea. If you work from an office or in a remote location, consider inviting the remote employee to visit the office a couple of times a year to set up shop. If you don’t have an office, consider planning a meeting place that is convenient for everyone to meet up and talk face-to-face. You can have all the virtual software you want, but in the end, nothing replaces those face-to-face meetings.
Working remotely and hiring remote employees can serve as a significant benefit for both the employee and the small business, resulting in cost savings. While it can be stressful, if done correctly, it really has some pretty clear benefits.
5 Tools That Every Contractor or Remote Employee Should Have.
Working remotely or being a contract worker means rarely being in the same place as those you work or contract for. Therefore, it is your responsibility to be prepared and ensure your workflow is as seamless as possible. By using these 5 tools, you can up your remote game!
Skype
The simplest and most popular chat messenger is chock-full of capabilities for remote employees or contractors. Not only can you open up group messaging, but you can also utilize group chat functionality. This one doesn’t require a lot of explanation; it is really easy to use, and most people probably have used it, so you won’t have to explain it.
Camtasia
Want to show someone what you are talking about on your screen? Camtasia allows you to record what’s happening and then upload it to Google Drive (or wherever you prefer), quickly and easily sharing it with others. At Check Issuing, we use Camtasia to train new employees on our software. Camtasia is a comprehensive program, but it comes with an impressive tutorial that will take you less than an hour to complete, and then you’ll be a pro at creating cool, functional videos. If you do contract work, Camtasia can help you take it to the next level with clients.
Facetime
I know, FaceTime may seem a little played out, but with so many iPhones and a ton of WiFi connections, this one is a no-brainer to use. The quality is high, the use is simple, and easy to understand. FaceTime is really more for “face-to-face” meetings rather than teaching people things.
Awesome Screenshot
Awesome Screenshot allows you to create cool and nifty images and quickly edit, crop, add dialogue, and draw arrows. This may seem simple, but it is actually very powerful. The ability to quickly identify an issue on a page or a specific location where you are experiencing problems, without much effort, is essential for working remotely. It is easier to see something than to depend on others to understand you and reduce the stress of language barriers.
Using A Staffing Agency and the Check Fulfillment Process
There are always plenty of tasks on the plate of any small business owner that they must handle on a routine basis. The unprepared business owner who is incapable of handling this is detrimental to the company. One area that many small business owners struggle with is the check fulfillment process.
Why It Matters
It is never a good thing to have struggles with check fulfillment, considering its essential role in operating a business. Fortunately, there are ways to better equip oneself to handle this particular issue. For example, one might consider using a staffing agency and setting up a payroll system through them.
Working With A Staffing Agency
Companies utilize the services of a staffing agency for various reasons. Some of these include:
- Relief from an overload of work for full-time employees
- Trying out new employees before officially offering them a job
- Setting up a probationary period to lower costs and reduce benefits for those who only stay a short period of time
These are just a few of the reasons why companies turn to an agency. They may also seek out the opportunity to set up a payroll through the staffing agency. For a company with a high turnover rate, this is very helpful. They do not have to worry about constantly adding new employees to a permanent payroll system.
Set Up a System With the Staffing Agency
Staffing agencies frequently work with businesses. They understand the needs of a growing enterprise. At the beginning of the relationship with an agency, one needs only to establish a working system with that partner. The two parties come to an agreement about payments, and often the staffing agency will handle the payroll company near me functions for the new temporary employees brought in.
While this process only works for temporary employees brought in by the staffing agency, at least it saves some money. It is certainly better than the constant rotation of new employees on and off the main automated payroll service.
Last updated: October 2025