Until COVID-19 came along, there was a widespread perception that working remotely meant that employees would be less productive.

However, research in the past couple of years has shown that workers are actually more productive, overall, when they are working remotely. But that increase in productivity can come with an increase in stress, hours worked, and—if not managed properly—burnout.

Remote work is more commonplace today than at any time in history. Many companies are reevaluating their work models, especially in light of COVID-19. Technology is a motivating force in offering remote work options. Work once done in the office can now be done anywhere with a computer and an Internet connection. In addition, video chats, communication apps, and other programs (like document sharing) provide platforms for teamwork.

Sometimes working remotely means working while surrounded by family members or roommates. Maybe you don't have a private, dedicated workspace that allows you to work with no disruptions. Maybe you continuously find yourself thinking about work even during your time off. Whatever the case may be, your remote work life will benefit from setting boundaries early on.

Finding and selecting the best talent is a critical element of organizational success. It's essential to have a robustPros & Cons of Hiring Remote Workersrecruitment and selection process to attract the best candidates and hire the most qualified applicant for each position.

COVID has made working remotely the norm within many companies. It's important for managers to remember that communicating with remote workers poses certain challenges. For example, a manager can't simply walk over to an employee's desk to make a quick request. Every exchange is more intentional, and phone calls, video chats, emails, and other forms of conversation can disrupt productivity and workflow.

Becca Van Nederynen is an expert in remote management. She is Head of People Operations at Help Scout, a web-based help desk where 100 percent of staff work remotely. Her team focuses on recruiting, hiring, and developing employees who thrive remotely and strives to keep staff well connected in a virtual environment. She has previous experience working in database marketing, product marketing, product management, and user research.

The novel coronavirus outbreak has forced many companies to implement mandatory remote work, an arrangement that for many is completely new and daunting. And while employees can find a plethora of advice columns online on how to make telecommuting a positive experience, there is less guidance available for managers on how to effectively lead their remote staff. According to Owl Labs’ 2019 State of Remote Work report, 15% of remote employee managers surveyed received no level of training on how to manage this growing labor force.

The remote workforce has substantially changed the labor market forever, from the hiring process to expected benefits, from employee retention to technology costs. Yet, only about three quarters of remote employee managers have received some level of training on how to manage this new labor force.