Working RemotelyJim Locke, PrincipalResultWorx Technology Group

Advantages of Remote Work

•A variety of studies indicate the following results▫Increase productivity▫Increase profitability▫Increase employee satisfaction and

retention▫Improve timeliness of customer service▫Disaster preparedness benefits of a

distributed work environment▫Environmental benefits

Financial Impact

•A report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers highlighted benefits of remote working including “reducing absenteeism, lowering turnover, improving the health of workers, and increasing productivity.”

•A report by The Telework Coalition found:▫Average savings of $20,000/year for each

full-time employee who works remotely;▫22% increase in employee productivity▫50% reduction in employee turnover

Getting Started

•Create a Remote Work Policy•Remote Workplace Design

▫Discuss necessary hardware▫Discuss other specific considerations and

tools•Sample Remote Work Solutions

▫Sales/Real Estate Offices▫Traveling Executive▫Independent Consultant

•Managing a Remote Workforce

Create a Remote Work Policy

•Establish a remote work policy that clearly addresses the following:▫Work Rules and Human Resource Issues▫Financial obligations of both parties▫Equipment Ownership▫Information Security

•Reference Materials:▫About.com▫Sample Remote Work Agreement

Remote Workplace Design

•Where will you work?•What equipment will you need?•Specific Considerations for Remote Work

▫Communications▫Remote Access▫Collaboration▫Disaster Preparedness▫Security

Where Will You Work?

•Determine your primary work environment?▫Home office▫Customer’s office▫Automobile/Traveling

•Where else will you need to be able to work?

•What equipment will you need in each environment?

What Equipment Will You Need?•At minimum, you will need the following:

▫Computer (Desktop/Laptop/Netbook)▫Telephone▫Internet Access▫Ability to print and/or fax

•If you are equipping multiple users consider:▫Standardizing configurations▫Purchasing warranties▫Planning for remote support

Equipment Ownership

•Company owned equipment▫Considered a corporate asset, subject to

company use restrictions and requirements▫Controlled by company▫Recommended for frequent remote workers

•Employee owned equipment▫Employee owned and controlled; Some use

and restrictions can be controlled in Remote Work Agreement

▫Recommended only for infrequent use

Communications Considerations•Telephone

▫Landline/VOIP phone line▫Mobile Phone (Smartphone)▫Unified Voice Mail (My1Voice)

•Internet Service (DSL, Cable, etc)•E-mail (Outlook, Gmail, etc)•Fax (MyFax, eFax)•Instant Messaging (AIM, MSN)

Remote Access Considerations

•In a multi-user environment, consider the following options:▫Microsoft Small Business Server with

Remote Web Workplace▫Microsoft Server with Terminal Services▫Virtual Private Networks

•To enable individual workers consider:▫LogMeIn Pro▫LogMeIn Hamachi (VPN)

Collaboration Considerations

•Collaboration Workspaces▫Permits remote workers to work

collaboratively on documents, projects, etc. Microsoft Sharepoint, OfficeLive Workspace,

Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite•Virtual Meeting Space

▫Permits remote workers to conduct conference calls, online meetings, video conferencing, share screens, etc. GoToMeeting, WebEx, LogMeIn Express

Disaster Preparedness

•Backup▫Quarterly image-based backup▫Regular file based backup to online storage

or image-based backup to USB hard drive•File Synchronization

▫Automatic file based synchronization to company server or online storage

Security Considerations

•Firewalls▫Good quality firewall with gateway security

services and site-to-site VPN capabilities•Secure wireless networks

▫Encrypted secure wireless•Antivirus software•Who else are you sharing your network

with?▫Unsecured computers on your home

network?▫Other people in your hotel or coffee shop?

Sample Remote Work Solutions

•Sales Organization•Traveling Executive•Independent Consultant

Sales Organization• Description

▫ 10 sales representatives▫ Meets weekly at office▫ Local travel only

• Remote Workplace▫ Home Office (Primary)▫ Automobile (Secondary)

• Remote Configuration▫ Small Business Server

with Terminal Services▫ Outlook E-mail▫ Laptop w/ 3yr warranty▫ Multifunction printer

(Print/Scan/Fax)▫ Firewall w/ Site-to-Site

VPN▫ VOIP Desktop Phone w/

company voice mail▫ Mobile Smartphone

Traveling Executive• Description

▫ Multi-user office▫ Travels regularly,

nationally or internationally

▫ Works at office infrequently but has office phone and desktop computer

• Remote Workplace▫ Traveling Office

(Primary)▫ Work Office (Secondary)

• Remote Configuration▫ Small Business Server

with Remote Web Workplace

▫ Desktop computer in office

▫ Laptop or Netbook w/ 3yr warranty

▫ Wireless Broadband▫ Outlook E-mail▫ MyFax.com Account▫ VPN/Offline File Sync▫ Desktop Phone w/

company voice mail▫ Smartphone

Independent Consultant• Description

▫ 1-2 person home office▫ Travels regularly, locally,

nationally or internationally

▫ Divides time working between home office and client’s office

• Remote Workplace▫ Home Office (Primary)▫ Client’s Office

(Secondary)

• Remote Configuration▫ Desktop computer in

home office with LogMeIn Pro

▫ Laptop w/ 3yr warranty▫ Outlook E-mail▫ MyFax.com Account▫ OneVoice Account▫ Mobile Smartphone▫ Online Backup

Managing Remote Workers

•Policies▫Authorized Use Policy▫Remote Work Agreement

•Employee Management▫Monitoring Computer Use▫Measure Performance

•Technical Support

QuestionsPlease feel free to contact us:

Jim Locke(626) 689-4491jlocke@ResultWorx.com