A mobile workforce can be defined as an employer’s workforce which is made up of individuals whose location and work vary. This includes employees who are regularly required to travel to different locations for their work. The worker is expected to carry out tasks or services at remote home office or client site.
In essence, mobile workers have a high degree of independence and autonomy. They are also required to work during hours that vary from the traditional 9 to 5 schedule as well as perform their duties out of normal work premises. In addition, there is no fixed number of working days within a week or month, as the time period may vary significantly from one week to the next.
Most studies indicate that employees working in a mobile workforce feel much less secure and enjoy their jobs significantly less than traditional office workers (GCRI 2010). The lack of security and flexibility and the fact that many employers do not offer compensation for working overtime could be major factors in causing negative employee attitudes towards this workstyle. In addition, as some studies indicate, some employees may feel as if they are more being controlled or being held back from achieving their potential.
The mobile workforce is a relatively new concept and the number of companies that have made over half of their employees mobile has increased significantly in recent years. For instance, a study conducted by Intuit found out that over a third of the workforce in America did some or all of their work from home.
And if you’re interested in making this part of your company more productive, we invite you to read further as we’ll talk about some tips in boosting mobile workforce efficiency in today’s post.
The Importance Of A Mobile Workforce
Mobile workforce is a huge component of the current work environment. As a result, it is extremely important for all employees to be aware of whether they are working from home or in an office. This is due to the fact that both environments offer different challenges and opportunities that may not be recognized without proper preparation.
A business can facilitate a mobile workforce with wireless technology and internet access, which allows businesses to operate more efficiently by being able to hire people based on need rather than location. Less staff will also have to be employed as these individuals already have their own computer equipment and so offices become less expensive as there are fewer physical locations required. Mobile workforce has been seen as an advantage in terms of employee motivation as they feel closer to their family members who they work from home.
There are more opportunities for employees with disabilities who may be able to use assistive devices or software to do their job, and remote work is not restricted by physical barriers such as distance. In addition, it can also lead to a better stress environment for some employees, as they feel less pressure both in the workplace and at home in terms of deadlines and time constraints.
On the flip side, employees carrying out work from home or a remote location may experience some challenges. For instance, it might be difficult to concentrate because there are potential distractions such as children playing in another room or other family members who watch TV while they try to concentrate on their work. In addition, employees might not be motivated if they are working from home due to the lack of socialization both at work and in the workplace environment.
Other challenges may arise due to distractions or interruptions caused by family members coming into the room while one is working, physical barriers such as bad weather conditions, security concerns when using public Wi-Fi networks, as well as lack of motivation due to a lack of socialization.
Workplace distractions, such as constant noises and other people coming into the room while one is trying to concentrate on their work can lead to a greater deal of frustration and possible stress. In addition, it is also difficult for employers to monitor workers’ productivity levels when they are working remotely. However, this can be resolved by the use of digital monitoring tools that allow supervisors to review how employees work remotely in real time.
Mobile Workforce Benefits
Benefits of having a mobile workforce include an increase in flexibility for employees, who can work from home or travel for assignments. Mobile workforce also helps to decrease the carbon emissions by encouraging people not to commute for extended periods of time to work. Additional benefits are that it is easier on the employers because they don’t have to house workers at their office location all day long. Employees will also experience a better work-life balance due to time spent with family members and loved ones, which will make them more motivated on the job!
More and more people are opting for a mobile workforce instead of the traditional office setting. There is more freedom for employees, who can work from home or travel to assignments. Mobile workforces help decrease carbon emissions due to the fact that employees no longer commute to work and it allows them better time management between their job and family responsibilities. Employers also benefit because they don’t have to house workers all day long in one location and it is easier for them when it comes to monitoring their employees. Finally, the best part of having a mobile workforce is that there are no negative side effects- only positives!
What You Can Do To Increase Mobile Workforce Efficiency
One way to boost the productivity of a mobile workforce is by letting them have their own space to work in. This will create a sense of ownership for the worker’s desk and allow them the privacy they need without feeling like they are always in the office.
Another way to boost mobile workforce productivity is by having regular meetings with your employees, even when they are working remotely. This will give you an opportunity to not only monitor their work progress but also be able to provide feedback or answer any questions that might come up.
Also, boosting the productivity of a mobile workforce requires you to encourage them to work in different locations. For example, when you have a project where employees need to research multiple topics, sending them out to do their own independent research will allow for more creativity and an added bonus of learning from new surroundings.
As for maintaining good communication with your mobile workforce, it is important to have a consistent system in place for them to report their progress on tasks and projects back to you. For example, allowing workers the flexibility of checking in with you every few days will give an opportunity for any issues or questions to be brought up right away without interrupting their work flow.
Furthermore, another way to maintain good communication with your mobile workforce is by allowing them to manage their own time. For example, if an employee has a family occasion they want to attend during work hours, allow it so long as they are able to complete the assigned tasks in a timely manner.
And if you own a business where employees need to handle extensive field work, it is important to make sure they are administering safety measures while out on the job. Sending them with GPS trackers or even something as simple as walkie-talkies can make all the difference in terms of safety.
When it comes down to finding new ways to offer flexible schedules, it’s important to make sure employees are willing to make the appropriate sacrifices. Perhaps there are certain tasks that only need to be performed during regular work hours while others can be done at night or on weekends. This will make it easier for you as a business owner to let employees work from home or on the go.
Making sure your mobile workforce is properly equipped with technology is vital because this will help streamline the entire process and make their jobs much easier. For example, instead of having to send someone out to fill up a GPS device, just simply order a fully charged one and give them the necessary instructions.
Owners will benefit from having a mobile workforce because they can keep their business going even when they are away or don’t have the capacity to carry out certain tasks at that moment. This is a great way for small businesses to get more work done without compromising quality.
And in terms of keeping you and your employees happy, it’s important to make sure that everyone is kept in the loop when it comes to major changes within the company. For example, having weekly or even daily meetings with employees who work remotely will keep them up-to-date on changes and allow them an opportunity to voice any concerns they might have.
Conclusion
Overall, these are the things you must to do have a healthy remote environment for mobile workers and to make sure they are working productively while carrying out their tasks outside office premises.
