Did you know that nearly 42% of the U.S. workforce is still working remotely due to the pandemic? Fortunately, 68% of hiring managers say remote work is getting easier as time goes on.

The things people like best about it? Fewer non-essential meetings, say 70 percent of those polled by independent research firm ClearlyRated for the UpWork Future Workforce Report. Another 60 percent like the increased schedule flexibility. And 54% were happy to kiss their commutes good-bye.

Many hiring managers in many different industries will be taking what they learned during this very difficult year and embracing the benefits of remote work through 2021. According to the report released this week, managers expect 26.7 percent of their teams to remain remote by the end of 2021. Looking five years out, managers don’t see much of a reduction in remote work; they believe 22.9 percent of workers will be remote in 2025, nearly double the number of remote workers prior to the pandemic.

Best Practices for Remote Hiring

As hiring managers embrace remote work, we are seeing a shift in hiring practices here at JKI, Inc. We’re receiving many calls to help law firms fill remote roles. Fortunately, many of the same practices for hiring quality in-house workers also applies to the search for remote workers.

Keep these tips in mind as you seek remote workers to help you as we face a slow return to normalcy through 2021.

1. Be Specific About Expectations

Many employees love the perceived flexibility of work-from-home arrangements. But hiring managers and employers need to set clear expectations upfront about how much flexibility they want to permit. Are employees expected to work set hours and be at their desks and available at specific times?

Do they have leeway to take longer breaks, for instance, to pick up children from school, as long as their work gets done in time?

For employees who have children learning remotely, do they need to hire childcare during working hours or will you trust your employees to minimize distractions and juggle parenting with their workload?

2. Communicate Clearly and Frequently

Just as in an office, communication is key to a smooth remote work arrangement. Establish multiple methods of communication, including messaging via a platform like Slack, phone calls, and video conferencing. You will find that different modes of communication work best for different situations and providing this flexibility can make it easier to stay in touch with your remote employees.

3. Prepare for a Shift to In-Office Connections in the Future

Remote work gives employers the opportunity to hire talent from across the U.S., not just in their region. While this type of “rural-sourcing,” or hiring people from areas with a lower cost of living may help trim your budget, it may not be the best long-term plan.

You may decide to slowly phase in office time, whether for weekly meetings or daily work. You might want to move to a hybrid method where employees are in the office a few days a week and working from home the rest.

By considering candidates within your area, you leave these possibilities open for the future. On the other hand, you can expand your talent pool of candidates by considering employees from other areas.

Wherever you may wish to look for your ideal job candidates, whether you are looking for in-office employees or remote workers, JKI Inc. is here to help you.

As the Workforce Changes, JKI Adapts

As the workforce evolves, JKI continues to change with it. With a new software platform, improved technology for outreach to job candidates, and a positive perspective moving into 2021, we are here to address all your hiring needs.

Reach out and let us know how we can help you find the right candidates to get your business off to a strong start in 2021.

Happy Holidays from the JKI family to yours!