If you employ a diverse staff in different countries, your business has a global workforce. Since you have access to a more diverse group of talent, your company can more easily foster new ideas and greater innovation, but there are also challenges that come with this structure.
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Managing a global workforce is rarely easy; you must account for cultural differences and time zone changes, and even communication can be difficult. You need to create a strategic plan if you want to improve global workforce management efficiency. So, how do you get started?
Here are a few tips on how you can more effectively manage your global workforce.
6 Ways to Manage Your Global Workforce More Effectively:
Follow All Tax and Labor Laws
If you’re planning on relying solely on U.S. labor and tax laws, you’re going to run into problems. An effective global workforce management strategy includes being proactive when it comes to compliance.
Tax and labor laws vary by country and these standards frequently change. Being proactive is an effective way of reducing your company’s legal risks. You can spend time researching various tax and labor regulations.
However, a more efficient approach is partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) service. The EOR can not only provide you with overseas talent, but it also takes care of the legal aspects, so this way, you can focus on other business challenges without worrying if you're staying in compliance with all local laws.
Embrace Local Customs
Cultural sensitivity is key to an effective global workforce management strategy. You want to familiarize yourself with local customs and traditions, learn basic greeting phrases, and be ready to celebrate cultural holidays.
Encourage communication between yourself, management, and your global employees, which can help build respect between team members and make it easier for them to celebrate their differences.
When your global workforce feels accepted and valued, you’re better able to take advantage of the diverse skill set these employees bring to your business.
Consider Language Barriers
When you have employees from multiple countries, you should expect to encounter language barriers. English isn’t necessarily everyone’s first or even second language. Chances are, you’re not fluent in every language your employees use and this can impact everything from morale to productivity.
Just imagine trying to discuss project details when everyone is fluent in a different language. Graphs, charts, and hand motions can only convey so much. Your workforce management strategy needs to address this issue.
Thankfully, there are plenty of English as a Second Language (ESL) resources you can take advantage of.
From devices that translate languages from spoken word to text, online courses, and cultural language exchange programs, you can eliminate almost all language barriers. When your global staff can effectively communicate, your business tends to run more smoothly.
Don't Cut Corners
Yes, like most businesses you’re probably searching for ways to reduce operating costs. An area where you don’t want to start cutting corners is your global workforce. Under-budgeting can lead to a decrease in employee efficiency and communication can break down among management and staff.
When you’re budgeting for an international workforce, you want to allocate funds for training, technology, and infrastructure. Don’t forget about building relationships with your global employees. They’re a vital part of your business and deserve the same level of respect as your local workforce.
Pay Attention to Time Zones
Managing a global workforce means paying attention to the different time zones. When you successfully manage the various time zones, you can have a seamless workflow.
Make sure you only schedule meetings at times that aren’t an inconvenience to your global partners. Yes, this may be an occasional inconvenience on your end but it’s better than waking a staff member up for a meeting a couple of hours after they went to bed.
When you show a willingness to be flexible, it can encourage others in your organization to do the same. You may have a couple of late-night meetings to accommodate time differences but soon everyone should be willing to be a little more flexible.
Take Advantage of Employee Engagement Tools
Your employees may be spread out over several countries, but this doesn’t mean everyone can’t stay engaged and connected. Employee engagement tools can help everyone feel like they belong and it can do wonders for productivity.
Consider creating an online recognition program or even holding a virtual happy hour event. You can even hold fun contests for employees and hand out prizes to winners. The prize can be anything from a paid day off to a free meal at a local restaurant.
Improving global workforce management efficiency may be easier than you think. Remember to account for time and cultural differences and make your international team feel like valued members of your organization.
