Remote Workers Toolkit

Communication tools: 

Having reliable and efficient communication methods with your remote team is important. Some options include video conferencing software, project management software, and instant messaging tools.

1. Video Conferencing Software: Zoom, Teams, Google Meet
2. Project Management: Monday.com, Miro, Hive
3. Messaging Tools: WhatsApp Business, Telegram, Signal, Slack
4. Time management tools: Use time-tracking and task management software to help your remote team stay organised and productive.
   1. Trello - Trello is a project management tool that allows teams to easily manage their tasks and deadlines.
   2. Asana - Asana is another popular project management tool that allows teams to manage their tasks and deadlines collaboratively.
   3. RescueTime - RescueTime is a time-tracking tool that helps teams understand how they spend their time on their computer or mobile device.
   4. Harvest - Harvest is a time-tracking tool that helps teams to track the time spent on different tasks and projects.
   5. Focus@Will - Focus@Will is a productivity tool that provides music to help teams to focus and be more productive.
   6. Clockify - Clockify is a time-tracking tool that helps teams to track their time and bill clients accurately.
   7. Toggl - Toggl is another time-tracking tool that helps teams track their time and productivity.

Collaboration tools: 

Consider using document-sharing platforms and online whiteboards to facilitate collaboration and team cohesion.

1. Microsoft 365 - offers a cloud-based office suite designed for collaboration, with the ability for teams to work directly on the same set of documents.
2. Slack - a popular collaboration tool with an excellent interface and the ability to organise conversations into different channels.
3. Asana - a platform for companies to track work, create to-do lists, and set reminders.
4. Trello is a project management tool allowing teams to easily manage their tasks and deadlines.
5. ProofHub - a project management and collaboration tool that offers features such as task management, time tracking, and team collaboration.

Employee engagement tools: 

To help keep your remote team engaged and motivated, consider using tools like virtual team-building activities and feedback platforms.

1. Culture Amp - allows employers to customise surveys, track progress, and analyse data to make informed decisions about their engagement strategies.
2. 15Five - enables employers to conduct regular check-ins with employees to improve communication and identify areas for improvement.
3. Betterworks - offers continuous performance management and goal setting to help employees feel engaged and motivated.
4. WorkTango - combines engagement surveys, continuous performance management, and employee recognition into one platform to help employers improve their workplace culture.
5. Peakon - uses real-time data to provide insights on employee engagement and highlight areas for improvement.

These tools can help remote employers improve communication, collaboration, efficiency, and productivity within their teams while increasing motivation and decreasing attrition rates. 

Support tools: 

To ensure that your remote team has the support they need to be successful, consider using tools like employee assistance programs (EAP) and training resources.

1. Visit https://www.eapa.org.uk/ to find EAP providers
2. There are many on-line course providers, some which will provide company-wide access.
3. Both Microsoft and Google offer free training courses on their products
4. Policies and guidelines: It's important to have clear policies and guidelines in place for your remote team to ensure everyone is on the same page. This includes attendance policies, work hours, and expectations for communication and collaboration.
   1. Use a Wiki to store and maintain policies and Guidelines
   2. SharePoint 365 is a good option for building a Policy & Guidelines site
   3. There are also many out-of-the-box SaaS solutions, that provide excellent tools to create and manage company Policies and Guidelines. A quick search on your preferred search engine will help you find the ideal one for your company.
5. Regular check-ins: It's important to stay connected with your remote team and check in regularly to ensure that they have the support and resources they need to be successful. This can be done through regular video conferences, one-on-one check-ins, or other forms of communication.