Spotty video conferencing, balancing time zones, no pants no problem — these are all part of the life of a remote employee. As the remote work force surges in popularity, it allows companies to recruit top-of-the-line talent from across the world without having to relocate candidates. These employees abroad, in turn, get to live that remote lifestyle, taking advantage of the freedom and flexibility that comes with it.
We connected with Austin companies boasting a large remote team to learn how they manage so many out-of-office employees, how they integrate them into company culture, and what advice they have for companies looking to integrate remote players.
Answers from Christopher Pepe, Praecipio Consulting Partner and remote employee
How many in-office vs. remote employees?
We have 35 (and still growing) employees in our Austin HQ offices and eight remote folks across the U.S. (including Houston, Colorado, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Vermont).
Do you worry that two-thirds of your employees are just sitting around in their underwear watching TV all day?
I don't worry about it at all. That's the dream I'm living. But really, no. We are in constant contact and can tell that the throughput is high on remote folks. As we use the Atlassian toolset (the software which we deliver client solutions around), we get great visibility and collaborative functionality to work with our team members across the country.
How is it maintaining company culture with employees working remotely?
It's hard to not be at all the events, but we have biannual whole company events and everyone is always welcome at the Austin office. When we can be together, it's like old friends — we pick up where we left off last time.
Do you have suggestions for companies considering hiring remote employees?
If it fits in your culture, it's great. What works for us is that Austin employees have ample opportunity to work from home, so there isn't a lot of resentment towards remotes. Only senior folks are remote and they are high visibility, so no one thinks they're goofing off more than in-office folks are. Finally, we have a strong sense of family, much more so than anywhere else I've worked. That can't hurt.
Answers from Nada Lulic, Talent Acquisition Manager at Zenoss
How many of your employees work remotely? How many are in office?
Do you worry that two-thirds of your employees are just sitting around in their underwear watching TV all day?
How is it maintaining company culture with employees working remotely?
Our remote employees typically come in at least once a quarter. If they don’t come in, we broadcast our quarterly all hands meetings so everyone can participate. Additionally, all new employees come to Austin for our new hire orientation, which is every quarter and includes two days of introductions to the business and history of Zenoss, and a day slated for Zenoss Cares, a company-led organization dedicated to giving back to the community.
We also have non-business related Slack channels to help foster personal relationships between employees.
Any suggestions for companies considering hiring remote employees?
Answers from Krista White, Product Manager at BP3
How many of your employees work remotely? How many are in-office?
How do you keep your team communicating effectively with people out-of-office?
Do you worry that your remote employees are sitting around in their underwear watching TV all day?
Is it tough maintaining a good workplace culture with people working remotely?
Do you have suggestions for companies considering hiring remote employees?
Answers from John Price, CEO at Vast
How many of your employees work remotely? How many are in-office?
We have 150 remotely across the world and 50 in office.
Do you worry that two-thirds of the employees are just sitting around in their underwear watching TV all day?
No. We're online with our remote employees all day every day. We all live in Google Hangouts and an instant messenger world. Everybody, no matter where you are, we're always on.
How do you keep your team communicating effectively with people out-of-office?
We actually prefer to communicate through online means instead of in a meeting room for those of us in the office.
Is it tough maintaining a good workplace culture with people working remote?
The truth is, an American culture is very different than that of an international culture. But we all share something in common, and that is the tech industry language. It's a universal language. Most of the tech world resources are globally shared, which leads to a global understanding and vocabulary to communicate across countries. The culture follows that. We're the dorks of society; it helps us connect.
Do you have suggestions for companies considering hiring remote employees?
Create a frictionless environment for everything: chat, grabbing documents, products, etc. Rethink about what it means to work. Most people think that work is "going to work." I think that's a mistake. The work is what we're hired to do, the job itself, what you're doing. Not the patterns of going to work. Don't have a printer. You don't use them for anything.
Images provided by companies
Have a tip for us? Let us know here or tweet @BuiltInAustin
