Remote Employee Trend

Out of necessity since the start of the pandemic, there has been a steep upward trend in remote work.

The number of Americans working remotely is expected to continue to rise to 36.2 million by 2025, nearly double the pre-pandemic amount [1]. Some companies are adopting hybrid work models, while others are allowing their employees to continue to work remotely forever (for example Capital One, Dropbox, Nationwide, and Zillow) [2].

Of veteran remote workers, 88% recommend this type of work [3]. Remote work and training provide more opportunities for employees from around the world, which in turn presents a chance for greater collaboration and innovation.

Remote training can use written content, pre-recorded audio or video episodes, and live online training. It takes a conscious effort to support remote workers as much as you support on-site employees, but it’s worth it. One reason is that remote employees are often more productive than those working onsite.

Benefits of Remote Training

There are many benefits to providing remote training for employees, such as:

  • Boosts employee productivity
  • Decreases costs versus in-person training
  • Improves knowledge retention
  • Personalizes the training experience, when tailored to individual needs
  • Improves employee retention rate

Challenges of Remote Training

There can be challenges in the remote training experience as well, such as:

  • Lack of face-to-face interaction might be perceived as impersonal.
  • Lack of access to coworkers and information can cause communication issues.
  • Distractions at home are a possible pitfall.
  • Technical challenges must occasionally be dealt with.

Preparation for Remote Employee Training

It is important to establish clear remote-work policies and to have in place a solid structure for training remote employees. According to a TalentLMS survey, 67% of remote workers say they need their employers to provide more training [3]. And according to LinkedIn, 94% of employees say they would stay with a company longer if the company invested in their learning [4].

Best Remote Training Tools

Whether you’re providing new or existing staff with skills training, you need effective tools to do so. Many companies use online training and development software to remotely train employees.

Some of the most widely used workforce training tools are:

  • Learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas or Blackboard, where learners can access course materials assigned and tracked by course admins[5].
  • Learning experience platforms (LEP or LXP) such as EdCast and LemonadeLXP, where learners can choose their own path from personalized courses offered by admins.
  • Video training tools such as Zoom or Teams, where teams can meet and learn from a live presenter or previously recorded meeting sessions.
  • Project management tools such as Trello or Asana, where learners can track, assess, and collaborate with others about their educational journey.
  • Communication tools such as Slack (or those integrated into your other LMS, LXP, Teams, etc.) are essential to keeping the team connected.

Tips for Remote Training Success

The following tips will help ensure a rewarding remote training experience for you and your employees:

  1. Be proactively prepared for remote training.
  2. Respect employees’ time.
  3. Make use of remote education software and technology.
  4. Design mobile-first courses for greater access.
  5. Develop training in digestible amounts.
  6. Focus on goals achieved, not seat time.
  7. Document all training achievements.
  8. Measure training effectiveness.
  9. Create on-demand and group training.
  10. Create a learner community.
  11. Nurture a learning culture.
  12. Create a culture of remote work.
  13. Provide responsive support.

Key Takeaways

Properly trained remote employees are valuable assets in today’s world. As a natural result, remote employee training is essential to remaining competitive. The benefits to employees and employers alike include increased productivity, employee morale and retention, and much more.

References

[1] S. Jay, “8 Best Practices for Remote Training at Your Organization,” 14 September 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.aihr.com/blog/remote-training/. [Accessed 14 September 2021].
[2] S. Rodgers, “25 Companies Going Remote Permanently,” 14 May 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.virtualvocations.com/blog/remote-job-leads/25-companies-going-remote-permanently/. [Accessed 15 September 2021].
[3] E. Zoe, “How to train remote employees: The training topics and tools you need,” 26 March 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.talentlms.com/blog/how-to-train-remote-employees-the-training-topics-and-tools-you-need/. [Accessed 14 September 2021].
[4] Revanth, “talentlyft.com,” 30 April 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.talentlyft.com/en/blog/article/382/10-best-practices-for-training-remote-employees. [Accessed 14 September 2021].
[5] B. Roberts, “LMS VS LXP FOR 2021,” 15 September 2021. [Online]. Available: https://learn.filtered.com/thoughts/lms-vs-lxp. [Accessed 15 September 2021].