With the recent pandemic forcing businesses to adapt at lightning speed, many are now considering a Remote Work Policy. Adopting the right policy for remote employees can be tricky and challenging, but with the right guidance, businesses can successfully adopt a plan that works for both employers and employees. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) provides helpful guidelines and tips to craft and implement a successful Remote Work Policy.


Understanding SHRM Guidelines

SHRM has published a wealth of information and guidelines on remote work policies. In their Guide to Remote Work, SHRM offers tips to businesses on how to successfully implement a remote work policy.

The guide begins by emphasizing the importance of employers setting clear expectations for remote workers. This includes expectations for communication, availability, job performance, etc. It’s essential for employers to ensure that all remote workers receive the same level of clarity and understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

The guide also emphasizes the importance of having a formalized policy for remote work. This includes a policy that outlines expectations for job performance, availability, communication, and other aspects of remote work. It also includes information on how to handle security and data privacy concerns.

Having a formalized policy helps to ensure that remote employees are held accountable and that there is consistency in the way remote employees are managed. The guide also offers advice on how to measure remote employee performance and provide feedback to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that remote employees are meeting their goals.

Legal Considerations

When crafting a remote work policy, it’s important to consider the legal implications of having a remote workforce. SHRM provides information on the legal considerations that businesses need to take into account when creating a remote work policy.

The guide outlines the importance of complying with laws and regulations when it comes to labor and employment laws. This includes understanding the laws related to remote work and the potential implications of having a remote workforce.

The guide also outlines the importance of understanding the legal implications of having a remote workforce in terms of data privacy and security. This includes understanding the legal requirements related to data privacy and security, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

Career Development Opportunities

The guide also emphasizes the importance of offering career development opportunities for remote employees. This includes providing guidance and support to remote employees to ensure that they have the resources and tools necessary to be successful in their roles.

The guide also outlines the importance of providing employees with the opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge. This includes providing remote employees with access to online training and development resources and offering mentorships to help remote employees reach their career goals.

Communication and Productivity Strategies

The guide also provides information on how to effectively communicate and collaborate with remote employees. This includes offering tips on how to effectively communicate with remote employees and how to foster collaboration and teamwork.

The guide also outlines strategies for improving remote employee productivity. This includes providing tools and resources to help remote employees stay on track and get their work done in a timely manner.


Overall, SHRM provides a wealth of information and guidelines to help businesses create and implement a successful Remote Work Policy. With the right guidance, businesses can ensure that their remote employees are supported and successful in their roles.