8607-526 Managing Remote Workers

The course 8607-526 Managing Remote Workers is part of the ILM Level 5 qualification in leadership and management. It focuses on teaching principles for effectively handling remote workers. In today’s world, many organizations have adopted flexible working policies to enhance convenience for their employees. These policies aim to create better work lives by allowing employees to work from different locations while still fulfilling their duties within teams or the organization.

Remote working is a key aspect of flexible working, enabling employees to work outside the physical office environment. While this approach offers improved working conditions for employees, leaders need to ensure effective coordination to maintain team and organizational productivity, given the absence of physical interactions.

Unit 8607-526 Managing Remote Workers assists leaders in developing the skills and techniques necessary for successfully managing remote workers. The goal is to ensure that teams and organizations can achieve their performance and investment objectives even when team members are not physically present. The course involves 12 hours of guided learning and contributes 5 credit values toward the completion of the ILM Level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

Unit purpose and aim(s)

This unit focuses on helping you learn how to effectively manage employees who work from a different location than their organization’s usual office. It also covers those who have started their own business and work from home or a managed facility.

Who is this unit suitable for?

Companies and organizations that embrace remote working allow employees to work from different locations. This means leaders at various levels within the organization need guidance in developing the skills to manage remote teams effectively. These principles are crucial for leaders at different levels.

This unit applies to all leaders within the organization, ensuring they can oversee and support remote work without compromising employee output and their contribution to team and organizational goals. Specifically designed for middle managers overseeing team activities, the unit equips them to manage remote teams effectively.

While targeted at middle managers, the unit is also suitable for first-line managers, junior managers, team leaders, and top-level leaders involved in policy development. It helps them understand essential leadership principles when implementing remote working policies. Additionally, employees and team members can benefit from the unit to gain a better understanding of remote working and its impact on their performance in the organization.

What are the learning outcomes of this unit?

After completing the unit, learners should be able to:

• Recognize the distinctions between various remote working practices.
• Identify the organizational policy regarding remote working.
• Explain the contractual requirements established in the workplace for remote working practices.
• Identify health and safety legislative measures related to remote working, including the use of IT equipment.
• Understand the Data Protection Act and its implications for remote working practices.
• Describe the pros and cons of remote working for both the remote worker and the employer.
• Explain the challenges that a middle manager might encounter when managing remote workers.

What are the key learning areas of this unit?

Unit 8607-526, Managing Remote Workers, is designed to enhance the skills of line managers, enabling them to influence practices within their areas of responsibility. The primary focus is on implementing remote working practices to facilitate flexible work arrangements. The unit covers key learning areas, including understanding the principles of remote working, exploring its benefits and drawbacks within the organization, and guiding learners on identifying individuals eligible for remote work based on established policies and principles.

In the learning area of Leading Remote Working, the emphasis is on effective leadership of remote teams. This involves developing strategies for communication, trust-building, motivation, and skills development to manage remote workers successfully. Learners also gain insights into creating a sense of belonging among remote team members and addressing issues of isolation. Essential skills such as time management, problem-solving, decision-making, and IT skills are imparted to help achieve goals in remote working.

The Supporting Remote Workers learning area focuses on helping learners develop mechanisms to provide relevant support to remote workers, including technical assistance. It encompasses the utilization of technology to support remote activities and ensure the attainment of desired goals. Additionally, this area covers the development of remote working policies and approaches to promote health and safety principles about remote workers.

How is the unit evaluated?

After finishing the unit, learners are assessed in various ways. A written test checks their understanding of theoretical principles. Simulated exercises and supervised practices are also used during the learning phase to see how well they can apply the concepts they’ve learned in real-life situations.

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