Business Services, Technology

How to Manage Time for Off-Site Contractors

The world of business is changing, and it’s becoming common for employers to work with contractors off-site. This practice isn’t new, but the Web has made it much easier to find good help, hire them and manage their hours remotely. If you’re looking to take advantage of this growing independent work force, you’ll need to consider all aspects of hiring a temporary contractor in the same light as your full-time workers. You will need to manage their time clocks, provide them with paychecks at a steady period, and log the hours they have worked so you can report that expense on your tax forms.  Here are some tips to manage those off-site workers.

Hire the Right Employee

It takes a certain kind of person to live the freelance lifestyle. A freelancer doesn’t have a boss, per say, their only responsibility is to the client. There are freelancers that are very deadline oriented, and those who tend to let projects fall by the way side. Dependability is what you need most when it comes to working with someone off site. It will be your responsibility to delegate work to them, but they should be able to complete the work you are asking for within the time frame you have specified.

Supervise them Properly

If you never bother to follow up with your contractors, they won’t check up on you. It’s not their job to communicate goals and project hopes, it’s their job to produce the work you ask for. Set employee milestones, and clearly communicate measurable goals for the project. This is for your benefit too. At the end of the work, you’ll have an easier time deciding whether the freelancer is worth using a second time if you can measure how well he or she performed against the bar that you set. You should consider providing them with a time clock online, so you can see how long their projects are taking them and what they are doing with that time.

Communicate Frequently

Make sure you periodically check up on your contractor, inquiring about project status and if they have questions moving forward. Make sure to respond timely, and also provide your contractor with a point of contact that leads directly to their supervisor (most likely you).

Final Thoughts

The more attention that is paid to the contractor, the better the work you receive will be. Manage the goals of your contractor, and provide them with the tools and resources they need to complete their job.

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