How to Know If Remote Employees Are Working
Remote work has become a staple of the modern workplace, offering flexibility and access to global talent. However, for managers, one persistent challenge remains: how to know if remote employees are actually working. Without physical presence and visual cues, it’s easy to feel uncertain about productivity and accountability.
Fortunately, effective management of remote teams doesn’t require micromanagement. It requires structure, transparency, and the right tools. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you determine if your remote employees are staying productive — and how to build a system of trust and performance.
1. Focus on Outcomes, Not Hours
The clearest indicator of productivity is not how many hours someone is logged in — it’s what they’re producing. Shift your mindset from tracking time to tracking results. Set clear, measurable goals for each role and regularly assess whether those goals are being met.
Action Steps:
- Use project management tools
- Hold weekly or biweekly check-ins to review progress and adjust priorities.
- Encourage employees to share status updates in team meetings or via shared dashboards.
2. Implement Time and Activity Tracking (Judiciously)
While results matter most, time tracking can be helpful in some contexts — especially for roles that require billing hours or where workflow transparency is essential. Tools like Hubstaff, Time Doctor, or Toggl Track offer detailed insights without being overly invasive.
Best Practices:
- Be transparent about why and how you use tracking tools.
- Use them as a support mechanism, not a surveillance tool.
- Focus on identifying workflow bottlenecks, not “gotcha” moments.
3. Communicate Regularly and Intentionally
Frequent and structured communication builds clarity and accountability. Daily stand-ups, weekly one-on-ones, and team syncs ensure that everyone is aligned and accountable for their responsibilities.
Tips for Effective Remote Communication:
- Use Slack, Teams, or similar tools to maintain a steady flow of interaction.
- Encourage asynchronous communication to accommodate time zones and focus time.
- Make meetings meaningful by preparing agendas and following up with action items
- Monitor Remote Sessions
TSFactory’s RecordTS v7 will record Windows remote sessions reliably and securely for RDS, Citrix and VMware systems. Scalable from small offices with one server to enterprise networks with tens of thousands of desktops and servers, RecordTS integrates seamlessly with the native environment.
This is where RecordTS comes into the picture. With RecordTS you can:
- View their sessions in a video and provide evidence of wrongdoing (were they working when they said they were?)
- Mistakes in business procedures (not entering customer data properly)
- Security breaches (Ransomware attacks – did they open an infected email?)
- Support information (what steps were taken when your program crashed?)
Solutions start at $495 USD for small offices. Click here to learn more about secure remote session recording.