HBR Guide to Performance Management (HBR Guide Series)

CHAPTER 18

Managing the Performance of Remote Employees

Flexible work arrangements, telecommuting, and global offices may mean your employees aren’t all sitting together in one central office. According to data from the Global Workplace Analytics, a research-based consulting organization, as of 2014, 3.7 million people worked remotely.¹ As virtual work arrangements become more common, you will likely need to apply the elements of performance management to someone you rarely, if ever, see in person.

Managing remote employees isn’t fundamentally different than managing those who are physically present in your workplace, but communication challenges can easily arise when you’re not colocated. Giving difficult feedback or discussing a tough performance ...