Once an application for telecommuting has been approved, you must see to it that the employee concerned has read and understood all the documentation necessary. Apart from the Telecommuter Information and Emergency Information sheets, there are Installation Instructions and Helpdesk information that the employee must know.
It is critical that the employee understands installation procedure, especially if you are providing the telecommunication infrastructure. These instructions would typically include:
1.Connecting the laptop/PC to the router for connecting to the net
2.Connecting the laptop/PC to a USB device like a printer
3.Connecting the laptop/PC to wireless devices
Only if you are sure that the employee has read these instructions, would you be confident that no employee-generated error wrecks your exercise.
Nevertheless, problems will arise, which is why you have the Helpdesk. But to protect the helpdesk from being inundated with calls, do include a document to help the telecommuter troubleshoot her or his problems. You can include a few questions that they must ask themselves before calling the helpdesk:
1.Did you reboot the system?
2.Can you connect to the net?
3.Are the electrical connections proper?
The Telecommuting Toolkit includes an Installation Instructions Template as well as Before Calling Helpdesk Template to help you prepare these important documents.
When you have made everything sure, both you and the employee are ready to sign the Telecommuting Contract, which sets out the terms and conditions of the arrangement. This is a critical legal document that defines your relationship, and protects both you and the employee.
A typical contract would define the terms of
1.Working hours
2.Reporting documentation
3.Workspace
4.Security
We have prepared a specimen Telecommuting Employee Contract which you can use to draw up your own.
