In today’s competitive business market, many companies operate on a global scale, creating the need to coordinate business activities across multiple countries. Global management of a business can be challenging for many reasons – especially when it comes to workforce management due to the differences in employment laws and regulations each country must adhere to. It can be challenging to navigate workforce compliance as many companies partner with a workforce solutions provider to manage their contingent workforce. Therefore, anyone who manages a program with global operations must understand all aspects of the client’s business, and specifically the employment laws in each country so they can guarantee compliance for their client’s entire workforce population
As an MSP program manager based in the UK for a client who also has contingent workers operating in the US, I am here to talk about the power and importance effective collaboration can have on a global contingent workforce program. To ensure program success, it’s necessary that I openly communicate and collaborate with my counterparts in the US.
Collaborating makes it easier to recognize any flaws that exist within the program, helps identify organization-wide solutions to ensure we are delivering a seamless workforce experience, and encourages and promotes a trusting partnership with the client. In this blog, we explore the crucial role collaboration plays in global contingent workforce programs, proven strategies for effective collaboration, and the benefits it delivers.
Keys to Success: Collaboration and Communication
It is the responsibility of a workforce solutions company to understand all aspects of their client’s business and the employment laws governing each country they work in. For example, a program manager for a client with sites in the UK and US must know that the UK follows the UK Agency Worker Regulations (2010) along with their UK Employment Law, while the US must follow their own set of Federal and State Labor Laws. The program management teams would need to recognize and identify the differences in each country’s laws for workers’ holiday time, pay rates, taxes, insurance, etc., in order to guarantee program compliance and equal rights to their workers.
Although a client’s locations might be geographically far away from each other and not have to directly work with one another, visibility into each locations’ processes and program activities should still exist. The best way to gain an understanding of other countries laws is by openly communicating and providing education with the program teams managing each location to hear first-hand about their processes. Lastly, it is important to openly communicate around cultural differences to make sure that everyone understands the varied communication styles and expectations of the diverse people they will be working with.
Transparent communication and collaboration are essential to ensure all program activities are under control, strategies are aligned and consistent, and the client’s and program stakeholders’ needs are being met.
Strategies for Efficient Collaboration
Here are some examples of how I collaborate with our client’s US program managers to ensure all areas of the contingent workforce program are being efficiently run.
- Utilize PowerPoints and visual aids
When collaborating with program stakeholders, it is important to be as concise as possible to ensure they are accurately interpreting information shared. One way to make sure of this is leveraging visual aids and PowerPoint presentations. When people can visualize what you are talking about, it is generally easier for them to comprehend the information. Engaging the team in open discussions promotes questions, the ability to clarify their own understanding and emphasizes the importance of sharing information between programs. - Create robust process matrixes to streamline contingent workforce management throughout the program
Following a defined process is a great way to effectively run a program. Sharing this process in a structured manner across an entire organization guarantees that all members of the client organization are receiving a streamlined and consistent approach between all programs.
- Present Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR) to show the success of the program and the opportunities to improve the program
It is important for anyone involved in a contingent workforce program to conduct surveys and analyze the results so they know what's working well and what they can improve upon. Scheduling QBRs is a good way to hold yourself accountable and make sure you are tracking your program's results and sharing them with key stakeholders. Additionally, this prompts regular reviews of your program to find and develop innovative ways to keep the program up-to-date, which, in turn shows the client that we are committed to improving the program.
The Benefits of Collaboration
Some of the key benefits of collaboration in global programs include:
1. Eliminating Confusion
Collaboration ensures that all team members are well-informed and aligned with the program’s objectives and processes. It eliminates any confusion or ambiguity to ensure smoother program operations and delivery.
2. Managing Expectations
Effective collaboration helps manage expectations so that everyone is aware of what’s to come and what the goals of the program are – it prevents people from expecting more than what’s intended from the program.
3. Sharing Best Practices
Learning from each other’s experiences and successes leads to a uniformed and robust program that will lead to improved overall quality compared to a program where the stakeholders do not communicate and work together.
4. Mitigating Risks
By working together and having insights into the processes across all of a client’s locations, program teams will have a better chance of identifying potential risks and therefore avoiding unnecessary costs to the business.
5. Streamlining Processes
A collaborative approach also allows for processes to be streamlined. Everyone – the client’s team and the program stakeholders – should have the opportunity to voice their concerns and have them addressed until an optimized process is determined that meets everyone’s needs.
6. Building Rapport and Trust
Regular and transparent communication fosters healthy relationships with clients and stakeholders. A program in which rapport and trust exist will have a higher chance of success.
7. Ensuring Client Satisfaction
When the entire program team collaborates, everyone can share their unique perspective regarding the client’s needs. When all their perspectives are put together, it’s guaranteed that all client needs will be identified and handled.
Although managing a contingent workforce program that is spread across the globe can be challenging, don’t see it as a burden. Instead, look at it is an opportunity to gain different insights and perspectives from people of all cultures – it’s an opportunity to collaborate in an innovative way that you’re not used to. Consistency is key when it comes to program management, and making sure processes and compliance standards are aligned across the globe is crucial for client satisfaction.
