Remote Access as a Retainment Strategy
When Misty O’Brien, tax manager for Taketa Iwata Hara & Associates in Hilo Hawaii, decided to follow her new husband to South Carolina, it was a “non-event” according to partner Janet Hara. Instead of losing an extremely important employee, Taketa Iwata Hara supplied Misty with a cell phone from Hawaii along with a contract that allowed her to continue working for the firm from her new home in South Carolina.
Advice for peers
Advice for peers
Hara and Jacobs offered similar advice to peer firms.
“Do it,” Jacobs said.
“Don’t be afraid,” Hara said.
Both firms cited a few minor challenges. For example, the time zone differences between Hawaii and South Carolina and between Oregon and Australia required changes in backup procedures for both firms.
O’Brien explained that her biggest challenge is to maintain an emotional connection to the firm. Her solution is to make daily phone calls and meet with partners at conferences and meetings like the Boomer Technology Circles.
In spite of a few obstacles, both firms give a resounding recommendation to peer firms who face challenges finding or keeping valuable employees.
Remote access technology can help retain employees who move because of life changes. It can also allow partners to phase into retirement. In both situations, your client may be just as happy as you to continue working with a trusted advisor.
Fostering a culture that allows employees flexibility to work from home can also be used as an advantage in the recruiting wars. Firms that have conquered their fears of evolving with technology will also attract the strongest and brightest employee candidates.
Boomer Technology Circle members can access a twenty minute edited version of the interview and a nine minute abridged version of this interview. Gain further insight into the culture required to retain employees using remote access technology.