Like many non-essential businesses, during the COVID-19 pandemic you were forced to quickly switch to working remotely. Now that it’s been more than a year, and with restrictions being eased in many places, you’re contemplating whether or not to bring your employees back to the office or continue teleworking for good. As with any business decision, this one requires you to take a long hard look at your goals, company culture, and employees. If you’re concerned about being able to grow your business while working remotely, put those fears aside. There are many tools at your disposal to keep morale high, employees productive, and your profits rising.
The Consensus is Clear
Now that many employees have had a taste of the flexibility working from home offers, most prefer to stay that way. In fact, a recent Prudential survey of 2,000 adults revealed that a staggering 87% of those who have been working remotely during the pandemic would prefer to continue working from home at least one day a week, post-pandemic. Before making your decision about whether or not to return to the office, poll your employees to find out their thoughts and preferences. Listening to your employees’ opinions is vital for their productivity and overall happiness. Ask them if they feel they can continue to do their job from home, what issues if any they’ve run into over the past year, and how their workflow might change if you make telework permanent.
There are many benefits to working remotely, including:
Lower Costs – you won’t have any overhead costs for things like your office space, technology, furniture, and office supplies.
Increased Productivity – many studies show that teleworking actually makes workers more productive. This is likely because they’re able to have a better work-life balance and they have the flexibility to work when they’re the most productive, like in the evenings or at night.
Broader Talent Pool – When you were looking to add to your team before, you were limited to the talent pool in your immediate area. But with remote work, you can recruit new employees from anywhere in the country or even across the world. This also allows you a better opportunity to hire top talent who meet your specific needs and requirements.
Here are some tips to make your transition to working remotely as smooth as possible.
Keep Up With Culture
When your workforce is fully remote, it can be a challenge to have any kind of company culture. There’s no watercooler to gather around, no team excursions, and no office-wide lunches. The key to keeping your company’s culture alive is to be intentional about it. Be open and transparent about your company values. Set aside time to gather as a team at least once a week to discuss what everyone is working on, business growth, and talk about any upcoming decisions that need to be made. Make a concentrated effort for employees to get to know each other and connect on a deeper level through creative team building activities and virtual social events.
Set Clear Expectations
When working remotely, it’s important for each team member to clearly understand what your expectations are. Communicate how their work will be evaluated, set deadlines, and be sure to have regular check-ins and progress reports. Make sure everyone knows there is an open line of communication should they experience any bumps in the road along the way.
Another potential downfall of working remotely is decreased collaboration between team members. But there are many tools available that make it easier to work together than ever before. Look for remote conferencing software, project management tools, and file sharing programs to make teleworking as functional and productive as possible. Use a shared team calendar to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to deadlines and meetings. When your employees are working remotely, cyber security becomes a huge concern. They may be using unsecured devices, public Wi-Fi, or computers without adequate antivirus protection. All of these make your company vulnerable to cyber attacks, hackers, and data breaches. Educate your employees by holding training sessions on digital security best practices, and have a recovery plan in place to protect yourself from cyber threats. Moreover, security protocols that anticipate security threats like the implementation of access review software are extremely useful and beneficial. All indications point to telework being here for good. Whether you decide to permanently work remotely or adapt a hybrid model, these tips will help your business and employees to grow and thrive. Emphasize Security
