Even before the coronavirus pandemic, working from home was a growing trend. One study conducted in 2019 showed that by 2028, 78 percent of all companies would have remote workers on their payrolls. And since March of last year, remote work has become the norm for an unprecedented number of businesses and their team members.
Working from home means more distractions, fewer ways to interact naturally with coworkers, and a greater chance of social isolation – all of which can be damaging to productivity. Now is a good time to explore new ways to manage and collaborate with your employees to enable them to stay engaged and connected.
Provide the right tools.
You can’t expect remote workers to succeed unless they have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs. Keep everyone on the same page, no matter where they’re working, by providing project management, chat and messaging, and videoconferencing apps to everyone. IT and related support are also critical.
Encourage dedicated workspaces.
Dedicated workspaces help free employees from the normal distractions of home life, maintain focus, and stay on task. Encourage the creation of these spaces. Consider offering stipends – or at least helpful tips – to set them up, especially as the global pandemic presses on.
Show you care.
Working from home can contribute to loneliness and negative emotions. Do whatever you can to support your employees. Encourage self-care. Advocate for them to exercise, eat well, get quality sleep, and take breaks during the workday. Help them identify their personal work/life challenges, and provide ideas and support to address them.
Manage by “walking around.”
Just as you would do if they were on-site, stay visible, and accessible to your employees. The only difference is: now, you need to do it virtually. In addition to team and department meetings, keep one-on-one interactions going via instant messaging. If it helps, regularly go down your full employee roster and individually reach out to those you haven’t checked in within a while. Continue shout outs and recognitions and share business and industry developments.
Meet all new hires.
If possible, arrange for new hires to come into your office for an in-person introductory meeting, even if they will be working 100 percent remotely. If this isn’t feasible, set up a videoconference for this purpose. Get to know them as people, not just employees. Ask about their families, passions, hobbies, and interests. Ahead of time, provide them with team and company organizational charts, including names and pictures.
As you continue to build your team and keep things productive and on track, consider partnering with PrideStaff Fresno. We’ll take a look at what your staffing and workforce development needs are at this time, and custom tailor a strategy to ensure that all your goals are met. Contact us today to learn more.