- OptimizeHR
Transitioning Employees to a Remote Workspace
Over the last five years, the number of organizations that offer flexible or completely remote work options increased 40 percent. Whether we would like to offer employees the benefit of a remote office on a regular basis, or if due to outside circumstances the company needs to transition to a remote workspace, there is some planning and preparation that needs to take place. This blog will offer some tips on this transition (whether temporary or full time) and some things that you need to consider for a remote workforce, which we find many workers needing to take advantage of today.
· Define remote work policies – It is important to outline expectations for the team, to include availability (what specific hours will they be working?), tools (which tools will the team use to communicate and collaborate effectively?), data management (which tools will the team use to organize and share documents and information securely?), and productivity (how will the team track progress on projects?)
· Time management – In an office it is easy to rely on a “normal routine”, but when working remotely it is incredibly important for employees to create a structure for their day
· Set up short one-on-one meetings with co-workers – These one-on-one meetings allows employees to stay on track with their projects and tasks that are happening. These meetings can even be via video, using apps such as Zoom.
· Over communicate – EVERYONE should be posting and communicating project updates on a regular basis. There are a number of helpful project & communcation management apps, such as Google Docs, Slack, and Asana.
· Set clear boundaries – If an employee is working in their home, there can be natural disruption from relatives, significant others, etc. The employees need to gently remind them that when they are working, that they are off limits and not available for conversation or other socialization.
· Carve out a dedicated workspace – By having a dedicated area this allows the employee to know they need to focus on work when in that area. Once our current COVID-19 crisis is over, dedicated workspaces can also be created in local spaces (such as coffeehouses, public libraries, and a co-working space).
As more companies go remote, distributed work has long been a trend as technology continues to evolve. In the coming years, more and more companies will choose to become fully remote – and yours may be one of them. Embracing the power of remote work now will benefit your workforce both now and as you grow into the future.
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