Ok, so it might not be ideal for businesses to have all, or perhaps most, of their staff working from home, but in a country-wide lockdown situation, there are no other choices. So as a responsible business owner, who wants to carry on trading, what can you do to ensure you and your managers provide the right levels of support and communication to keep your employees happy, engaged and productive?
Work/Life Balance
Research suggests that remote working can benefit you as a manager and your organisation as a whole. Essentially remote workers put in more hours per week because they enjoy what they do when compared to on-site workers. And let’s face it it’s not difficult to see why, zero commute, better work life balance and the flexibility to work to their own schedule in the comfort of their own home.
But whilst some might find home working enjoyable and take to it quickly, you need to be mindful of those who may be struggling with the lack of face to face contact, feelings of isolation, absence of team members on hand to help and of course lack of focus and direction leading to a fall in productivity.
Top tips
However, there are some solutions, many of which are relatively quick and inexpensive to implement:
- Make sure their workspace is set up well and that they feel comfortable working in it. If you have the budget, you could ask them to purchase a work chair or something else that means they like being in their new dedicated place of work. Check that they have a quiet space to work, which is not disturbed by other family members. Any issues with broadband speed or inferior software or hardware should be dealt with early on.
- Establish structured and regular daily/weekly check-ins, or one to ones, as a forum where employees know they can talk to you and any concerns or questions can be dealt with effectively. We suggest providing different communication channels including email, video conferencing and of course the good old-fashioned telephone.
- In conjunction with your employees set expectations, accountability and responsibilities. This will ensure that they know what they should be doing, when and how their performance will be monitored and measured.
- Provide opportunities for remote social interaction. This could be time at the end of weekly calls to discuss non-work items, or you could host virtual coffee mornings, after work drinks, office parties etc. These types of online events promote a sense of belonging and purpose.
- Set up employee development plans so they know you are taking their job path/career progression seriously. Arrange more learning and development opportunities, so they can enhance their skills. Remember to offer consistent encouragement, motivation and emotional support. Ask frequent probing questions, listen to any concerns and empathise with their struggles.
Obviously there are many other way in which you can improve the morale and wellbeing of your employees, but once you understand that remote employees are faced with unique challenges you will be much more able to manage them and in turn become a better manager.
Investing in your employees now will ensure they are better prepared for a world where remote work may become the norm. It will also make them more loyal and perhaps mean they will want to stay longer at your organisation.
For advice, guidance and support when it comes to managing a remote workforce, please get in touch by emailing caroline.robertson@actifhr.co.uk or telephone 01327
I really like and appreciate your blog article. Really thank you! Much obliged. Carmelita Auberon Alica
Helpful information. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I am stunned why this twist of fate did not came about earlier! I bookmarked it. Adele Tammy Garcia
Really enjoyed this article post. Thanks Again. Want more. Rosalie Ignatius Marilou
Hello, all the time i used to check webpage posts here early in the morning, because i love to find out more and more. Melba Sansone Nodababus
Hey there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading through your articles. Kirby Abelard Laure
You have done an impressivejob and our whole community will be grateful to you. Natty Ransom Michi
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This post posted at this web page is in fact fastidious. Nicolina Abbott Friedly
Thanks for sharing such a nice idea, post is good, thats why i have read it completely Verna Lannie Prebo
I blog quite often and I truly thank you for your content. The article has really peaked my interest. I will book mark your site and keep checking for new information about once a week. I opted in for your RSS feed too. Aubine Clim Martha
I love looking through an article that can make people think. Also, thanks for allowing for me to comment! Chandal Gerri Gatian
Hello superb blog! Does running a blog like this require a great deal of work? Devondra Cart Vittoria
Good post! We are linking to this great content on our website. Keep up the good writing. Emili Bendicty Engelbert
I got this web site from my friend who shared with me about this site and now this time I am browsing this web page and reading very informative posts here. Karna Bern Ezequiel
Thanks a lot for the post. Much thanks again. Really Cool. Winnie Arvie Johansen
I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before. Tandy Boyce Roderic
This can be an inspiration to many people. Very good job Annelise Werner Isleana
Hi! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job! Katya Othello Darbee
As I website possessor I believe the content matter here is rattling excellent , appreciate it for your efforts. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck. Twila Rogerio Brader
I am no longer certain where you are getting your info, however good topic. I must spend some time learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for wonderful information I was in search of this info for my mission. Lyndy Antonio Faires
I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written! Celene Morry Claudelle
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. Rozella Dick Josephina
I just could not leave your web site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard info a person provide on your visitors? Is gonna be again incessantly to check up on new posts. Rosana Kirby Dante
I as well as my buddies were found to be viewing the good tactics on your website while unexpectedly I had a horrible suspicion I never thanked the web blog owner for those techniques. My young boys are already as a result thrilled to study all of them and have now definitely been taking advantage of those things. Appreciate your genuinely indeed helpful and also for making a choice on some beneficial subject matter most people are really needing to know about. My personal sincere regret for not saying thanks to sooner. Alvina Armand Nevile
There is visibly a lot to realize about this. I believe you made various good points in features also. Basia Henrik Laurentia
You have noted terribly interesting points ! ps tight web web site here. Arielle Boot Tiernan
Sweet web site, super design and style, really clean and use genial. Laurel Inglis Hayden
I am genuinely grateful to the holder of this web page who has shared this enormous post at at this place. Lotti Geoff Callahan
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it! Maiga Felike Mika
Admiring the time and energy you put into your site and detailed information you offer. Isidora Willard Olatha
I was able to fund good advice from your blog articles. Jordanna Mathew Dubenko Tomasine Lancelot Bellis
My spouse and I stumbled over here by a different web page and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking over your web page repeatedly. Lishe Maximilien Jonie
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you should write more about this subject, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people do not discuss these topics. To the next! Kind regards!! Madelaine Etienne Bergess
Great blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol Roshelle Linn Kano
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with useful information to paintings on. You have performed an impressive task and our entire group will be grateful to you. Lyndsay Burgess Lazaruk
Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful post. Many thanks for providing this info. Dacey Ramsay Netta
I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. Valli Holt Tobin
I really like it when people come together and share opinions. Great blog, keep it up! Noell Wallis Carline
I was just seeking this info for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your web site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this kind of informative websites in top of the list. Generally the top websites are full of garbage. Dosi Anderson Harrietta
This was a stunning post. The most important article I have ever read about them. Freddy Alphonse Maleki
start to mine trader for free and you will get big profits in a short time. Eran Ed Mathian
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact used to be a leisure account it. Look complex to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we keep in touch?| Michaeline Somerset Haveman