Three things to consider before introducing remote working

In 2020, working from home became a necessity for many businesses due to the coronavirus threat. When the risk of catching COVID-19 is finally reduced, many companies worldwide will likely go back to how they were working before the global pandemic.

For other businesses, the advantages of working from home might be so overwhelming that they decide to make remote working a permanent fixture of their company forever. If you’re one of those companies thinking about introducing remote working permanently, here are three ideas you should consider before obtaining the big move.

1. Employee engagement

When your employees are working in the office, you can see exactly what they’re doing at all times. As well as being able to check up on their products regularly, your employees may also be more productive as they know you could check up on them at any time.

By allowing your employees to work from home, you’re removing this way of keeping an eye on their progress. Fortunately, there are many ways to make sure your employees stay engaged during the day without the threat of catching them doing something they shouldn’t be.

The employee wellbeing website inpulse.com has come up with a list of seven employment engagement ideas you should implement as soon as your workforce starts working from home. These include everything from making sure every employee gets an equal amount of support throughout the day to remember to celebrate your team’s achievements regularly.

2. Your new desk

Another essential thing to consider when encouraging your employees to work from home is whether they have the right equipment to complete the tasks they need to get done.

Some studies, they may only need access to their email and the internet. If they need to achieve more complex tasks, make sure they have all of the software and fast enough hardware to complete them.

As well as thinking about the equipment they’ll need to use, get them to consider exactly where they’ll work during the day. Working from a couch or an armchair with a laptop on their lap all day could cause them back and neck problems or even cause eye strain.

Please encourage them to set up a corner of their house with a table and a chair with good back support to safely complete their work.

3. Mental health

As well as the practicalities of working from home, it’s also essential to consider the impact this change will have on your employees’ welfare.

Some employees will love the opportunity to work from home and adapt to the changes fairly quickly. Others may struggle with such a significant difference and feel isolated from their friends and colleagues. To make sure this doesn’t happen, make sure you regularly speak to all of your staff wherever they are.

As well as meeting to talk about work, make sure you schedule a time for social get-togethers where you can talk about all those things you’d typically chat about on your lunch hour or as you pass each other’s desks during the day.