The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses all over the world to change the way they operate. One of the most significant changes has been the shift to remote work. For many businesses, this has been a difficult transition. However, some companies have found that remote work improves productivity and morale. If you’re pursuing a remote career for your employees, here are a few tips to get you started.
Define Remote Work
The first step is to sit down with your management team and decide what “remote work” means for your company. What tasks can be done remotely? What tasks need to be done in person? How often do employees need to check in and work? By defining what remote work looks like for your company, you’ll be able to set expectations and avoid confusion down the road.
Once you discuss the strategy openly with your team, you can start to develop a plan for how to implement it. The budget, transfer of equipment, and necessary software licenses are just a few of the details you’ll need to work out.
Implement the Proper Technology
If you allow employees to work remotely, you must ensure they have the right technology. This includes laptops, internet access, video conferencing software, etc. It’s also essential to provide training on how to use these technologies so that employees can hit the ground running.
Video conferencing software will be vital to internal communications, making it the top priority for your business plans. Video conferencing is becoming the new normal, even if workers are starting to return to the office. As a result, it becomes a necessary initiative when allowing employees to work from home.
Another essential technology to onboard is the remote desktop software. Employees working from home might not have the skills or experience to independently set up a remote desktop, much more install necessary work-related apps. When employees encounter technical issues or data privacy problems when handling business assets, they might require help. It’s essential to provide support and training to ensure they can connect to the office network from home. One remote desktop application businesses can use AnyDesk, which secures remote access with end-to-end encryption and provides a wide range of features to facilitate teamwork. It doesn’t have to be a downloaded app for your employees. They can utilize AnyDesk as a plugin software in Google Chrome, the most common internet browser used by businesses. Your employees can set up a Chrome remote desktop in a few minutes, which doesn’t require installation.
Set Clear Expectations
Working from home can be a big adjustment for employees and managers. Setting clear expectations is essential, so everyone is on the same page. This includes setting deadlines, communicating frequently, and being available for questions or concerns. By setting clear expectations, you can avoid misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is productive and happy with the new arrangement.
However, changes can happen rapidly within a business, making it critical to develop a system to inform remote workers about the adjustments they have to make. The communication apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom can help with this. Asynchronous communication is crucial since not all employees will work simultaneously.
Ensure Data Security
Data security is essential for any business, but it’s even more critical when employees are working remotely. When data gets stored on devices and networks outside your control, there’s a greater risk of breaches and cyber-attacks. You’ll need to implement security measures like data encryption, two-factor authentication, and password protection to protect your data. You should also provide employees with training on how to keep their data safe.
Taking the proper precautions ensures that your data is secure, even when employees work from home.
Encourage Employee Feedback
Working from home can be a big adjustment, and it’s essential to encourage employees to provide feedback. This feedback can help you improve the remote work experience for everyone. By soliciting feedback, you can identify problems early on and make changes to the system before they become significant issues.
You can use tools like surveys, feedback forms, and email to get feedback from employees. Be sure to respond to feedback promptly and address any concerns or suggestions. Workers might feel disconnected from the company when working from home, so it’s crucial to show that you’re listening to their feedback and taking action.
Wrapping Up
There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do business. For many companies, this has meant shifting to remote work. If you’re thinking of pursuing remote work for your employees, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you must define what “remote work” means for your company and implement the proper technology. Second, you must set clear expectations, so everyone is on the same page. By following these tips, you can ensure that your transition to remote work is a success!
