HR Tip of the Week: Preparing Your Organization for Remote Work
As of 2018, only 24 percent of U.S. employees did some or all of their work at home, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Remote work is far from commonplace, and many employers are playing catch up to prepare their organization and employees for telework. Here are a few tips to transition workers and teams to remote work:
- Infrastructure and security. The CDC advises employers to have the information technology and infrastructure needed to support multiple employees who may be able to telework. Make sure employees have Internet access at home. Consult with an IT provider to develop the appropriate infrastructure and accessibility and limit risk for digital security breech. Take inventory of the types of essential equipment your workers need to complete their duties.
- Overcommunicate. Communication when done almost exclusively through email can result in lost information and miscommunication. If you begin heating up over digital communication, this is the time to talk to the person on the phone or by video chat to clarify the written word.
- Regularly check in with employees to ensure they’re on target to hit their goals and schedule more conversations with your team. Remote teams aren’t afforded the organic conversations that take place in an office. Be intentional about making contact and exchanging information.
- Be flexible. Things come up at home that might not come up in an office. Make sure your team has some wiggle room to be flexible with their schedules. As long as everyone knows what they are accountable for, then having some flexibility will only make things more functional and productive.
- Be open to change! Situations like the current coronavirus pandemic force us to adapt to our circumstances, gain new efficiencies, find ways to innovate, and reap the long term benefits in doing so.
Source: SHRM
