More than 40 percent of the workforce in the U.S. is in remote work mode now, or working from home. While many companies sent their staff home to work temporarily when the COVID-19 virus first started to spread, more and more are choosing to make a move permanent, at least for a portion of employees, every day.
Transitioning to remote work is a challenge at every level. While employees are coping with creating home offices and blocking out distractions, at the management level, your staff will be learning how to keep operations going without the same tech, access to resources, and office environment.
If you’re looking to help ease your company through the transition to remote work, keep reading. We’re breaking down a few of the top tips for keeping things smooth for employees and management and your company as a whole.
Create Clear Expectations
Making the transition to a remote work environment means making plenty of adjustments eternally. But it’s important to remember that your employees are going through many of the same pains.
Setting clear expectations for your workforce as they move to remote operations will help alleviate confusion. It will help keep your management staff from answering endless questions. Also, it will help you to eliminate potential pain points right from the start.
Your guidelines should include rules on start times, tips for handling overtime, expectations for being available at certain times, and handling lunch breaks.
Manage Your Workforce Remotely
Another challenge of remote work is losing the ability to quickly check in with operations at every level by bringing them together to discuss a project. Remote workforce management software makes it easy to move to remote work with ease.
The right software will allow your team to align their goals, track progress, communicate, and more. With every tool you need all in one place, your management software can help you quickly transition without letting any projects fall through the cracks.
Continue Encouraging Teamwork
Team management software makes it easy to keep your work, communications, and logistics all in one place. But in addition to aligning your team on a single platform, you’ll also need to take things one step further and encourage teamwork at every step.
From checking in with each other about the transition to remote work to collaborating on projects just as they would in the office, you want your team to know that they still have the same help and support that they enjoyed in the office in their new home offices.
Keep an Open Flow of Communication in Remote Work
Communication is perhaps even more important now that your employees and management are scattered. Encouraging communication, including everyday tasks and any problems your staff is experiencing, is essential. It is essential to spot problems before they worsen and keep your company moving forward.
Give your employees multiple options for communication with your management and with each other. E-mail, while easy, may not be a format that everyone is comfortable voicing concerns. A chat app makes it easier to talk through projects and everyday operations while allowing employees to check in with management via phone calls means a chance to voice concerns in a more personal way.
Making the Transition to a Remote Work Environment
Experts now predict that around 16 percent of American employees will continue working remotely permanently, even after COVID-19 has faded away. Whether your business is still weathering the pandemic or looking to make the switch to remote work permanent, the right management software, alongside encouraging teamwork, setting clear expectations, and keeping communication open, can help make the transition smooth and easy for employees and management alike.
