Seven months have passed since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis. Businesses have been forced to adapt by changing the way they manage their team members and workplace.
Many of us have now become used to seeing our coworkers’ faces exclusively on a computer screen… and that’s okay!
Five out of ten employees in the U.S. and Canada would like to fully work from home once the pandemic is over, and 99% of them would be happy doing it at least some of the time for the rest of their career. And it’s not hard to figure out why.
People that work from home are able to manage their own time better and are even able to improve their efficiency – 65% of workers claim they feel more productive away from the office.
The same study states that 85% of businesses have reported that remote work has increased their team’s overall productivity and engagement. The cherry on top of it all is that remote work positively affects employee happiness and overall mental health.
So it’s no longer a question of if you should implement remote work, but of how you should go about it.
“A vast majority of people are already working hybridly. Meaning they work at least part of the time from home or other locations.”
In the first place, it is important that you, as an employer, do everything you can to optimize your employee’s workspace at home. If you normally invest in office equipment or software for your business, then you know the drill. But what may not be so obvious is that if your team is now working from home, it’s more important than ever to invest in office equipment and software.
Ask your employees if they have everything they need to work comfortably and optimally from home. If one of your designers is used to having two screens at the office, but only has a single beat up monitor at home, then it might be a good idea to buy one for them.
Yes, it may be expensive at times. But it’s an investment that will make your team more productive and efficient, with the added bonus of making your team feel in good hands and with higher morale.
No one wants to participate in daily meetings with a shoddy webcam that makes one look like a pixelated mess. Sending your employees a brand-spanking new webcam will make them feel like you are looking for ways to improve their daily lives. And I can guarantee that person will become much more involved and engaged during meetings.
The other key factor to consider is software. Many times we get used to a particular CRM or communication platform which may have worked well for us in the past. But, modifications in a team’s workflow may require for you to change or discard obsolete software. It’s important not to fall in love with any one platform.
Don’t be afraid of change. The results you can achieve when you make sure that every platform your business uses is tailored to your needs is remarkable. You wouldn’t want to have to dig a ditch with a pitchfork, invest in a shovel!
