During the pandemic, many companies switched to a work-from-home model. Continuing to work from home after the pandemic is on the agenda of many companies. Although not for the whole shift, it is considered warm to switch to working from home on certain days of the week.
So what are the issues to be taken into consideration in the experience of working from home? What opportunities should companies offer to their employees and what should they pay attention to?
First of all, it is important not to confuse the concepts of freelancing and remote working. Companies should pay attention to the following 6 issues in order to offer the best work-from-home experience for their existing, full-time employees.
1- Provide internet connection
Internet connection is one of the most critical issues in the remote working model. In addition to sending and receiving emails, employees will need a fast and stable connection for many issues such as joint file sharing and video meetings. The same connection that is offered to employees in the office should also be offered to remote workers. Companies should bear the cost of this connection. A backup mobile data connection should also be provided by the company in case the existing connection breaks.
2- Offer hardware and technical support
As with connectivity, companies are responsible for the hardware. If there is no company policy such as Bring Your Own Device, the company should provide the hardware required for working from home, such as laptops, microphones and headphones. These devices should have complete security software and remote technical support should be provided for all devices.
3- Do not exceed working hours
Working from home does not mean working 24/7. As in the office, working from home also requires attention to working hours. Meal and coffee breaks in the office should also apply to those working from home. Do not contact your employees outside of working hours. Take care to send your e-mail messages during working hours. If you prefer a flexible working model, determine the rules and inform your employees.
4- Make things measurable
Remember, you cannot manage without measuring. Create daily, weekly and monthly plans for working from home. Be sure to specify the estimated realisation time for the work to be done. Create flexible gaps in your plans for unforeseen tasks. You can use cloud-based software such as Favro, Asana, Trello, etc. to increase productivity. An Excel file can also do the job at a basic level. Review the KPIs you use and revise them according to the work-from-home model.
5- Protect benefits
Benefits offered to an employee hired to work in the office should be maintained during the period of working from home. Employees who cannot use their side benefits such as meals and transportation can be paid in cash or gift checks. Online alternatives can be created for training and social activities.
6- Provide motivation
Working from home may not make every employee happy. The distance from the social environment at work, inactivity and concentration problems can reduce productivity. It is important that managers communicate with their employees on a regular basis and collect feedback to improve the experience of working from home. All feedback collected should be passed on from the bottom to the top in a sequential manner and action should be taken to keep employee motivation high. Sometimes companies can increase the motivation of their employees with small gestures.
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