Thanks to improving technology, more and more companies are opening up remote work opportunities—which is great as long as you’re prepared to handle it. It’s a great perk to show off to prospective employees, but it does operate by an entirely different set of rules than the traditional office. Here’s how you can prepare your business for the trend of working remotely.
Update your policies to regulate remote work
Before you send everyone off to work independently, make sure your policies reflect policies and procedures to enforce accountability. Outline your expectations and responsibilities so you can figure out who’s doing what and whether you have any other staffing gaps. Figure out which jobs must be done on-site and how to keep those off-site workers accountable.
Use technology to maintain teamwork
Even though many of your workers will be working by themselves, it’s still important to facilitate teamwork. You can do so by using technology and cloud-based software to keep your team engaged. Think videoconferencing, group chats, online training, and digital recognition platforms. Just remember that you’ll have to prioritize data protection even more since your employees will likely be accessing your network remotely and taking home laptops and such, so make sure you have enough cybersecurity safeguards in place.
Use a messaging communication system
One of the keys to empowering a remote workforce is that they need to be able to communicate efficiently and effectively. Make sure you’re all agreed on which form of messaging you’re using so everyone’s using and checking messages the same way, so one person isn’t waiting around on an email while everyone else is a different messaging system. Project discussions, announcements, and touching base with coworkers is simple if everyone’s on the same page.
Onboard the right employees
Not everyone is suited to work remotely, so use your best judgment to determine who is and who isn’t. Look for candidates who can be proactive about communication, who can be trusted to get their work done with minimal supervision, and who can problem-solve on their own.
Empower your managers
It’s likely that your managers will feel overwhelmed with the transition. After all, their responsibilities will now look different, and they’ll have to figure out how to manage remotely. What will that look like? And with everyone out of the office will they have to take on additional tasks? They should make themselves available to answer questions, offer encouragement, and provide constructive criticism, all while treating both remote and onsite workers equally.
A remote workforce may or may not be right for your company. Consider how reliable and diligent your team is and how well your tasks can be done from remote locations. Do you have a budget that can support empowering your team with the right technology and the necessary cybersecurity measures? If not, this might not be the right time to launch a remote workforce. For more tips on evaluating your readiness for a remote workforce, contact Pridestaff Thousand Oaks today.
