There will still be distractions when the pandemic passes. Remote workers have to focus to be productive, and there will always be a commotion outside or a load of laundry that needs to be done. One challenge employers may not worry about is their remote employees working too much. For remote workers, their house is their office. Their laptop may be in their line of sight, tempting them to log in and work when it would be healthier for them to relax.
One study found that U. Encourage your employees to set boundaries, unplug, and return the next day refreshed and focused. Remote work can be great for both employers and employees, despite the challenges that need to be addressed. Providing employees with the support they need will go a long way toward making your switch to remote work a success. The absence of those cues leaves room for misunderstandings.
Additionally, not having employees in the same location can make it hard to build a positive company culture and prevent organizational silos.
Employers may also have a more difficult time detecting when employees are disengaged. Communication is a two-way street, so managers also need to encourage feedback and discussion. Scheduling conversations at mutually agreeable times can help, particularly if your employees are in a different time zone. One-on-one meetings are great for checking in with your employees so they can ask questions or just discuss their workload. There are plenty of technology tools that companies use to communicate with employees.
Some of them can even help simulate an office environment, minus the extra chatty coworker in the break room. Tools like Zoom and Slack not only allow teams to hold meetings and keep in touch but also to share files and collaborate on different types of work. Zoom and Slack are two of the most popular online collaboration tools, but there are tons more on the market.
Chat and video conferencing are important, but employees also need to share information for other reasons, like social media management and time tracking. There are several online collaboration tools that can do this. Chanty is a team communication app that lets you send text messages, exchange audio, and video calls, and share your screen.
You can also use it to assign tasks and integrate it with Google Drive. Social media marketers can use the online collaboration tool SocialPilot , which lets you create workflows for each client. Alternatives include Microsoft Teams and Discord. Perhaps best known for use by gamers, Discord is a chat app with some features that are similar to Slack.
They both use mentions, have similar user interfaces, and use channels for different topics that you define. However, in the Slack vs Discord debate , voice calling may be a sticking point. Discord separates voice channels from the text channels, so if you want to talk to someone, you have to switch to a different channel. In Slack, you can start a call from direct messages. Video conferencing is a crucial tool for communicating with remote employees.
Zoom became extremely popular during the COVID pandemic, with million daily active meeting participants at the end of April However, there are several Zoom alternatives available.
Another important part of communicating with remote employees is making sure they have what they need for video conferencing. While a company-issued laptop and a pair of headphones may suffice for the time being, you might want to invest in webcams and better quality headphones and microphones for employees.
For example, a good quality webcam will allow the employee to look directly into the camera and avoid awkward angles. Sometimes remote employees need to make a standard request, like for the aforementioned webcam or better headphones.
Using a tool like Jotform makes these requests easy. With Jotform, you can create customized forms and assign them to employees. Additionally, Jotform integrates with several remote tools.
And the Zoom integration automatically schedules meetings and adds attendees. While it can be difficult to communicate with remote workers, being proactive can help managers better gauge how their employees are doing from afar. Using technology tools can also go a long way to providing the human connection that remote workers might be missing.
Companies with remote employees tend to see an increase in productivity. In one survey, 85 percent of businesses said remote work led to a productivity increase. Of those, 63 percent said their productivity increased by at least 21 percent. Leadership, from the top down, should make sure everyone is adjusting to remote work and being just as productive, if not more, from their chosen location.
As noted earlier, working conditions have to be conducive to productivity. Project management software can help. It benefits both employers and employees by showing the status of projects in real time, estimating costs, and optimizing how tasks are scheduled and assigned. There are several different tracking and monitoring methods and tools available. One of the most popular ways to track the productivity of remote workers is by using timesheets.
Employee time tracking can also make pricing estimates more accurate. For example, an accountant preparing tax returns might be taking two hours longer than you thought to get the job done.
Having that data helps you price tax preparation accordingly. Some of the tools you can use for productivity monitoring, like Hours , will automatically track time.
Others, like Harvest , will let you make manual time entries. What you use depends on the needs of your business and the preferences of your employees. Not only do employees need to adapt to remote conditions, but team leaders and managers do as well. As mentioned previously, proactive communication with employees is a big part of propelling a remote work initiative to success. Using apps for project management and time tracking can also help team leaders and managers stay productive. This makes it easier to structure schedules.
Finally, make sure everyone — remote employees and managers — has what they need to be successful. This applies to workspace and technology. These tools allow you to control the computer from another location to troubleshoot issues. These policies outline the rules employees need to follow, similar to the ones for working in the office. Creating this policy will help set the tone for the remote work program. A remote work policy also details who is eligible for remote work and what remote workers have to do.
When employees work remotely, they tend to work on their own schedules. Some may log in at 6 a. A remote work policy can include when employees are absolutely expected to be available. For example, you might set up a weekly check-in conference every Monday at 11 a.
You could require them to be available between 10 a. Specify how much work you expect employees to get done when working remotely. Additionally, include information on any expenses employee can be reimbursed for, like an internet service provider or cell phone data plan. Make it easy for employees to submit those expenses so that they can get paid promptly.
Strong, clear policies can help lay out what needs to be done to avoid confusion. Employees shared files by emailing them or using a database like Lotus Notes.
But today, the technology exists for just about every aspect of remote work, from holding meetings to requesting new equipment. These can include online collaboration, video conferencing, time tracking, and ways to collect feedback. Collaboration tools help employees communicate with each other and stay productive.
There are a lot of different tools available. Some are great for communicating as teams, while others are ideal for working together in documents. Chat tools include apps like Slack , Discord , and Chanty. These programs let you exchange text messages, video, and audio. Some of these apps also allow you to share files and assign tasks. Tools like Glip include task management as part of their feature set. When you need more than chat, look to collaboration tools like Dropbox or Box , which let you work directly within documents, ask questions, and make changes in real time.
Using a program like Airtable or Confluence will provide you with features to organize projects and create workspaces for collaboration. Project management is an important part of collaboration, too. Asana , monday. Video conferencing is good for direct communication and allows you to pick up on nonverbal cues like facial expressions.
Zoom is probably the best-known video conferencing platform, but there are several others you can choose from, depending on the features you need and your budget. Microsoft Teams tends to be popular in companies that already use Office , for example. It includes chat and collaboration features and has video conferencing capabilities. Companies that are already using Google products might want to look at Google Meet. Like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, Google Meet lets you hold video conferences, share your screen, and run presentations virtually.
Each of these services has pros and cons, so as you make a decision, consider what will be easiest for your team to use and what will work best with your existing software. Consider upgrading their laptop webcam with a standalone one that can be positioned at a more flattering angle, as well as providing them with headphones and a noise-filtering microphone for better audio quality. In addition to video conferencing equipment, consider the entire home office setup that remote workers have.
If remote workers are setting up a home office, they will also need a desk and chair that are conducive to productivity. You might consider investing in a docking station for their laptops, monitor, mouse, and keyboard so their setup is ergonomically friendly.
To measure how productive employees are, you can use an employee time tracking app. Some of these apps automatically track what employees are doing, while others allow employees to make manual entries.
Some of the more popular apps for employee time tracking include Harvest and Hours , as mentioned in the previous section, and PomoDoneApp. Apps like Paymo also include task management and scheduling to help deliver projects on time. As with employees in the office, remote workers will need tech support. They can take control of the entire machine to troubleshoot errors and repair them remotely.
You can do this with Jotform, which has a lot of ready-to-use form templates just for this purpose.
Tech-Savviness Remote workers have to work a little harder to maintain communication with the workplace. Here are some cybersecurity best practices that are being deployed for remote teams: Use good password management across all online accounts and tools. Remote workers should use a password manager, like Lastpass , to create very difficult passwords that are unique to each login. Use a VPN when connecting to the internet from any device that accesses company networks, tools, or data.
Set up two-factor authentication as another security measure when remote workers are logging in to company systems. Related Articles. View More. Related Content. Covid has had a huge impact on the career growth of workers and job seekers in the tech industry.
Many have seen their salaries cut and opportunities for bonuses slashed. It's likely that you've been working remotely and from home for more than a year.
The Covid pandemic upended every aspect of normal livelihood around the globe. Things shifted to sometimes unrecognizable extents overnight. Glazer also hosts the Elevate Podcast and is the author of four books. View All. The pandemic has changed work forever.
It takes skill, practice, and sensitivity. Ng shares that, as a first-generation college student, he joined the world of business as an outsider looking in—doing what he thought was necessary and yet always feeling behind.
Sign up for free. Regardless of space or location, establish an area of your home where you will work, and commit to working in this space every day. Be sure your workspace is quiet so you can focus on the task at hand.
Yes, setting up a home office or workspace may require a small investment. Much like starting a new business , you may have to purchase technology, such as a desktop, laptop, tablet, or remote phone system to do your job every day. A high-performance router will save you from many technology hassles.
Since working from home often requires more than chat messages, you need a router that will keep up. A router from several years ago might be prone to common network issues. Depending on the nature of your work, you may also need to purchase hardware or software. Our recommendation?
Invest in whatever you need to comfortably and efficiently do your job. Depending on the amount of space available, consider purchasing a large desk, bookshelves, and a comfortable office chair.
You don't have to go with the top of the line desk. Ikea offers affordable desks that are relatively simple to set up in your home office. Combine it with a powerful monitor arm to maximize your desk space. Purchase comfortable and functional furniture, including ergonomic furniture or equipment. If you are going to make working from home an everyday commitment, then set specific business or work hours.
The beauty of working from home is that you can be flexible in setting your working hours. For example, if you are most productive in the morning, or if you need to get the kids to school, then you may want to set your work hours from 7 a. Use your deep focus to zoom through your tasks. Keep reading to see how to manage your time effectively. Enforce a hard limit at the end of the day.
Distance yourself from work, so you don't work nonstop. Regardless of your schedule, be sure to establish set work hours to follow each day. Communicate your work schedule to co-workers, teams, and your boss. A career that lets you work from home can be invasive in your personal life. This is because if you are always home and near your work, then your work creeps into your home life.
Yes, the risk is real, but only if you let it. This goes back to setting work hours. By setting specific work hours and sticking to them, you will increase performance and develop a healthy work schedule. At the end of the day, shut down your laptop, set your work app to "away," and shut your office door. You and your team will be grateful. Every individual is most productive at different times of the day. For example, some individuals are morning people, and they are most productive and focused during the morning hours.
For others, their most productive time in the workday is the evenings. Discover when you are most productive and build your work schedule around your peak productivity periods. Start your day by reviewing priorities for the day. When you make your task list, stick to it. It's tempting to just leap into your email, but with a little extra focus, you can move the needle while working from home.
Set goals and time limits for each task. After you complete each task, cross it off the list. This simple technique is both effective and fulfilling. Stay on task by quickly writing down all the things that need to get done at the start of each day. In addition to making to-do lists, get into the habit of using a calendar or planner.
For example, if you work from home some days but you are on the road others, get in the habit of using a planner to write down and keep track of deadlines, appointments, and meetings. Many different task management tools make telecommuting a breeze. By organizing tasks into projects, you can attack them one bite at a time. Use a planner to log all tasks and activities, no matter if you work remotely or in the office.
Plan the work and work the plan. These are great if you are WFH. Most of these apps offer both web-based and mobile versions so that you can use them on your phone. Some can even be integrated with other apps, such as Cospace , for team collaboration. And the best part? Most of these apps offer a free version.
Move your mountain of tasks into a project management app and break meaty projects into a series of tasks and assign them to your remote team. We know — this is one reason why people love working from home. If you enjoy working in your PJs, then you are killing your productivity. Beyond psychologically getting you in the right mindset for work, you'll be ready to handle any kind of video chat or check-in with a teammate.
This is another productivity killer. It might be fine to indulge in this vice once , but it will catch up to you if you're not careful. It's wise to take to heart why working at home works. It's not just about avoiding meetings and conference calls.
In fact, quite the opposite. Remote workers know the responsibility that comes with working in their quarters. Avoid the TV and other digital distractions so you can focus on your work and getting things done. However, if used just for background noise, it's probably okay. Avoid watching TV while working; it sucks up your focus from the purpose of working at home. Instead, stream music that complements your work style. Another enjoyable perk of working from home is not having to get up, rush out of the house, and commute to an office.
Since you'll likely be cooped up indoors, take a brief walk around the block to take in the fresh air. Get up early , take a shower, make your coffee and breakfast, and prepare your lunch, just like you have to leave the house. This will prevent you from sleeping in too late and will keep you on a healthy sleep schedule. Human beings are creatures of habit. We are incredibly dependent on routines, schedules, and structure.
Alarms aren't just for waking up. Consider adding an alarm for lunch and wrap-up since working from home tends to blur these lines. Follow a strict routine and set specific work hours to be more focused, more alert, and more productive. Exercise naturally boosts endorphins, which increases happiness, enjoyment, and interest levels, all of which are important for productivity. Regularly stretching helps you maintain great posture. You can also leave yourself motivational sticky notes by your bed, so they are the first thing you see and read in the morning.
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