The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a threat to public
health but to businesses as well. Organizations have been literally thrown off
balance with the sudden move to the remote working model. However, you have no
choice as this the only way to survive and run amid the biggest global crisis.
Remote working is keeping the wheels turning while ensuring the safety and well
being of the employees. Right now, having people at work means that you are
exposing them to infection, which is the last thing you would want to do.
On the flip side, operating with this new normal may
require a lot of effort and preparation for the business. There is much that
you need to do to make people comfortable with the concept of working from
home. And there are risks of things going wrong as well, with threats involving
business infrastructure, security, collaboration as well. Thankfully, having
the right IT solutions in place can cover you to a considerable extent and keep
things going seamlessly. Here are the aspects to bear in mind while keeping
pace with the remote transition.
Infrastructure
To start with, businesses need to ensure that their employees are equipped to deal with the
work-from-home model and its practices. Having the right infrastructure in
place is the only way to make this possible. While providing them the right
hardware is the first thing to do, you may also consider offering them an
allowance for setting up a home office to take things to the
next level. Further, remote workers also require the basic infrastructural
elements like a high-speed internet connection and power backup to work
uninterrupted. So this is something your allowance should cover as well.
Collaboration
Perhaps the biggest challenge that companies face with
the remote model is employee collaboration. Needless to say, effective collaboration is much more than video calls
and remote team meetings. Rather, you need to facilitate spontaneous
collaboration because it lets people come up with creative solutions. It is
important to have a solid collaborative framework in place, with the right set
of chat apps, meeting tools, and data sharing software that lets them be
connected on every front. Further, video calls and casual interactions should
be a part of the initiative as they reduce the sense of isolation.
Security
Another critical threat of COVID-induced remote work
is cybersecurity. Most firms need to handle confidential information, which
makes it vital to ensure that employees working from home have a secure
environment. There is much you can do in this context, from installing the
right security software to facilitating secure file sharing, mandating device
encryption, and enforcing best practices for the use of personal devices.
Further, firms also need to provide the right training so that employees are
able to spot any suspicious activity and report cyberattacks, malware, or
phishing attempts before they do any major damage.
Policy framework
Remote work requires a clear policy framework so that
employees have clear expectations related to productivity, performance, leaves
and rewards. Since virtual work is apparently going to be around for a
foreseeable future, companies need to invest in a culture of remote work. While
there should be clear policies and procedures in place for leave, appraisals
and employee feedback, businesses also need to ensure that managers trust
remote workers and do not harbor a negative bias towards them. Having mutual
trust and transparency is the only way both businesses and workers can survive
and sustain themselves through the crisis.
Emotional well-being
A challenge that is easy to overlook amid the stress
of the crisis is the loneliness and isolation your employees face as they work
from home. If remote working is going to be the new normal, organizations need
to overcome this challenge and find the best ways to address the emotional
well-being of their people. Fortunately, innovative use of technology
can be of great help in this context as well. Consider having weekly fun
sessions for the team to interact on personal levels. Managers can implement a
system for team celebrations of work achievements and personal milestones such
as birthdays and anniversaries. Gamification is another good way to elevate
employee engagement and promote their mental health.
The COVID-19 outbreak is an eye-opener for businesses as they have been forced to re-evaluate the way they work conventionally. At the same time, it has highlighted the significance of resilience and adaptability for them. Organizations have understood the value of diversifying their business model and building a workplace strategy that is adaptable, proactive and comprehensive. Perhaps, this is the only way to survive and emerge stronger in the toughest situations.
0 Comments