Remote working has been both a boon and a bane for many organisations and employees. A boon because it has allowed work to carry on even as a global health crisis continues; and a bane because it has given rise to employees’ struggles with time management and work prioritisation when doing their jobs outside of the physical work space.

That said, however, the availability of technology, tools, and remote IT support have been instrumental in making remote working the best option to keep employees in service and businesses, well, in business. The numbers indicate as much.

Over 1% (1.16%) companies globally are said to have fully adopted remote working. This may not sound like a lot but this number is predicted to increase significantly in the next few years. In fact, 74% of professionals expect telecommuting to become a workplace standard even after COVID19. Further, 99% of people would opt to work remotely for the rest of their lives, even if on a part-time basis.

Potential downsides to remote working

While it cannot be argued that remote working is fast becoming the new normal, it is by no means a perfect system. For one, many remote and hybrid workers find it hard to draw the line between their work time and the time they need to spend on personal tasks. Because of this, many employees tend to overcompensate for hours spent on ‘other’ activities and end up working over 50 hours a week, often leading to burnout and stress.

The lack of in-person interaction and difficulty in communication (especially if employees are from different time zones) have also become obstacles to more productive team collaboration.
There are many companies as well which had to quickly adapt to a telecommuting approach without ample preparation. This led to mobile workers who were not equipped with the right tools and lacked remote IT support that could provide valuable assistance in dealing with the technical difficulties of working from home.

Five tips to keep employees productive

The challenges of working remotely have to be effectively addressed so that even outside the office, employees can be productive while maintaining their physical and mental health. Here are 5 tips that can greatly help in boosting the productivity and performance of telecommuters.

1. Encourage employees to have dedicated work spaces

   Having home offices that are separated from communal living spaces and with minimal traffic can do wonders in giving mobile workers a healthy working environment. Home life can easily mix with company duties especially as many family members are also staying in. A comfortable and clutter-free work area helps employees minimise distractions and focus better.

   Along with having a work space that’s not easily accessible to others, employees would also do well to establish a clear schedule to the rest of the family members, letting them know that at-home work hours should be uninterrupted. By setting clear space and time boundaries, remote workers can more easily manage their workload without interfering with personal time.

2. Define a consistent schedule and establish daily check-ins

   Department heads should take the initiative of setting a general schedule for remote working staff. This need not be a detailed, hour-by-hour timetable of how their work routine should look like, but rather a setting of daily goals and expected outputs for certain time periods. It would also allow managers to take the lead in prioritising what needs to be done soonest.

   Given the limited personal interaction, work teams should also make it a point to do a daily check-in with management and other team members, preferably at the same time everyday. Whether it’s a quick chat for updates or a more lengthy Zoom meeting to assess task progress, a regular check-in is important in keeping team members focused on their respective roles as well addressing any concerns that may arise.

3. Equip the team with effective workflow management tools

   Reliable and efficient workflow management solutions are key to every organisation’s remote working approach. By equipping employees with the right productivity tools, you ensure that management and staff are on the same page with every project or campaign regardless of where they’re working from.

   Web and mobile applications such as Asana, Trello, and Jira are very effective for taking team members through a task or project, while allowing others to monitor progress of the project at any time. Other commonly-used team collaboration software today include Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace. Some of these apps are free while others require a regular subscription, but the most trusted ones come with remote IT support.

4. Provide constant support

   While some enterprises have adopted remote working before it became a necessity, the fact remains that many employees are still getting used to this new work arrangement. Organisation leaders should thus ensure that steady support is given to those who are not adjusting smoothly to the new set up.

   This could be in the form of HR counseling for those who are dealing with extreme stress and feelings of isolation. Even immediate supervisors can do this job by giving reassurance that they are always willing to listen to any concerns employees may have. Much-needed assistance could also be by way of providing managed IT support for any technical issues (e.g. forgotten login credentials, software updates, IT security concerns, etc.) that may arise.

5. Keep communication lines open

   Maintaining clear lines of communication has become a very essential element in remote working. Whether it’s to ensure that work-related concerns are addressed right away, to provide all the needed information promptly, or simply to promote connection that’s as close as you can get to being in the same location, constant communication is a must.

   Not only does it foster confidence among employees even as they work alone, it also preserves the camaraderie and culture that were previously only present in the physical workplace.

Whether businesses and employees like it or not, remote working has become a standard in the modern work environment. Instead of finding ways to avoid it, enterprises should instead embrace it and implement strategies that would make remote working pleasant and productive for employees. Ask your managed services provider today on how you can provide the right tools and reliable managed IT support for your remote workers.