As the world transitions into a post-pandemic society, businesses all over are becoming more intrinsically remote. Even outside of health concerns, there are motivations that stem from cost-saving to environmental, all of which are supported by an ever-efficient technological infrastructure. Coinciding with the growing popularity of teleworking are the low-cost hardware and software assets that enable businesses to continue running with employee teams thousands of miles away from each other.

While the initial transition to remote working culture has been overall positive, with a significant number of workers calling for it to remain, many businesses are beginning to realise that this new style of operation requires a significant overhaul. No longer are HR departments and managers equipped with the know-how or methods to encourage and connect with their teams, a disadvantage that can slow productivity and alienate employees if left unchecked.

Retrain Your Staff

One of the most fundamentally valuable decisions a business owner can make is to retrain their staff. While it may be a substantial undertaking, the new professional practice, as well as its benefits, cannot truly be utilised without proper training.

Thankfully, there are a number of corporate training courses available, with a variety of options to choose from. This means that, whether you are looking to strengthen your managers’ skills or seeking to equip your financial departments with new software skills, you will be able to source the education that works for you.

Focus On Wellbeing

Historically, many businesses have been hesitant to dedicate resources to recreational activities for their staff, as well as for workplace luxuries. However, as teams begin to spend the majority of their time at a distance, communicating solely through video conferencing and virtual messages, it becomes paramount that effort is made to keep people connected. Without this effort to keep employees socialised and with positive wellbeing, it is more likely that the distance will become problematic and eventually affect their wellbeing.

Support Their Office

Working from a centralised location ensures that employees are within an environment that is conducive to their productivity. However, when working from their homes, they are less likely to be able to recreate such a professional space, not only limited by their assets and interior designs but also affected by interferences.

There are two approaches that can be taken to ensure sustained productivity. One is to directly support the individual employee with resources, whether the financial bonus to purchase equipment or the loan of assets like office furniture. The other is to allow for a flexible working structure. This allows employees to choose periods of time when they are most productive. It may not fit a traditional 9 – 5 schedule, but it will ensure the work is completed as efficiently and professionally as possible.

Restructure Your Tasks

Typically, collaboration has been relatively easy, since employee teams work within the same spaces. This has led to tasks being structured as interactive, with employees seeking ongoing feedback throughout the process. When working remotely, however, these processes, such as progress checks, become problematic and time-consuming. It is, instead, beneficial to keep responsibilities specific to individuals and then collaborate following the completion of a task.