Concerns over coronavirus, or COVID-19, have听spread听to听global proportions.听The Federal government has imposed听travel听restrictions, as have many large corporations,听and听countries are closing borders worldwide to slow the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.听
Here is where technology can make a direct impact on our听health and well-being听鈥� literally听saving听lives while at the same time听keeping the workforce productive.听The CDC recommends,听鈥�For employees who are able to telework, supervisors should encourage employees to telework instead of coming into the workplace until symptoms are completely resolved. Ensure that you have the information technology and infrastructure needed to support multiple employees who may be able to work from home.鈥�
In addition to providing a means of keeping your employees safe听from coronavirus, telecommuting programs 鈥� especially those featuring enterprise collaboration technologies 鈥� can enhance employee work-life balance, increase productivity, reduce corporate overhead costs and shrink the corporate carbon footprint.听
Whether you have a telecommuting program in place, are looking to boost your existing program, or need to get started on implementing a program 鈥� quickly, here are听our听Top 5听Telecommuting Tips.听
Top 5 Telecommuting Tips for Employers
1. Telecommuting technology – Need what you have and have what you need.听
Make sure your employees have all the tools and technology they need, preferably听before making the transition from a听corporate work environment to a remote telecommuting program.听Current events with Coronavirus safety are听forcing a compressed timeframe for shifting听to remote work,听so听adopt听a tiered approach听with听鈥�must have, nice-to-have, and听can do without鈥澨�technologies听to evaluate how to make a speedy but efficient transition.听
2. Ensure knowledge-share on your most valuable telecommuting tools.听
In keeping with the tiered approach, make sure your employees understand听how to use your top-tier tools for maximum productivity. Your collaboration tools are only as effective as the employees who understand how to schedule听and execute a video call听and/or share documents and applications听with multiple team members in听different locations. Provide access to听instructional videos or remote training听for those who听aren鈥檛 familiar with听the tools they will be using the most to keep productive at home.听
3. Encourage scheduling transparency.听
A transition to working from home has the advantage of听flex schedules for听greater work-life balance, but you want to ensure your employees are听either听at their desks during regular business hours听or听working on an approved flex-schedule. Collaboration software can share calendars across your organization,听but听this is effective听only if听the users are keeping听schedules听up-to-date and available.听Presence notifications can be invaluable,听providing听that听people sign in.听Be clear about听your expectations on employee availability and听transparency, especially in special circumstances, such as a school closing.听
4. Protect your data.听
This may be the most obvious telecommuting tip out there but it goes without saying that security should be a top priority, both within your organization and for听outside听collaborative听communications. If you are transitioning a large number of employees to a remote work program due to the Coronavirus pandemic, ensure that you have sufficient measures in place to keep your data and intellectual property safe. These measures range from super simple 鈥� keep personal and professional emails separate, do听your听work on a separate computer, not your听teen鈥檚 gaming computer 鈥� to high-tech听encrypted听VPNs available from听an industry service provider.听These measures should also apply to any听external听entities, such as members of your supply chain, who may also be implementing telecommuting programs.听听
5. Ensure telecommuting success with regular and open communications.听
Physical distance from your workplace doesn鈥檛 need to mean isolation from your colleagues.听Videoconferencing听makes听virtual听face-to-face meetings easy and keeps employees from feeling听like they are cut off from water-cooler conversations. Encourage community within your organization despite听what might seem like a sudden transition to separateness. Leverage presence听to encourage quick checkpoint meetings on听fast-ball projects听and听regular听town hall-style meetings听for company-wide updates. These are small changes which can have a momentous impact on keeping employees feeling like they are part of your corporate community.听
The Coronavirus pandemic presents us all with the sobering reality that听life-altering听challenges can appear at any time.听Fortunately, technology presents us with a means of avoiding, or at least lessening, this threat. We hope our telecommuting tips help with easing the transition to working remotely. We wish all of our customers听and partners in the 萌妹社区 community the best in staying safe during this difficult time.听
Looking for Work from Home (WFH) best practices? Learn how to maximize productivity from your home office with this free guide,