Transition to Working from Home During a Crisis
Smaller companies often don’t have an HR department and/or a work-from-home policy in place. Many of our clients have asked for our help to create practical guidelines for working remotely while maintaining business continuity during this unprecedented time.
For employers who already have a distributed workforce or flexible remote worker policy, this transition may be easy, but for others it's unchartered waters. Depending on the size of your team and the ways you collaborate, working primarily remotely comes with new challenges. But every challenge is an opportunity to make your organization better—for your employees, clients, and partners.
We outline 4 tips for navigating remote work in the midst of this pandemic.
1. Ensure Your Employees Have the Right Setup at Home
Five Tech Companies are providing free remote working tools including Zoom & Webex.
Don’t assume employees have what they need to create a productive work environment at home.
Allow employees to take home their company laptop, desktop and/or other small devices they use at work.
Establish a remote project management system for deliverables, such as Asana, Basecamp, Trello, or in-progress deliverables with, chat apps, and Google Docs.
Offer useful information to employees about how to improve their remote working experience and be productive, like these WFH tips from Chris Jones, PMP, MBA.
2. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Many people are thinking “Will I lose my job?” or “Will our company make it through this crisis?” Employees will be looking to leadership for guidance, and how you communicate and respond to your teams during this time can make all the difference. Clear and frequent communication will also reduce stress and make this difficult time easier:
Brief everyone on communication expectations, which includes protocol for virtual meetings (video-on), working hours, and/or alternative work schedules.
If you don’t already, schedule a weekly all-hands with the entire team to provide updates. Managers can also institute daily standups for their teams.
Encourage input from your entire team on ideas to stay connected.
Assess communication strategies, tools, and outcomes to improve the remote experience for your team.
3. Prioritize Health & Safety
Lead with empathy! We’ve already seen how quickly this global crisis can develop. Make it clear that taking time for doctor appointments and treatment is the priority for members of your team or their immediate family members if they show symptoms of COVID-19. Adjust your expectations accordingly and have a plan for helping your team and the clients they support be well. This could include even more flexible work hours and additional sick leave.
4. Encourage Your Team
During any crisis it’s important to encourage and support your team individually and structurally. Keep in mind that each employee has their own individualized challenges, such as supervising their children while schools are closed or tending to a elderly or immunocompromised family member.
Fostering a community mindset will help your company stay healthy and productive during this challenging time
Don’t forget to empower your designated HR lead with everything they need to support your team.
Stay healthy and safe!