Remote work can be a great option for New Jersey businesses looking for ways to increase efficiency while eliminating the constraints of traditional offices. And in today’s fast-changing business environment, more and more companies are fitting the mold. The top reason is because remote work arrangements can be cheaper to run and more productive than physical workplaces.
Your business may be one of the current crop of organizations aiming to make the leap to permanent remote work arrangements. Before doing so, make sure you do the following:
Craft a remote work policy
A remote work policy is a clear and concrete statement of the expectations, goals, and rules that remote workers must meet. It’s a good way to provide all stakeholders with direction and hold both employees and management accountable to one another.
As you establish your remote work policies, make sure the terms are clear and concise. And to avoid any confusion between managers and employees, lay out all expectations before the latter begins working remotely.
Build a remote-friendly IT infrastructure
Your IT infrastructure should be able to support remote workers for remote work to be successful. Make sure your remote workers have access to the necessary software and hardware, as well as a reliable internet connection. Virtual offices are handy for remote work arrangements, as they can serve as a common space for staff to interact with one another professionally.
You should also consider storing, backing up, and managing your business data on the cloud. This ensures that your remote workers can always access the data they need to work. A reputable managed IT service provider can help you prepare, migrate, manage, and protect your business data with enterprise-level cloud tools and technologies. Lastly, make sure your infrastructure is well-protected with all the necessary cybersecurity tools.
Make your company culture independent from physical office
Remote work allows employees to balance their life better, but a strong company culture helps them to stay with the organization despite the lack of in-person connection. Company culture also defines employees’ attitudes towards certain tasks, and it affects how well each staff member will mesh with one another professionally. So, it’s imperative to establish and maintain a consistent culture that your workers can lean upon.
Culture isn’t made overnight, and it can be difficult to enforce it if employees see that their leaders are all talk and no bite. So make sure that your organization’s leaders and decision makers all practice the tiny nuances that define company culture. For instance, you must:
- Communicate well – Communication is key when it comes to remote work. Be clear and concise with your expectations and goals for each task you assign. Also, take time to connect with your staff on a personal level. Ask them about their loved ones and allow them to pursue personal projects. Never forget about the human behind the screen. Your investment in their personal well-being will be rewarded by their loyalty to your organization.
- Highlight the accomplishments of your remote team – Recognition is always a good motivator, and adopting a culture that highlights accomplishments will set the tone for your remote work arrangement. This will show your team that their efforts do not go unnoticed, even if you are all physically apart.
- Offer equitable benefits for remote team members – Your staff’s needs and expenditures will evolve along with the changes your office undergoes. So make sure their benefits are still aligned not only with your finances, but also with their needs. For example, in lieu of offering transportation allowances, you can offer a connectivity subsidy that covers internet and phone service costs.
Invest in training
Remote work is a great way to increase the productivity of your company, but you need to make sure your employees are ready and able. You should invest in training and take enough time to properly assimilate everyone into the remote work environment you envision for your organization. The transition to remote work will not be seamless and uniform for everyone, so make sure you identify the workers who need additional support throughout the process.
Training should include learning about the proper use of software, protocols for communicating certain types of information, rules for cybersecurity and data integrity, and best practices for working remotely. Make sure your best practices training also includes techniques that will help remote workers take care of their mental and physical health.
Ready to take the next step towards a permanent remote working arrangement for your company? Online Computers’ team of IT professionals can help you build your blueprint and prepare your computer infrastructure to make the transition as smooth as possible. Give us a call today at 800-985-9365 or email us at info@onlinecomputers.com to learn more.
