The working world is changing. In the old days, it was all about a traditional office and a 9 -5 routine. Not so anymore. Now, more and more companies are embracing a more progressive line of thinking, moving to flexible hours and, even more so, telecommuting. The internet has changed a lot about the world, and with there no longer a need for people to be in the same room to work together, telecommuting has become increasingly popular. And the good news? It can boost employee productivity. Below, we take a look at how to gently ease in this way of working to your company.
Start Slowly
There are benefits to having your workers work from home, but only if it’s handled correctly. Don’t jump all in at once; if you just ask your workers to stay at home tomorrow, then your company is going to quickly be in chaos! Instead, start slowly. Have the employees who you know don’t need to be on site work at home one day a week, and see how it goes. Once you’re getting into the rhythm, then you’ll be able to have more employees working from home, for more days in the week.
Have the Right Infrastructure
The internet enables you to have telecommuting options for your employees, but it’ll only work if you have the right infrastructure in place. You may need to integrate VoIP solutions, video conference call software, and cloud storage into your business, in order to communicate effectively. If you have all the right pieces in place, then you’ll be able to create a fluid working environment – regardless of where your workers are completing their tasks.
Connecting with Employees
Your workers may produce better work if they work at home, but a company relies on more than just the effectiveness of its workers; to reach its highest level, there needs to be a “team” dynamic. As such, you’ll want to spend time connecting with your workers, even if they conduct most of their work out of the office. Have them work onsite at least once a week, and also hold meetings face to face. There can be benefits to getting all your workers together for social drinks, too – people much prefer to work at companies where it feels like they have friends. If none of your workers ever see each other, then this won’t be able to happen!
Trust Your Workers
Some bosses are hesitant when it comes to telecommuting. They think that their workers are just going to sit around! If you’ve hired correctly, then you should trust your workers. And that’s the beginning and end of it.
Review and Update
Telecommuting can be great for your business, but it’s not going to be perfect from day one. You’ll need to review and tweak the system if it’s going to bring the boosts that it’s capable of delivering. Keep an eye on how it’s working, and then make the changes as and when needed. It’ll work in the long run!
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