With companies encouraging remote work more and more, there are many employees struggling to transition from their everyday work routine to working from home. That’s why it’s important for HR managers to encourage employees to work smart while also paying mind to their mental health.
If you’re not sure how to get employees working efficiently and effectively from home then follow this simple guide.
Develop A Schedule
While working from home can come with many hurdles, one of the biggest challenges employees will face is creating a routine that will help keep them productive throughout their day. With children, spouses, roommates, and even pets at home, anyone’s mind can feel easily overwhelmed and extremely unmotivated. To help your employees stay on top of their day-to-day tasks encourage them to create a schedule to better manage their time. There are many useful tools such as Google calendar or online planners to help keep them organized, you can even suggest they write things down in a journal to help their brain prioritize different task.
Although working from home has many benefits, one of the biggest issues for employees is holding themselves accountable for their tasks. So, recommending employees make a daily to-do list will add more structure to their day, while also giving them small goals to accomplish. Developing a schedule can not only help productivity but keep them mentally organized.
Communicate With One Another
In order to create a productive work environment, your team needs to communicate well. Even though your team is not physically interacting with one another, you should still encourage collaboration and virtual check-ins throughout the workweek. Staying connected with one another will not only help normalize your virtual workday but can also be a great source to foster connections between employees. Utilizing collaborative tools can make the work from home process a lot smoother. Tools like Zoom and Google Hangouts provide easy to use video conferencing, that allows for effective communication and collaboration through screen-sharing and whiteboard feature.
Establishing weekly or daily check-ins is an important part of maintaining good communication within the company. Employee check-ins are a great opportunity to track and maintain goals within the team on a one on one biases. This can also be a good opportunity for employees to discuss any challenges they have faced while working from home.
Don’t Forget Self-Care
When your home doubles as your workspace, employees can often be prone to burnout. Although working remotely removes commuting and allows for fewer office distractions, employees tend to overwork themselves in order to prove productivity. That’s why it is crucial to promote self-care and breaks through the workday. Motivating employees to take their full lunch breaks will allow their minds to rest and recharge. If some find it challenging to take the break in its entirety then recommend apps like TimeOut to help them set break reminders throughout the day. Communicate the importance of taking 15 minutes to go for a walk or sit outside, and the positive effect it will have on their mental state.
This can be a challenging time for many, for employees, finding a balance between their work and their personal life can be a fundamental part of their overall well-being. Provide emotional support by implementing a virtual safe space for your team to talk about any inner conflicts. Advocate for the importance of exercise, quality sleep, and even virtual therapy. Many telemedicine companies are now offering online therapy to those struggling to adjust, so normalizing these services can be beneficial to your employees.
Organize Nonwork Events
Normally when the clock strikes five and the workday is done, everyone is packing up and heading on home. However, with quarantine keeping us in all-day many employees are lacking the social aspect of work. Urging virtual team bonding experiences can boost company morale and help everyone relieve stress in a no-pressure environment. Weekly virtual happy hours can also be a fun way to get your team’s mind off of work while giving everyone an opportunity to get to know each other.
Although your company is working from home, that does not mean that they should stop celebrating company and employee milestones. Whether that be work anniversaries or birthdays, acknowledging these important dates will remind employees they are supported and appreciated.
In order for a company to continue to grow and succeed it has to take care and be mindful of its employees, and during these uncertain times it’s even more crucial for employees to feel supported and heard. Although working remotely comes with its own challenges, if done right, it can be a wonderful opportunity for not only employees but the company as well.
