Work From Home Best Practices

During this health and economic crisis, many businesses are able to remain “open” by converting their employees to work from home arrangements.  To some businesses, this has been a common workplace solution.  My business, for example, has always had its employees work from home or client sites.  For non-essential businesses, my consultants are working from home and if the client is deemed essential during this crisis they are continuing to work on site.

Many are saying this change was brought about some awareness.  I’m hearing from businesses that they know now they should have made the investment long ago.  This type of flexibility and connectivity should have been in place before a crisis.

Some are saying this is the new way of doing business.  Well, not so fast.  Many companies are not conducive to work from home arrangements.  They can transition during a crisis, but the solution makes little sense long term.  Many individuals are self-directed, but more are not.  Some of us go to work to rest.  Speak to any caregiver.

There are a lot of considerations and best practices in work from home arrangements. There are organizational, operational and employee management situations that if handled correctly, can make for a smoother more productive transition.  Handled incorrectly, utter dysfunction.

So, first things first.  Leadership needs to be involved in the solution.  They have to present the new work arrangement with a positive attitude and be willing to train managers on how to manage a remote workforce.  They should show a “can do” attitude and communicate what outcomes that need to be achieved.  They have to authorize funds to improve and/or enhance technology to make it work.

Operationally, managing workers from home is a whole new deal.  The communications must occur daily.  This can be difficult in places where managers didn’t communicate at all.  It shouldn’t be just email either.  Face-to-face conferencing and virtual team meetings should occur frequently.  Setting up a routine for departments and employees will provide clear expectations and collaboration.  Plan a weekly agenda and distribute it to team members to allow for input before the meetings.  Managers should be prepared to listen to workers to flush out any customer concerns so workers can respond correctly.  It’s not a bad idea to give workers a webinar on customer service essentials because many of them have not had regular  customers contact.  Managers do need to be flexible and patient with working families, allowing them frequent breaks and different hours.

Employees who are not self-directed need advice and guidance.  The best practice is to stick to your personal routine.  Get up on time, get dressed, put on your makeup, and set up an area that resembles a work site. No working on the couch.  It’s not healthy to break from routine and stay in pajamas until midday.  And it’s not a time to take advantage.  Working from home means you are still working.  Otherwise, you are demonstrating to your employer that you are non-essential.

For working parents, structure helps with children too.  Have them keep to their schedules and attend virtual or prepared work for them to do while you work from home.  Spouses can take turns with work and childcare.  Single parents can arrange rotating schedules with other parents, just as long as sound precautions are put in place to minimize exposures to the virus.

Home office employees should offer ideas to managers and be available for virtual meetings.  Communicate, collaborate and keep a positive attitude.  Reach out to support systems if you are feeling overwhelmed or depressed.  Call the EAP if your company has one.

Work from home arrangements help us get through this difficult time.  Anyone who can do this should feel very lucky.  After all, we still have a job.  Our business found a way to continue delivering their product or service to their customers.  Some workers are not as fortunate- both the ones who have lost their jobs and the many who are on the front lines providing essential products and services.

The important thing is to remain positive.  We can get through this together. With some thought, planning and best practices, working from home can be a positive and productive experience for businesses and workers.