Common Challenges When Working From Home
Insufficient face to face supervision – remote workers and managers both complain about the lack of face to face interaction, which could affect productivity, communication, and availability of managerial support.
Insufficient access to information – new remote workers are commonly shocked by the additional effort and time required to find information from coworkers.
Social isolation – when it comes to remote work, one of the most common complains is loneliness. Working from home for a long time could cause remote workers to feel less “belonging” to their company, which could prompt them to leave the organization.
Distractions at home – there are many distractions that can hinder efficient and productive remote work. Employers must encourage remote workers to have a dedicated workspace and sufficient child care before letting them work from home.
How Can Managers Support Remote Employees?
Create a structured check-ins everyday – remote managers should create a daily call with their remote employee, which could be in the form of one on one calls, in case your employees work more independently from one another, or a team call, in case their work is more collaborative.
Provide different options for technology – email isn’t enough. Remote workers must make the most out of the available technology, like video conferencing, that provides participants a lot of the visual cues that they would have if they were facing each other. There are instances when quick collaboration is more crucial than visual detail. Tools like Zoom and Slack can be used for less formal, less formal, and time sensitive communication.
Create rules of engagement – remote work becomes more satisfying and efficient when managers set some expectations when it comes to the means, frequency, as well as the ideal timing of the communication for their remote workers. Let your remote workers know when is the best time and what is the best way to reach you during the workday. Also, watch out for communication among remote workers to make sure that they are sharing information as required.
Offer opportunities for remote social interaction – managers must structure ways for workers to interact socially while they work from home Myrtle Beach. This holds true for each remote worker but especially for those who have been transitioned out of the office abruptly.
Offer emotional support and encouragement – particularly in the aspect of an instant shift to remote work, it’s crucial for managers to acknowledge the stress, listen to the concerns and anxieties of their employees, as well as learn how to empathize with their struggles. In case an employee who is new to remote working is struggling but is not communicating anxiety and stress, you should ask them how they are doing. A simple question of how the work from home situation is working out for them can provide you with the crucial information that you may not otherwise hear. When you ask the question, don’t forget to listen carefully to your worker’s response.
Call SpartanTec, Inc. and let our team help you set up the appropriate online security measures for your remote workers.
SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/
