As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, millions of Americans have begun working from home. For many companies and workers, this is an entirely new endeavor. Facing so much uncertainty over the coming weeks can lead to difficulties with productivity and positivity, especially when we are having to implement these changes at a rapid rate. As a staffing company, we have tips that will help your employees make this transition as seamlessly as possible.
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Plan ahead as well as possible
If you know your company may request for you to work from home, do all you can to prepare. Make sure you know the places in your home where you get the best internet access. Make sure you have all the materials you might need from the office ready to go. The more planning you are able to do in advance, the easier the transition into working from home.
Not only does planning ahead mean having everything you need, it also means communicating with your supervisor about their expectations, knowing how you are going to be able to accomplish all of your responsibilities, and being clear about what changes from working at home might negatively impact your ability to accomplish these tasks. As Katie Heinz for BuiltIn advises supervisors, “determine how you’ll track productivity. While time logs are the obvious choice, they’re less indicative of performance than time spent on a task. Determine the specific metrics that are more relevant to your business and track those. Consider relying on managers to gauge productivity by tracking completed tasks or utilizing a task-management platform to make work progress visible.”
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Try to recreate your working environment as much as possible
To the best of your ability, create a designated work space at home. Not only will this help you separate your work life from home life, but it will help you maintain organization and routine. If possible, try set this space up at a desk or table. While it might be tempting to work from the couch or even bed, this will be sure to dampen your productivity. As Yuki Noguchi writes for NPR, “If you’re distractible, get ready for work every morning like you are going to physically go into work. Dress up, do your hair—whatever you’d normally do.”
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Implement communication strategies of all kinds
Not only is it important to be in communication about expectations, needs and productivity, but it is also important to try to maintain, as much as possible, the rapport between office members. Socializing at the office maintains an air of positivity that can get lost when working from home. Some companies are using communication channels like Slack to keep this type of engagement up. If your company uses an app like Slack, consider creating a channel for “water cooler talk.” In times like these, the most important thing, however, is really checking in. Make sure your co-workers and employees are doing okay, especially when many are experiencing fear, anxiety, and stress.
For more tips on best management practices, check out our previous blog posts! Staffers is one of the leading staffing firms in Jackson, Mississippi. Contact Staffers for all of your temporary and permanent staffing needs!
