Remote Working Guide for Office Workers During the Pandemic
Corporations and companies have urged their workers to work remotely due to the uncertainties posed by Covid-19. While over a quarter of the US workforce already works from home, the new restrictions will require employees and supervisors to work out of the office for the first time. This new narrative has disrupted the ideal routines of a typical 9-5, and this does not come without its challenges.
Change is difficult, and the same is true in this situation. Many people are working remotely for the first time, away from co-workers and friends, and this has caused significant amounts of physical and mental stress that negatively impacts productivity. Now more than ever, our mental health must remain a primary consideration, keeping in mind that social distancing should not equate to social isolation.
Common Challenges of Remote Work
1. Absence of face-to-face supervision
Both the employer and workers will often express concerns about the lack of face-to-face interaction and supervision. Employers worry that employees will not work as hard or as efficiently.
2. Absence of access to information
Remote workers are often surprised by the added time and energy required to get information from co-workers. Lack of mutual knowledge among remote workers translates to a reduced willingness to give workers the benefit of the doubt.
3. Social isolation
One of the most common complaints about remote work is that workers miss the informal social interaction. Workers may suffer both in the short and long run, particularly if they do not have the opportunity to connect with others.
4. Distractions at the remote offices
In the wake of the pandemic, there is a greater chance that workers will have suboptimal workspaces and face unexpected parenting responsibilities.
How Employers Can Support Remote Employees
1. Information on appropriate social distancing
Employers should make sure workers maintain a distance of at least six feet and maintain appropriate hygiene practices. Besides extra control measures due to the pandemic, other normal control measures, including PPE, must be used to protect workers from job hazards.
2. Provision of different communication technology options
Remote workers benefit from richer technology such as video conferencing. Communication tools like Zoom & Slack are recommended for simpler and formal conversations.
3. Use of cloth face coverings
Employers should recommend cloth face coverings in addition to social distancing. Note: cloth face coverings do not replace PPE such as medical face masks or respirators.
4. Ergonomic workstation set-up
About 40% of companies offered remote work before the pandemic. Employees should use a rolling chair with back support and monitors placed 20-30 inches from the face. The 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object twenty feet away for 20 seconds.
5. Exercise daily
Sitting at the desk for hours is neither healthy at the office nor at home. Employers should encourage employees to stretch their legs and stay active while working remotely.
6. Putting safety first
Build a safety culture regardless of whether the team is present on-site or not.
7. Mental health and wellbeing
Employees need to maintain their mental well-being while working remotely. Avoid overwork, get regular exercise, and spend time away from work.
Remote Work Strategy
All corporations and companies anticipated that the post-pandemic workforce would be more remote. Recent research showed that nearly one-third of US executives described their approach to post-pandemic remote working as “going with the flow.”
Company Policies
1. Right combination of remote working
Factors to consider: nature of work, experience level of workers, preferences of employees.
2. Working from anywhere (WFA) policy
Research on WFA suggests that allowing geographical flexibility enables employees to pursue bigger life goals and increases productivity relative to WFH.
3. Maintain a strong company culture
Recommendations: special lunches to build experiences, pulse check surveys, intentional communication about programs.
4. HR policies that must be updated
Recruiting strategies, compensation plans, benefit programs. Twitter and Facebook announced they would adjust pay of workers who choose to move away from headquarters.
5. New training offerings
A recent survey showed that 64% of executives plan to invest in training leaders to manage a more virtual workforce. However, only 30% had actually trained their leaders in virtual work skills.
Management Practices
1. Foster a healthy remote work condition
Establish an organisational climate that is encouraging, good, and positive for remote workers.
2. Help employees manage competing work and life priorities
The goal is not to find a perfect balance but a work-life rhythm that works best.
3. Create psychological safety
Research shows that high-performing teams have a sense of psychological safety where they can speak up, ask for help, and offer ideas without being criticised.
4. Consciously engage employees
Even tiny quantities of high-quality social connection matters in remote working.