Do you have a Working Remotely Policy in place? Organisations should consider implementing one to protect your employees from Coronavirus.

The coronavirus has been labelled a “pandemic” by the World Health Organisation and governments across the world, so it’s no wonder it is the main topic of conversation. While it is a high-priority for organisations to ensure the well-being of their people, they also need to have a way to maintain business-as-usual at the same time as keeping their employees safe.

Allowing and encouraging employees to work from home during this time may keep potential germs from spreading throughout organisations. Your employees will be able to remain productive without the worry or stress about missing work or deadlines, as well as not having the hassle of using public transport.

There have been many advances in technology which makes working remotely easy, but the hard part can be shifting the mindset to being okay with working outside the office. Moving to a workforce that’s out of sight requires employers to have confidence and trust in their employees. It’s vital that managers believe their employees will remain focused on their job and not enjoying an extended weekend.

Here are a couple of topics that managers should consider to help make the move to working remotely:

1. Trust your employees - Working remotely requires a different mindset – from both employees and employers. Managers need to focus on trusting their people and offer more autonomy while employees need to be accountable for their own results.
2. Communication - Working remotely works, but consistent and constant communication is crucial to enable high-functioning remote teams. Constant communication will allow managers to create a culture where employees feel heard, stay productive, and remain accountable, even from home.
3. Meetings / Feedback - Regular feedback can be easily forgotten when you’re not with your team in person, but it is critical for managing remote teams. Regular meetings, which can easily be by telephone, video conference, zoom or skype etc, can help managers understand what employees are working on, where they need assistance, and what they’ve accomplished.

Allowing employees to temporarily work remotely will improve productivity and reduce stress. Remote work will give your organisation the edge to stay strong during these kinds of viral outbreaks, but also during inclement weather, and other tumultuous times that we have already encountered this year.

By implementing a Working Remotely policy today, you’ll help decrease the risk of spreading harmful germs throughout your team and provide the best support for your employees.

HBA Consulting specialises in the professional advice and assistance on Human Resource Management , Organisational Design and Industrial Relations matters. Contact us today if you need assistance with drafting and implementing a Working Remotely policy.