Employees face many challenges as they transition to working from home. Managers have to be supportive to make the process easier. Fortunately, technology has been advancing to support this remote work trend. This article will go over some different ways technology can make life easier for remote workers worldwide by addressing the most common challenges they face.
Communication
As the workforce transitions to working from home, a big concern for managers is communication. For the first time in history, work-related communication is mainly done online. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If a company has dozens or hundreds of employees, it might even be easier to communicate online than in person. This is possible thanks to applications such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and others. Video conferencing apps like Zoom and Skype are also advancing in capabilities. By using these tools, organizations can help maintain good communication among all members.
Security
Cyberattacks are all over the media these days. So it’s understandable that managers may worry about their company’s cybersecurity. While this danger can never be eradicated, there are ways to maximize security in organizations. Doing so should be a priority. Organization leaders should install security tools like password managers, firewalls, antivirus software, and others. Another solid step would be to establish collaboration with a reputable cybersecurity firm in case of an emergency. Additionally, not all remote workers are educated on the topic of cybersecurity, which leads to extra risks. Organizations need to educate their employees on the different dangers the company faces in the digital world so they know what to look out for.
Mental Wellbeing
People react to changing scenarios in different ways. Some workers feel relieved working from home, away from office stress. Others report feelings of loneliness and isolation. Managers need to be aware of the difficulties some employees face when working from home. These employees need support to ensure good morale and productivity. Over the recent years, companies have started investing more in mental health benefits for employees. This may include:
A subscription for a mental-wellbeing app,Free psychiatric consultations,Home space improvement benefits, and more.
Time Management
A day in the life of a remote worker includes a handful of meetings and different tasks that need to be completed. Sometimes, it can be challenging to manage all of these obligations without getting overwhelmed. To maximize efficiency, organizations can use time management tools like Google Calendar, which will support workers in organizing their day. Employees can also use such tools to coordinate with people in different time zones. All duties for each employee can be implemented into the platform, making it easy for co-workers to see when they’re available.
Distractions
Human attention spans have deteriorated over the last few decades. At home, employees have access to gadgets like smartphones and TVs. These often cause employees to get distracted and reduce their productivity. If an employee goes out of their way to engage in these distractions, there are little managers can do to stop them, apart from using time tracking apps. But there are a few more subtle ways organizations can use technology to help employees overcome distractions. One is to install website-blocking add-ons that deny access to websites like YouTube or Reddit. A broader solution could be a focus-app subscription or a daily meditation session for all employees.
Motivation
With less supervision, employees may feel less pressure to perform. Accompanied with issues like loneliness and isolation, this can lead to a lack of motivation to get things done. Good managers know how to keep team members motivated. Weekly meetings emphasizing goals and ambitions are a common solution. Apart from that, managers can also use digital signage to track progress and incentivize task completion. Digital signage can also be used to recognize the fulfillment of objectives, announce employee wins, and more. This could lead to friendly competition and a boost in productivity. Seeing that what they do has a tangible impact on the company should lead to a considerable boost in motivation for most employees.
Final Thoughts
As remote work starts to become mainstream, employees face a new set of challenges in the workplace. With the help of technology, managers can help their employees overcome these challenges, especially when it comes to communication, security, mental health, time management, distractions, and motivation. Follow the tips above to make your remote team happier and more productive than ever!
