Working from home, or remote working as it’s now called, has skyrocketed in popularity since we were all forced to stay home.
It’s one of the big things in business now, isn’t it?
The majority of reactions are positive.
Most people love it. They’re happier working where they want, and when they want. That makes them in control, more productive, and less likely to leave.
Is it all sunshine and rainbows though? Have you stopped to consider the downside to remote working, and any negative elements for your business and your people?
Hidden things can eat away productivity.
While many employees are happy to work from home using video calls and collaborative software to stay connected, there’s a percentage who find the whole experience isolating.
When that happens, it can quickly lead to a drop in motivation and happiness. It can even change the culture within your business.
In turn, this can lead to performance issues which may be trickier to spot.
At the other extreme, some employees will become more susceptible to burnout as they struggle to draw a line between work and personal time. A lack of change in environment can be very impactful in this regard.
What’s the investment then?
While you want your team to be happy and fulfilled in their roles, there are also some practical considerations you need to make for your business.
Such as the cost of remote working. Does everyone have the right tools for the job – laptops, phones, office equipment? Maybe even a desk and chair, or an internet upgrade?
Do you need to spend twice – giving them an at home setup and investing in hot desks in the office (hot desks are generic stations where any employee can sit to work)?
Most importantly, you must put in place full cyber security protection wherever someone is working – either in home or in office.
Here’s how we can help you stay safe and potentially save money.
Would you like us to audit your current setup and suggest some options? We’ve done this for dozens of our clients and would love to do so for you.