Since 2020, the world has changed completely in every aspect. Schools and public institutions closed, students began taking online classes and employees started working from home. Three years later, employees continue to work from home as the commodity and conditions are satisfying.
With remote work, there is a lot of flexibility in terms of hours and location and employees can often avoid the need for childcare or other forms of support. However, working from home can make it difficult to stay motivated and focused, and there is also the risk of isolation from colleagues and peers.
It is essential to come up with an effective time management method, such as the Pomodoro technique, that will ease the working process for your employees. Implementing such a method means that your employees will be able to keep their productivity levels high throughout the day.
When managing remote workers, you need to keep in mind that trust is mutual. It is not easy to follow up on things when you are not physically present in the office. You must trust your employees to complete their tasks, and they must trust you to respect their time and space. In the end, be adaptable. Things will happen, and you must be prepared to adjust. The goal is to build a team that can collaborate effectively no matter where they are.
In this article, you will find four ways to increase employee productivity while they work from home.
Use employee monitoring software tool
Monitoring your remote employees’ work will help you understand your current situation and potential future. And if you’re wondering how to monitor work from home, investing in employee monitoring software is the right answer.
Employee monitoring software enables you to track your remote employees’ computer activities in real-time during working hours. It will help you see when they start and finish their working days, how much time they spend on a particular project or task, recognize top performers, and, finally, identify any bottlenecks. This way, you’ll be able to be more involved in their projects, offer encouragement, and step in when necessary.
By using effective employee monitoring software you’ll get a clear picture of whether or not remote workers are making the most of their working hours. What’s more, tools of this type promote accountability among employees. They can feel more in charge of their jobs when they take responsibility for their workflows and how much time they spend on each task.
Keep constant communication
To increase productivity in a remote workplace, frequent and authentic communication is essential. This means that team members must communicate with one another on a regular basis, and this communication must be meaningful and focused on work-related issues. You need to ensure that the communication is frequent and genuine.
Make sure you communicate with your remote employees on a regular basis via video conferencing, phone calls, or instant messaging. Also, from time to time, organize a virtual coffee chat with them and make small talk or discuss personal issues. This will help create a special bond and show them that you appreciate their hard work.
Take care of employees’ well-being
It is critical to care for employees’ physical and emotional well-being in a remote workplace to increase productivity. Employees who feel supported and valued at work are more likely to be productive and engaged. In a remote workplace, there are several ways to look after the employees’ physical and emotional well-being.
Giving employees the resources and support they need to stay healthy is one way to care for their physical well-being. Access to a gym or other fitness facilities, healthy food options, and mental health resources may be included. Additionally, send a birthday gift to each employee. Make sure you send them something they like and surprise them. This will show them how much you care about them and that their well-being is important to you.
Help your employees in organizing their home offices
Remote workers must have a well-organized workspace in their homes. As the pandemic caught us off guard, it became really difficult to arrange a separate home office at home. Therefore, you can offer your employees a chance to take their chairs directly from the office or create a budget of $600 per employee so they can purchase a chair and a desk according to their necessities.
It is important to encourage and assist your employees in creating dedicated workspaces in their homes. Additionally, provide work-issued laptops, headphones, and printers so they don’t have to rely on less secure personal devices. Check occasionally with them to see if they are missing anything else and try to provide it on short notice. This way, you will be certain of their productivity and well-being.
Final thoughts
With so many new technologies available, it has never been easier to establish a remote workplace. It’s also never been simpler to increase productivity while working remotely. Using relevant tools and methods will help you create an environment that encourages your employees to perform at their peak, no matter where they are.