What are the Challenges Faced by Employers in Remote Work?

Effective communication has been a challenge for workplaces even before the outbreak of the virus. Schedule flexibility and time zone differences make it challenging to ensure efficiency in communication. The problem is not exclusive to remote work.

FREMONT, CA: The COVID-19 pandemic has managed to disrupt every aspect of life. Businesses are rethinking strategies and working models to adjust to the changes inflicted by the pandemic. Working from home was considered a luxury before the outbreak of the virus. The tables have turned since, with social distancing norms urging people to stay indoors. Work from home has become the only way to remain functional for companies. Working from home offers a great deal of flexibility to the employees, but is equally challenging for the employers. Here are some of the significant challenges presented to employers due to work from home.

Communication

Efficient communication has been a challenge for workplaces even before the outbreak of the virus. Schedule flexibility and time zone differences make it challenging to ensure efficiency in communication. The problem is not exclusive to remote work. Employers need to strive hard to establish a leadership and structure that sets the tone for internal communications. There are various tools and processes available that can be used to facilitate improved communication. The success of these tools, however, depends on the people who use them. This means employers need to take time to evaluate people throughout the hiring process, keenly observing how they communicate. Employers can experiment with various communication tools like Skype and Slack and find out from the employees which ones work best for the company. Take feedback from remote workers and make efforts to adjust to their preferences.

Overworked Employees and Managing Time Off

The daily commute was one of the most significant barrier that has been avoided during this challenging time. Employees no longer have to make long tiring journeys to the workplace. However, there are certain disadvantages when home becomes the workplace. Turning off after working hours can be very challenging. Remote workers are often connected to their devices at all times with conference calls, emails, chats, and other notifications.

In most cases, these do not stop at the end of the working hours, especially if the other teammates are working in different time zones. This can be overcome by incorporating travel like motions to the daily routine. Consider a typical day and the time you would spend commuting. Avoiding using this time for other purposes and keep yourself free at these times. This enables the process of getting into work mode. Similarly, once working hours are complete, take a short break before moving on to other tasks like cooking.

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