Working remotely offers many benefits such as more flexibility for staff and increased productivity when faced with fewer office distractions. But it can also take its toll on your staff when they\u2019re stuck at home on their own all day. They are likely to start feeling lonely and isolated, and there\u2019s a risk of burnout if they\u2019re working longer hours. In this post, we\u2019ve covered a few tips for taking staff health seriously while working remotely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote employees often end up feeling like they need to be more productive and often end up working longer hours. It\u2019s harder to switch off, and they feel like they have to be available at all times to prove how hard they\u2019re working. Without the break of travelling to and from an office each day, it can be easy for work to seep into home life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to emphasise to staff how important it is to switch off at the end of each day. You can allow a certain amount of flexibility around when <\/em>they work (you might even allow asynchronous work via a remote management tool<\/a> such as Remote, if you employ remote workers from overseas) but try to ensure they aren\u2019t working more than they\u2019re required to. Occasionally there\u2019ll be tight deadlines that require some extra hours to be put in, but don\u2019t let it happen every day and recognise the effort that your staff are putting in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prioritising a good work-life balance is an essential part of taking staff health seriously. Working longer hours doesn\u2019t usually result in getting more done \u2014 your staff will lose motivation and focus as the day drags on. And if they\u2019re regularly working extra hours, they\u2019re likely to experience higher stress levels, which will also impact how well they can do their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ensuring your remote team is properly set up with all the right tools, software and equipment, and are properly trained is an important part of supporting staff. It helps them to do their job effectively without unnecessary stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without clear direction and proper processes in place, it\u2019s easy for remote employees to feel unsure about what they\u2019re supposed to be doing and whether they\u2019re doing it right. It can be harder to ask for help or clarification when you\u2019re not in an office. So ensure that you\u2019re providing everything your staff need to stay organised and work efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means everything from setting up cloud storage<\/a> like Google Drive so that staff can share files and collaborate easily. You should also look at instant messaging tools<\/a> like Slack, to make it quick and easy to have impromptu conversations that don\u2019t require an email. And consider task management software \u2014 with task management software you can manage workloads, assign tasks, and set clear deadlines so that everyone understands what they need to be doing and when.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular training sessions that help staff to improve their work or learn new skills are also a good way to keep them engaged and motivated, which will help reduce any stress or dissatisfaction with their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re not all in the same office it\u2019s harder to tell if someone is unwell or struggling. Employees might also be reluctant to speak up if they need support. So it\u2019s important to check in regularly with your staff to understand how they\u2019re really <\/em>doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two ways to approach check-ins, and a mixture of both is usually most effective. Informal meetings between individuals and their line manager or an HR representative are a good way to allow your staff to discuss any concerns. Anonymous surveys are also useful for getting an idea of issues that staff might not want to raise directly. You should consider a survey tool<\/a> such as Survey Monkey to help you collect and monitor your staff feedback on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Provide the right tools and training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Check-in regularly with staff<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Support staff taking time off<\/h2>\n\n\n\n