As the coronavirus spreads across the world, some companies are asking their workers to work remotely as a measure against the spreading of the disease. Here are our top tips for remote working.
1. Ensure every person has a decent Internet connection at home and has a backup solution – e.g. data plan on their mobile device.
2. If connecting to a work server meant for internal use only, your staff may have to set up VPN (Virtual Private Network) in order to access it.
3. Everyone should have good anti-malware and antivirus software installed on their devices (we’d recommend ESET).
4. Share clear goals with your team – everyone needs to know what’s a high priority.
5. Have a quick video check-in meeting every morning to discuss what’s everyone’s focus for the day/week. Use Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts or Zoom for conferencing.
6. Help your staff to establish a routine and commit to it in order to avoid distractions. Time management apps such as RescueTime can come in handy sticking to their regular schedules.
7. Make sure your staff’s laptops are encrypted to protect your company’s data.
8. If you find it difficult to resist the temptation of social media – use apps like Freedom to limit your access to certain platforms.
9. Make sure you have a ‘bring your own device’ policy in place.
10. Communicate with colleagues in more efficient ways than just emails. Communicate with them on Slack or use Microsoft Teams to share files, chat in real-time, video call, collaborate on Microsoft Office apps such as PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Planner, OneNote, SharePoint etc.
11. It may be worth having one-to-one video checks with your staff a couple of times per week. Check-in with your team members to see if they are getting any physical movement, plenty of fresh air, and daylight – they’re extremely important for mental wellbeing and productivity.