The Covid-19 pandemic has blindsided the business world in many different ways in 2020. Businesses are having to adapt to the situation very quickly, and one of the key challenges that it has arisen is how to manage staff when they are working remotely. Many businesses were using remote working to a degree before the pandemic. Still, now businesses have their entire workforce operating remotely, which can bring many challenges in terms of communication, collaboration and keeping morale high. With this in mind, here are a few tips for managing your workforce during the pandemic, which will hopefully be of help.
1. Utilize the Best Remote Working Tools
Remote working can bring many benefits, but it also poses several challenges because it is so different from working in an office which can make aspects like communication, collaboration and presenting difficult. This is why you need to have the best remote working tools at your disposal, such as:
- Videoconferencing software
- Instant chat tools
- Screen sharing software
- Project management software
2. Learn How Different Employees Prefer to Work
It is essential to realize that not every employee will work in the same way when working remotely (much like in the office) so you need to take the time to understand how different people prefer to work. You might find that some like to check in throughout the day and partake in video calls, while others might prefer to be left to their own devices and communicate largely through email. Either way, outline what is expected from employees and then trust them to get the work done and try to avoid micromanaging.
3. Find Ways to Keep Morale High
One common issue with remote working is employees feeling isolated, low and disconnect – this is, of course, an even more significant issue right now with the pandemic creating all kinds of worries for people. This is why you need to find ways to keep morale high and engage employees, such as:
- Informal video chats (such as afterwork drinks and/or games)
- Regular positive feedback and asking for feedback
- Keeping employees updated on the latest company news relating to the crisis
- Incentives
- Increasing collaborative projects
4. Use HRIS Tools
Managing an entire team of employees is always challenging, but especially when it is a remote workforce. This means that you need to have the best HRIS tools at your disposal, which can make it easy to handle aspects like time off tracking so that employees can easily request time off (just because they are at home does not mean that they do not need time off), document management and various other HR tasks.
The Covid-19 is creating many challenges for businesses in 2020, including how to manage a remote workforce. Even those that have been using remote working for a while will need to adapt. Still, hopefully, the above tips will make this easier and allow you to continue to run efficiently while also providing support and guidance for your employees during this difficult period.