Since the pandemic began, working from home has been a reality for more and more people. In SIA’s report, “North American Internal Staff Survey 2021: Remote work prevalence, staffing experience, and how to support it,” 81% of respondents reported currently working at home/remotely, compared to 29% in 2019 and 23% in 2016, showing the staggering degree to which working remotely has been adopted during the pandemic.
SIA’s “Best Practices in Remote Working for Staffing Firms” report highlights the advantages of enabling staff to work remotely, staff perceptions of working from home, and best practices in managing remote workers. Here are a few of the best practices in remote working:
Encourage communication. Remote work is by nature more independent than work in an organized office setting. Without the socialization and coordination that happens in the office, some remote workers can experience feelings of isolation. It’s important to foster good, consistent communication through email, messaging platforms, and phone in order to keep the team energy alive. Video can be a great channel because it allows visual cues to be conveyed.
What to advise remote workers. Establishing a schedule is extremely important. Too much flexibility can give rise to the sense that work is always happening. Having designated work hours can help remote workers organize their day. Those who work from home should be encouraged to set up a workspace — ideally with a comfortable chair, good lighting, and stable internet connection — where they can be left alone and concentrate on their tasks. Finally, remote workers should not only find ways to connect with co-workers, whether through online work interactions or co-working space, but they should also find time to get outside and socialize.
Advantages of enabling staff to work remotely. One of the main advantages of enabling remote work from a company perspective is keeping staff happy and retained. In the survey results seen in the graph, the aggregated net promoter score (how likely a respondent is to recommend their firm to a friend or colleague) for internal staff allowed to work remotely was 75%, versus 49% for internal staff not allowed to work remotely. Certainly, a company can benefit greatly by allowing remote work — this option can make current staff happy as well as attract highly skilled applicants in the future. A few of the other advantages: stopping the spread of disease in the office, saving on rent, and escaping the skills shortage by means of hiring in outside markets.
Room for improvement. Working from home has its merits, but it is important to consider areas that could be improved for the benefit of employees. In the “North American Internal Staff Survey 2021: Remote work prevalence, staffing experience, and how to support it” report, respondents were asked what additional tools and support would help them conduct their work remotely. Patterns that emerged: having a better chair and desk to work from; having better technical equipment such as a monitor, laptop and printer; being able to access speedy, reliable internet; and receiving a monthly stipend to help with costs related to working from home.
While working remotely is not for everyone, and lacks the same level of communication that the in-person experience enables, it will likely remain an option at many firms even after the pandemic. Covid-19 has opened the eyes of leaders across industries — if managed correctly, it is possible for workers to be productive while working remotely, and it is possible for companies to benefit from having at least a percentage of its workers away from the office.
