Work from home began as a giant experiment, and businesses did not have a choice initially. But even as things settled gradually, many chose to continue for the long haul. The model kept your organization going during the pandemic and it promises to save money and employee health in the new normal.
So it definitely makes sense to let your team (at least partially) continue with it. But as you choose WFH in the new normal, there are some tech challenges you have to deal with.
While these challenges aren’t new, you must have a clear view of them and their solutions to keep the system in top shape.
Let us share the ones you will have to address.
Challenge- Employee monitoring
Solution- Track judiciously
As people continue to work from home, you need to keep close track of their performance and productivity at all times. The distractions at home are hard to deal with, making employees fall short of productivity even when they want to give their best.
Some look to take advantage of the situation. It is vital to track employees as they work remotely, but you need to do it judiciously. Trust is the mainstay of a happy workforce, so don’t give them the impression that you are spying on them.
At the same time, you cannot let the dishonest ones befool you. Manage but trust people enough not to micromanage.
Also Read: Creative & Cost-Effective Ways To Give Your Business A Tech Upgrade
Challenge- Hardware issues
Solution- Ongoing support and training
Even after a year of remote work, employees may still experience technical problems with hardware. Since everyone does not have tech expertise, even the smallest problems can be challenging to handle. The best solution to resolve hardware issues is by providing ongoing IT support and training to the employees.
Have an IT support team available around the clock to address issues at the earliest. Training your employees to handle the day-to-day IT problems is a good idea as it makes them capable of managing a lot independently.
You can organize training sessions at the workplace now that reopening is allowed.
Also Read: What Is Master Data Management and Why Do You Need It?
Challenge- Cybersecurity
Solution- No-concession security protocols
When people work remotely, cybersecurity remains a concern as they access data and networks from home. It exposes them to the risk of hacking and breaches, even as employees have no malicious intentions.
You must take these threats seriously and have no-concession security protocols in place. Go the extra mile with networking security during the remote work phase.
Educate employees about best practices such as strong passwords, the use of VPNs, and avoiding suspicious sites. Have a well-rounded remote work policy and convey it to the employees working from home. Training should also include cybersecurity as a subject.
While WFH challenges are daunting, they aren’t impossible to handle. Taking the right precautions and measures keeps your business productive and secure.
It is a small price to pay, considering you can keep your workforce safe and comfortable as they work from home. Not to mention, you will not have to worry about continuing it for the long haul.
Leave a Reply