2020 has been one hell of a year. So much has happened and our usual way of life has been taken completely off track in all aspects of our lives. Millions of people took on the role of teacher for their children while juggling their workload, as well as looking after their home and ensuring loved ones stayed safe. As an employer, you have a duty of care for your employees, to ensure that they are managing their workloads okay and are not feeling overwhelmed or under any mental strain. With face-to-face correspondence out of the picture for the time being, it can be difficult to make certain that employees are doing okay; saying something over a message doesn’t always have the same sincerity as in-person. So, what can you do, as an employer, during this extremely unprecedented time we find ourselves in, to ensure your employees are feeling okay? We have compiled a helpful list of ways for you to support your employees while working from home, and the resources that are available to assist in providing support to them in a moment of need.
Access to Equipment
It goes without saying, that for an employee to do their job the same way they would in the office environment, they must have the same access to the equipment that they require usually. For those who have been working from home since the beginning of lockdown, they most probably already have the equipment that they need.
However, for those new starters that you might have hired throughout the year, providing them with the correct equipment is important. Will you, yourself, be providing them with a computer or working device, or will they be expected to get their own? Will you be providing access to programmes and software like Microsoft and related programmes, or will the responsibility lie with the employee? These are things which need to be considered a lot when ensuring that an employee can fully do their job and feel like they have your entire support while doing so.
Furthermore, ensuring that there is access to the wider employment network which you might possess, is also important. If you have employees working collaboratively on a project, make certain that each of them has the correct access to a document, and that the document itself is protected and encrypted from those that you don’t want gathering access to it. Leading onto our next point, you will want to ensure that your organisations network is safe, stable and secure, and that your employees have access to IT support as and when they require it.
Remote Security Support
For most people who are working from home, the only way that they can access previous work systems, is by doing so remotely; particularly if there is no access to offices, as per government guidelines as of late. Making certain that the systems are readily accessible is important, but also ensuring that they are secure from viruses and hackers is also essential; you don’t want delicate information regarding your business and its practices being leaked and spread. If you are concerned about the safety of work files and systems, consider upgrading them or having someone monitor how they are working, with an IT support company. Small companies generally, do not have the facilities or the staff to constantly monitor the systems, nor to fix them if they have some issues. When finding yourself in this position or one that is incredibly similar, consider outsourcing the role to an IT support company.
There are several IT companies in London who provide state-of-the-art services across the country, no matter where your business is based. Totality Services are an example of one of these companies, who work entirely remote from your business, but feel as if they are part of the team. They will be able to assist and guide you through any issues that you or your team might be facing while working from home and provide exceptional end-to-end encryption for your devices and documents. If you are in the process of upgrading your IT systems, or simply want to find out a bit more how you can make these London based locations work for you, check out the Totality Services website.
Regular Communication
This goes without saying, but during a rather isolating time such as this year, communication has been of upmost importance, both in and out of the workplace. Sending the odd email or message does wonders throughout the day when keeping a close eye on the amount of work that is being completed by employees. But, scheduling regular team meetings via platforms such as Zoom or Skype, will enable you to see your employees and wider workforce in a face-to-face environment, or as close to one for the time being. Regular contact through platforms such as this, will help to decrease any feelings of disconnection that your employees might be experiencing. This isn’t to say that this should be just work related either!
Majority of workforces across the country have adopted the ‘Zoom Quiz world’, and organised virtual pub nights regularly also. Keeping up regular contact and hosting social events with your team – albeit, while behind a screen – gives you and your employees a chance to stay in contact with one another, while offering some company and support to those who might be struggling. Providing support to your workforce, on a one-to-one basis and as a collective will provide the image of a supportive and encouraging employer, and also one of being understanding and relatable. This is what being an employer is all about, after all.
Remind Your Employees…
Sending reminders of important deadlines or meetings to employees is naturally important, no matter what job role you are in. However, reminding your employees about other things is also essential to fostering and maintaining healthy, working relationships among your organisations. Related to the point above, if you are discovering that some of your employees are struggling with their emotional or mental wellbeing, or are struggling with isolation, reminding them that you are there for them is important and to seek help through available resources if required; this will go a long way. While this is important to being an employer, that isn’t to say that you have to solely support an individual who might be going through a tough time. Providing a shoulder to cry or vent to while offering access to resources is also important; you must make sure to look after your own wellbeing at these times as well. This leads us onto the final point.
Flexibility and Resting
As a human being, it is in our nature to be empathetic and understanding when another person is experiencing pain and discomfort. More so than ever, we are understanding to one another’s home situations, whether it be a child or cat invading the weekly Zoom call or allowing an employee an afternoon off when feeling overwhelmed due to extenuating circumstances. There is so much that you can do as an employer to guide and reassure your workforce during this difficult time. Allowing your employees to work flexibly will not only suit their schedules and family lives but will ensure that the work you need completing is done so with minimal distractions present. Providing flexibility to employees will benefit them and will benefit you and continue to develop the professional relationships that you have with your workforce.