Working from home has become part of the new normal since the pandemic has started. Many were shocked that some companies mandated their employees to work remotely. Well, nobody expects COVID-19 will last for years but surprisingly several countries are still suffering from the spread of the virus. This badly impacts workers’ productivity because of the home setup that differs from the office aura.
The biggest struggle could be attending meetings online. It is due to a poor internet connection as not all employees are blessed to have a strong internet. This also limits sharing of ideas, which makes it harder to discuss important things. Such challenges can affect the company as a whole, and so many have been shutting down in the midst of the pandemic. Thus, the most hurt part of society is the economy if coronavirus persists to exist.
Other Effects of COVID-19 in Work Statuses
Lockdowns may contain the virus, but also one of the reasons why many people suffer during the pandemic. The first weeks of battling against COVID-19 were alright because individuals are expecting it won’t last.
Various companies instruct their employees to work from home and then designate the tasks. Face-to-face conferences have turned into video meetings. The problem is some individuals do not own laptops and have no internet connection. Such limitations therefore cannot guarantee to complete even a single task and this can be frustrating for particular employees.
That being said, the pandemic also affects the mental health of the majority. Many have lost their jobs because some companies are forced to reduce their workforce. Lucky are those given the opportunity to work from home, but there are still struggles along the way. And that includes fighting against procrastination and laziness due to the working environment.
Effective Ways to Boost Productivity While Working Remotely
Workers have encountered several adjustments since coronavirus occurred. It is the manager’s job to keep the operation running, despite a majority of the employees being at-home setup. To prevent that domino effect of COVID-19, here are some tips for remote workers to be productive despite working from home:
1. Implement Policies
It is more difficult to supervise workers from a distance. Hence, creating policies in adherence to the new normal setup is necessary to prevent any issues. Managers should be clear of what they expect from the employees to realize success even in the middle of the pandemic.
Transparency is also vital in implementing rules for the employees. This prevents feelings of frustration but develops trust between parties. If there are adjustments needed, immediately communicate with the team not to divert critical information. Shifting of priorities will also be easier when everyone is well informed.
2. Track Progress
A time tracker is essential to monitor remote employees. Working from home seems like you have more time to finish tasks. Procrastination could be your greatest enemy when you have such a mindset.
There is also a tendency for some employees to work extra hours to impress the supervisor. However, this behavior only lasts for a few weeks and is very suspicious. The best solution is to use a timesheet or a time tracker to assure the workers are functioning in real-time.
Monitoring the output of each employee also matters. KPI or key performance indicators can assess if the team member has completed its assigned tasks or not yet. It also helps employees to work on what is essential for the company. With the use of this tool, tracking progress would be at ease over the long haul. It benefits both managers and employees to remain on track for the good of the entire company.
3. Present Deadlines
It is safe to say that deadlines are productivity boosters. Once the employee knows the specific time and date when to finish the task, it would be a priority. It will demand full attention resulting in high-quality outputs, as the managers expect.
However, setting up deadlines would be useless if it is not monitored. Some companies track deadlines daily or weekly, depending on the assigned tasks. It works by checking on the performance of the employee, and not just focusing on the milestone date.
This will help team leaders to think of future projects. It can also lead them to the right decisions, such as removing some projects that are useless and adding workforces. The decisions will depend on the results of the tracking.
4. Daily or Weekly Reporting
Employees play a vital role in the overall success of the company. Thus, appointing them to do reports daily or weekly helps to improve their skills. Timely reports are necessary to easily track both the success and failures of the business. You can also point out who among the employees had a fault and so it is easier to take action.
The reporting format depends on the kind of work within the company. Smaller organizations may require daily reports to gather updates, while bigger ones can do it monthly.
This is for everyone’s benefit. First, you need to encourage the employees to participate and practice trust among the team members. Implement this new assignment gradually.
Final Thoughts
WorkSavi is a useful tool to enhance productivity among remote workers. It is a portion of the advanced technology in which many businesses have invested. The tool benefits project managers to implement new policies that would be valuable for work from home setup. Lastly, it aims to monitor employees to prevent inactivity in just a few clicks.
