Your guide to remote work

Remote employees have a wide variety of work environments and arrangements. Work-from-home parents may need flexible or unusual hours in order to manage childcare or online schooling. Road warriors — salespeople, technicians and others who travel — need the right devices and equipment to stay connected to the company in a variety of settings while still providing a high-quality customer experience. Executives require the same boardroom devices at home as they do in the office. Wherever your employees land, they need to have the tools and technology that empower them to have the same experience outside the office as inside it without compromising productivity or customer experience.

Start by surveying employees. How do they work best? What do they need to function in a way that maximizes their productivity? Is there anything preventing them from accessing the technology and tools available to them? What personal obstacles, such as Internet access, might be solved or helped by the company? By gathering input, you’ll improve employee satisfaction and position your employees for a successful remote work experience.

While many companies pivoted to remote work in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis of 2020, the trend toward remote work was already in place, with many companies recognizing the value of remote work for the long-term.

Among the biggest advantages:

• Greater employee satisfaction and health: Employees who work remotely at least part-time report greater job satisfaction, and remote workers on average get more weekly physical activity and take fewer sick days.
• Reduced expenses: Though there may be some initial outlay to supply workers with the tools they need for remote work, employers may find they can reduce overhead expenses up to several thousand dollars per year in the long run.
• Business continuity: In the event of disruption, companies with a remote workforce can pivot quickly and keep operations running smoothly with little to no effect on customers.
• Expand your talent pool: Businesses no longer limited to hiring people based on proximity to an office.

Global Workplace Analytics estimates that a typical employer can save $11,000 per half-time remote worker per year.

Studies have repeatedly shown that remote workers tend to be more productive than traditional on-site workers. However, ensuring productivity is more than just a question of trusting employees. Even the best employees can’t maximize productivity if they don’t have the right tools.

Positioning your remote employees for success involves equipping them with the right tools from the outset:

• Devices that replicate the in-office experience
• Bandwidth options that fully support work functions
• Cloud services for mission-critical systems
• Tools that allow for management of remote workers

A 2019 study of global leaders found that 85% believe flexible work arrangements have made their businesses more productive. – IWG

After the initial disruption and scramble to equip remote workers, many companies realized that their employees are just as productive — or even more so — at home as they are in the office. With the initial pivot already behind us, remote work is likely to expand for some time as both employers and employees realize the benefits.

In response to this sudden burst of adoption of remote work technology, several industry leaders have redoubled their efforts to improve collaboration tools and provide remote workers with options that power seamless connection across locations.

As many advantages as there are to working remotely , it does come with some downsides. Lack of in-person interactions can make colleagues seem distant and impersonal. A focus on productivity may mean that employees feel more like cogs than real people. And with home and family demands colliding, it can be tough for employees to create boundaries and still feel connected to both. After all, much of the social interaction at work includes sharing personal information, which creates human connection and a team vibe.

While technology can never fully replace in-person human interaction, companies can find ways to encourage connection even as remote work options expand.

• Virtual “happy hours” and events: Just because people are working remotely doesn’t mean all after hours events have to stop. Schedule social hours outside of work time to allow people to chat freely about anything but work. These can also be done virtually, especially if team members are spread across different cities.
• Informal Conversations: Not every meeting needs to be focused on business goals and task updates. During daily huddles, checking in on team members or discussing hobbies and families can help maintain that personal connection, as well as create a sense of unity and interpersonal familiarity within teams.
• Hybrid model: Many people enjoy the focus that having a separate office provides. If remote workers have access to a company workspace, encourage them to visit once or twice a week. With modern apps and devices, work is easily portable, giving employees the flexibility to choose when and where they work.
• Gamification: Create virtual contests or competitions that make sense for your company and your teams. These don’t have to be work-related; pick a social cause to support, or create a simple wellness challenge. With apps and collaboration technology, it’s easier than ever to track progress and cheer successes for the entire company to see.