It’s safe to say that none of us have had to work from home during a global pandemic before. Although this is uncharted territory, these tips can be applied to your employees if working from home is necessary in the future.
Maintain a Schedule
One of the most difficult aspects of working from home is the disruption of a routine. Maintaining regular business hours and schedules can help with this adjustment. All team members must know when they are expected to be online and available. We recommend sending out an email outlining company “online” hours.
Constant Communication
The distractions at home can also pose a problem for your employees. Maintaining a constant line of communication is essential. Lucky for us, we live in a time with numerous online communication channels. Take your pick: Google Hangouts, Zoom, Slack. It is also vital to clearly communicate expectations of responsibilities. Without your guidance, your employees will be left feeling even more lost during uncertain times. If you want your company to thrive, you must develop a clear plan that is followed by each employee.
Virtual Check-Ins
Depending on your company culture, consider a virtual happy hour or “tea-time” to end the day. This will hold your employees accountable while offering a social aspect to this new work-from -home life. Request that your employees offer three things to this conversation: something positive for the day, something they are currently working on, and something they intend to work on in the future. These check-ins will help to keep your team engaged and active in their positions.
Fresh Air
It’s hard for many people to not get restless while working from home. The monotony of life at home can be, well, boring. At Trellis, we can not stress enough how important getting fresh air is for all aspects of life (especially now). It is well documented how vital it is to go outside and enjoy fresh air for your mental and physical health.Encourage your employees to take a walk or even work outside if they are able. During this time of social isolation, suggest outdoor activities to maintain an active lifestyle. Outdoor yoga, circuit training, running, gardening, or even yard work can do wonders to rejuvenate your employees. Set an example and go outside yourself! Maybe even stop to smell the roses. Sometimes you just need to stop and enjoy the small things in life.
Keep things Light
Whether the whole world is quarantined at home, or your employee is just working from home sick, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude during communications. Life is tough and work can be stressful. It is SO important to crack jokes, have some laughs, and don’t take yourself too seriously. It will not only boost morale for your employees, but it will boost your mood too. Laughter is contagious, after all.
No matter what…stay safe, healthy, happy. And of course…
WASH YOUR HANDS!
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