The global pandemic we are facing has caused plenty of employers to make the switch to a remote workplace.
As a small business owner, you might be wondering how to manage your employees, how to ensure they are spending their time getting work done, how to remain connected, and how to keep morale uplifted in a troubling time. We have some advice to help you get through it as you do your best to navigate this new work environment.
First things first: Trust Your Team
If you didn’t track your employees’ tasks when they were working in the office, don’t track it now. Self-isolating is hard on everyone, so try not to add extra stress and frustration to your employees by giving the impression that you do not trust their work ethic.
Working from home can be very difficult for those who are not used to it. Some of your employees might have little ones that they are responsible for caring for while getting their work done, so interruptions are to be expected. Furthermore, it can be easier for some to get distracted at home; not everyone will have the space for a home office, so working at a kitchen table, a couch, or a countertop might lead to trailing thoughts. This is normal and it is okay as long as they are completing tasks in a timely manner.
React Accordingly
If you notice a team member is struggling to complete their work, have a conversation with them. There might be underlying circumstances that you are unaware of that are inhibiting their ability to complete tasks.
Mental health can be greatly impacted by self-isolation, so sometimes completing the smallest of tasks can seem like an impossible job. Dig into the resources provided by your benefits plan to assist them in any way that you can.
Stay Connected
Do you have an ongoing group chat with your employees? People who are used to coming into the office each day are likely to miss the interaction with their coworkers. Try setting up a weekly or daily call with your team to check in on them; see how they are feeling, ask about their day, and ask if they need assistance with anything. Most importantly, keep things light. We are surrounded by information concerning the pandemic and it can be difficult to focus your mind elsewhere if it’s all you’re hearing about. Try to talk about something else, like a funny highlight of the day, or a perk of working from home.
Worst Case Scenario
If you feel you’ve done all you can, but your employee is still underperforming, then try turning to a time-tracking tool. There are plenty of free online tools you can use to help your employees remain accountable for their tasks. Some people might need extra motivation to stay on-task; time tracking might just help with this!
We’re All In This Together
Remember that this situation is temporary. Working remotely isn’t going to last forever and we will be back in our offices once the Coronavirus passes. We each have to do our best to help stop the spread so we can get back to our normal lives. Keep your head up and lean on those who are closest to you.