Remote working considerations – Getting the most from your remote working

2020 has offered a very particular set of challenges for businesses across all sectors. Some have physically adapted the workplace, making it Covid-safe by introducing a variety of different measures. And some have made the transition to enable remote working through new technologies; both of which have been difficult for everyone involved.

When we came out of lockdown in the summer and started to see a semblance of normality, people started a gradual return to the workplace. We thought it was the beginning of the end of this terrible time, unfortunately, with the government announcing a nationwide lockdown again, we were wrong. This has made the need for a smooth transition to remote working essential to the survival and future success of businesses all over the country with no sign to the end of this nightmare.

Most businesses are discovering the benefits of remote working, having the ability to continue trading amidst changes to legislation happening regularly is essential. Businesses must stay open-minded to potentially brand new operational tools and techniques to make this possible.  Working from home has become so common this year that as of April 2020 the number of people working remotely reached almost 50%, and that will undoubtedly only rise with another lockdown being announced.¹

The pros and potential cons of remote working

The number of people working remotely has risen by 140% since 2005, so it’s no surprise that there are benefits to both employers and employees alike.

For employees:

• The work-life balance. Flexibility is appealing to everyone and that is a key aspect of remote working that employees seem to enjoy. ‘40% of people feel the greatest benefit of remote work is the flexible schedule’
• Lower or no commuting costs. Something as small as part-time remote working could lift the huge financial burden that the weekly commute is. Full-time remote work would eradicate that cost entirely.

For employers:

• Geographical location not affecting employability. With a good effective remote working infrastructure, you will have the option to employ potential candidates from further afield. Advertising that remote working is an option in job adverts can appeal to some very skilled individuals, individuals who else wouldn’t have had the option to work for you due to living too far away.
• Fewer absences. Remote workers aren’t traveling on questionably clean public transport, leading to an effect on rates of sickness, staff are also less likely to call in sick when already at home in the first place.
• Lower overheads. Fewer people in the office means reducing the size of the office you need, in turn saving your business money. Allowing employees to use their own devices for work can also result in substantial savings on hardware.
• Increased productivity. Working away from office hustle and bustle can result in fewer distractions and therefore greater productivity.
• Improved employee retention. Changes in circumstances won’t necessarily mean good employees have to leave your company. If a valued member of staff moves away it is possible to keep them on as a remote employee.

The benefits of remote working are clear to see, many business owners seem to have concerns about the following:

• Reduced focus and productivity. Without the proper tools and structures maintaining control of a remote workforce and ensuring productivity can seem understandably impossible.
• Promoting company culture. Without face-to-face contact, managers are concerned that it will be hard to promote the values of their business.
• Data security. Often, data security is at the forefront of concerns to remote working. With staff having the ability to work from almost any location on many different devices, remaining in control of sensitive data is perceived to be more challenging with a remote team.
• The upheaval. Businesses think the transition to remote working will be ‘too much hassle’.
• Training and collaboration. Much of what we learn as employees new to either the working world entirely or those new to a business, is picked up passively by simply being in the same environment as colleagues. This is hard to replicate remotely.

In the following blogs, we will explore ways to ease these concerns mainly through Microsoft Teams, and ensure you get the most from your remote working.

Do you need help transitioning to remote working? We’re here to help you!

We are 4TC, you can tap on-demand talent, experience and ample resources at a lower cost compared to doing your own IT in house. Outsource your IT and concentrate on the core activities of your business. Contact us now on 020 7250 3840.