Improving productivity is an ongoing challenge for all businesses. To improve your employees’ productivity when working from home, we recommend the following:
Establish a morning routine
Remind your team to start their morning as if they were going into the office.
Encouraging your staff to keep their morning routine as if they were going into the office helps set the tone for the day.
ensure safe Work areas
Your obligation to provide a safe work areas when employees are working from home does not change
Take steps to ensure your employees have a safe work area. This can decrease the risks associated with working from home and alleviate any potential problems in the future.
Have a read about how to manage safety while your employees work from home, have a read of our recent article on the subject – https://peoplesmartz.com.au/People_Smartz_Blog/working-from-home-during-covid-19
prioritise physical and mental health.
Encourage your employees to take regular breaks and manage their time well.
Educate them on managing their mental and physical health. Create open communication channels for your employees. Create systems that to enable them to communicate potential issues they may be facing with you in a safe and confidential manner.
Resources for managing health and safety while employees work from home can be found at Safe Work Australia’s Website – https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/working-home
Regular daily/morning meetings
Set up regular meetings with individuals and for your team. Use the meeting to ensure all employees are aware of tasks and project progression.
Daily/Regular meetings allow a level of personal contact and can alleviate feelings of loneliness.
Productivity at Home – Manage tasks and Time
Managing task completion and time usage is one key step to improve productivity when working from home.
Consider implementing task management and time sheet systems. These allow you to monitor the productivity levels of your employees and monitor productivity.
Set your expectations
Ensure your employees understand your expectations.
Provide them with the ability to collaborate in the setting of goals and expectations.
Finally, set goals and expectations realistically given the need to work from home.
Make sure your tools are in place
What tools do your employees need to successfully work from home? Ask yourself the following questions:
- What systems do they need to access?
- What files do they need to access?
- Does their computer have the appropriate programs or do these licenses need to be provided?
- Do they have a stable phone and internet connection?
- Do they require equipment to be able to complete their duties (eg desk, chair, secondary screen)?
For some suggestions on potential tools and systems for your business – see our article on Common Problems when Employees Work from Home
Take your workplace culture to the virtual office.
As much as possible, use your normal workplace culture within the virtual office environment. Taking steps to maintain a successful workplace culture can encourage productivity and improve inclusiveness.
Be flexible
Give your employees some flexibility when working from home.
Consider altered work hours to allow for unexpected changes in domestic duties. Particularly where there are caring responsibilities in regard to children and other vulnerable people.
Allow your employees to work at times when they are more productive.
In many businesses, the time work is done is not as important as the timely completion of work.
Expectations need to be set in regard to when a task is to be completed. Allow your employees to exercise some discretion in when they actually work to complete the task.
Trust your team
Working from home requires you to trust that your employees are doing the right thing.
Trust their ability to complete the job at hand. Set your expectations, ensure they are clear and let them get on with the work.
Micromanaging will only add to the friction or confusion your employees feel and only work to decrease their productivity.
Need Assistance?
For more information on Working From Home During COVID-19, please contact People Smartz Pty Ltd on:
- Telephone: 1800 HR Smartz (1800 477 627)
- Email: hrsupport@peoplesmartz.com.au
- Website: https://peoplesmartz.com.au/contact
More information Working from Home During COVID-19 from the following sites
Fair Work Ombudsman – Alternative Work Arrangements – Working from Home