Remote and hybrid workplace models are expanding, which means that many of your employees may want to work remotely in the new year. However, to meet this desire, you need to ask yourself more than how to add background in teams. You also need to understand work-from-home trends that may affect your company and bottom line.
Increased Cybersecurity Requirements
As your employees move offsite, it is more critical to protect your company data. Therefore, you may need to expand your cybersecurity training. They also need IT and software support that protects their devices from breaches and viruses as they connect to other devices. These tools include multi-factor authentication, encrypted communications and virtual private networks.
You should also keep your employees updated on new viruses, phishing scams and other attacks they may encounter. You may consider expanding your cloud computing and backup and implement a backup recovery strategy.
Rise in Health Care Benefits
Today’s employees require more than just emergency medical care insurance. They also desire mental healthcare options. Like many employers, you may experience challenges in benefits distribution and administration because in-network coverage may be impossible for remote staff, resulting in higher costs for those who need the services of out-of-network medical professionals.
In addition, you may experience increased costs due to your employees’ distance from the company. In addition, your employees can also move and forget or choose not to let you know. This can cause you to violate state employee benefits administration laws and increase your insurance rates, and your employees may have their claims denied. When they do inform you of a move, you may have to expand your coverage area.
Robust Remote Work Policies With Flexibility
Like many other companies, you may be concerned with reduced productivity. However, several tools are now available for you to track productivity. Some require that employees turn on video cameras while they work, but these options are becoming more unpopular as they could violate their personal privacy rights. However, other software options are also available.
They key is to share your expectations with your workforce. Set deadlines and goals as a team. Provide adequate training, and build your remote policies. However, remember to build in flexibility. This is one of the main reasons your employees desire remote work.
As much as is possible, allow your staff to work when they can as long as they put in the time and are productive. This flexibility may also benefit your company because it could allow you to expand your business hours, especially if you have employees in different time zones.
Scheduling and Communications Software Needs
Like many companies, you have probably invested in video conferencing software with the best Microsoft Teams backgrounds. However, you may encounter other challenges to effective communication, such as the disconnection of employees who work in other time zones. Therefore, effective communication could require that you build a schedule that works for all your employees, especially if they are collaborating on projects or you need to meet as a team.
Some software tools offer scheduling and goal-setting options. They may also help you gather feedback and improve your collaboration efforts.
As you prepare your remote workforce, don’t forget to add in new communication tools, such as video conferencing software with the ability to customize Zoom backgrounds.
Invest in The Right Hardware
If you want to ensure quality and consistent output for your remote teams, it pays to invest in the right hardware. For example, you can fund your employees’ purchase of a particular desktop PC so they can have maximum output and stay on top of deliverables. Investing in desktop computers offers many advantages.
Desktop PCs have more power and more features. They are also easier and less expensive to upgrade. Rather than needing to buy a whole new computer, you can replace what you need to replace and upgrade only as necessary. This is great to have if you need a better graphics card to play the latest games or run out of internal storage and need a bigger SSD.