COVID-19 has forced many businesses to work from home. Although it sounds easy, those who are used to a traditional office setting may find things difficult.
Here are some of the issues that you might encounter in a remote setting:
Security and Privacy
At the office, you have security measures in place to protect your company’s data. However, now, your employees are completing tasks on different devices that may not be as secure.
Working from home presents new security risks that people who have malicious intent may exploit. ENISA, a European cybersecurity agency, said that there has already been a rise in coronavirus-related phishing attacks.
To prevent a breach, you should consider integrating your system into the cloud. ServiceNow Security allows you to detect an attack and respond to them immediately.
In addition, instruct your employees to only connect to secure wifi systems, have a fully-updated antivirus installed, regularly change their passwords, and have a backup of their work. As an employer, you need to have a plan in place to provide support in case of problems.
Frequent Distractions
It is hard to concentrate and finish a task when there are kids running around, dogs barking, doorbells ringing, and voices chattering in the background. Trying to focus on work can be a challenge when you are sharing your room or your home with other people.
Using a good pair of noise-canceling earphones or headphones can help you focus on the work in front of you. You can play classical music or nature sounds to create a peaceful environment that is free from distraction.
Designating a space inside your home as an office will also help your mind switch to work mode. If you can, stay away from areas of your home that are frequently populated by your housemates. The kitchen, for example, will have plenty of traffic during the day as your partner and your children get food and drinks.
Pick the room that has the least activities and set up a desk. Tidy by removing any clutter that is not necessary for work.
Miscommunication
There are tools that you can use to establish communication between your team. However, it will not be as easy as having your colleague within an arm’s reach. In the office, if you need to talk to someone, you go to their workstation and have a conversation. When you are working remotely, there is uncertainty if your teammate has received your message.
It can be frustrating if the employee is unresponsive, especially if you have a deadline to keep. To solve the issue, make it clear that you want a response or not. Do not spam your colleague, either. Sending an email, a text message, or calling them will not give you the result you are hoping for; you will simply annoy the other party.
It will also help to schedule breaks throughout the day. This can ensure that everyone is in front of their computers during work hours.
Loneliness
Working from home can be pretty lonely. Try to reach out to your co-workers, especially those who you know live on their own. Encourage friendly chatter between employees by creating channels where they can talk about non-work related topics. It will not exactly recreate the feeling of being in the office with other people, but it is a good reminder that you are part of a team.
The transition from working at the office to working from home will not be easy for many. After all, you have to unlearn old routines and build new ones. However, through communication, you will eventually get used to the new set up.
