24/07/20

Five steps to making homeworking a more permanent solution

Working from home has become the ‘new normal’ for many of us over recent months and is likely to be something which will remain for the foreseeable future.

It has proved to be an excellent workable solution in what has been the most trying of circumstances.

And that’s just the point – it has worked, meaning employers and employees are now more receptive to the policy continuing.

Those who are still working from home will now probably stay working from home at least for another few months, meaning employers may be looking at more permanent solutions in terms of IT.

For those employers thinking about it and what it may involve, we have put together five steps to guide you in achieving that goal.

1) Supply the correct equipment

If employees are going to work from home they will need the equipment to allow them to carry out their job efficiently and productively. This includes a phone, suitable PC or laptop and a broadband connection which is fit for purpose.

2) Software set-up and VPN

Laptops and computers must be set-up correctly and compatible with remote working and company protocols. Setting up a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, gives the flexibility of accessing Wi-Fi networks when out and about, ideal for working remotely or at home by protecting privacy. A VPN basically ensures a secure connection to another network over the internet.

3) Stay safe, stay secure

Security is essential to safeguarding the integrity of your business. You must ensure your security measures are robust enough to deal with anything thrown at it. Data and other sensitive information are more at risk with employees working away from your business environment and it’s vital to work alongside your IT team so employees can work from a remote location without risking a security breach.

Institute a working-from-home policy so employees know what’s expected of them along with the dangers and implications of not following clearly defined procedures.

4) Monitor your staff and hardware

It’s important to keep track of how work is progressing in order to keep on top of deadlines being met and orders or other services being delivered on time and to required specifications.

This is easier to supervise in the office but you will need to put plans in place to ensure you know if there are any problems that need addressing. You can achieve this through simple tracking and real-time monitoring showing what works efficiently and what doesn’t. This allows you to break down projects towards a required conclusion, assign time to projects, set and adjust priorities.

5) Health, safety and wellbeing

Working from home brings its own unique problems and you must see to it that employees know how to use the equipment you have provided, to take regular screen breaks and turn their computer off at the end of the day.

Remote working may mean working alone for long periods which can have an adverse effect on health and wellbeing. Stay in touch so you can reassure yourself, and your employee, that all is well.

For more information about how we can help keep your business secure, call us on 01743 290588 or email katy@pcnetsolutions.co.uk