Are my employees productive when teleworking?
Entrepreneurs who have had to shift their organisation into the world of teleworking are asking themselves. Fortunately, employee performance can be measured and the majority of companies do this effectively. But in such a tumultuous environment, the question arises.
Is your organisation adapted to teleworking?
Is the technological infrastructure suitable for teleworking? Without the right tools, it becomes difficult for your employees to maintain a certain level of performance. The most popular systems are user-friendly, but perhaps you should implement new ones?
Are your expectations clear, known and adapted to the current performance situation? Alone at home, employees will be better mobilised if they know exactly what you need. Review your expectations and adjust them again once things have stabilised.
Was your pre-COVID performance appraisal system appropriate and known to your employees? To know how things are evolving, it's easier to know how they were first.
Have your employees adjusted?
The learning curve of this new workplace is not the same for everyone and goes beyond adapting to the new technologies used. We need to consider this reality, because what matters is the "bottom line". Increasingly, the emphasis is on results. But some will need a little more support than others.
The demarcation between work and home is becoming difficult to establish. Reconciling with family life, managing to switch off completely, and so on. In reality, teleworking requires supervision while offering a good level of flexibility.
The "distance" is particularly distressing for the employee who may have lost the feeling of closeness with his manager and team. The latter's follow-ups need to be more sustained. Communication will help to keep the whole team engaged.
More than ever, it's vital to involve, consult and support your employees. Keep the lines of communication open, and you'll ensure that everything goes smoothly for them. Happy employees make productive employees!