As America emerges from the pandemic, it’s clear that some trends are here to stay. More than two years on, the majority of those who can work from home continue to do so, with no indication of a return to pre-pandemic on-site work any time soon.
Furthermore, in a tight labor market, talented employees are choosing companies that offer the flexibility they have become accustomed to.
While remote working has its benefits, the challenges of working remotely continue to hamper productivity. If you’re looking to get more out of your team, read on to learn more about the top remote work challenges and how to solve them.
1. Weakened Corporate Culture
One of the biggest challenges of employing a remote workforce is the lack of corporate culture than can result. If your team is remote, those all-important water cooler conversations, social gatherings, and idea-sharing moments are difficult to replicate.
When this happens, employees might feel less engaged with their employer, and innovation can quickly stagnate.
To overcome this, HR managers must take a proactive approach. As this guide to improving company culture for remote workforces explains, internal communication is key.
It is your job to go the extra mile, planning out-of-office social events and unstructured remote meetups where your team can interact freely. You should also strive to make management accessible and available to the entire team so that they never feel out of the loop.
2. Work-Life Unbalance
While working from home has plenty of proven wellbeing benefits, there are also downsides. Many remote workers have found it difficult to separate work and free time during the pandemic.
When your home is also your office, you may require extra support from your manager to achieve that all-important work-life balance.
Be clear that you do not expect people to work outside of the hours that they are paid to do so. Try implementing a “no evening/weekend emails policy”, to help people switch off more easily.
Encourage them to take breaks and offer wellness activities during the working day. By doing so, your employees will feel refreshed, relaxed, and more satisfied with their employer.
3. Distractions Everywhere
One of the most commonly-cited problems with a remote working setup is the abundance of distractions at home.
We’re not just talking about home comforts. Remote workers may have to contend with a busy household, caring responsibilities, and day-to-day errands.
These distractions are generally absent in an office setting. If you want to reduce distractions and increase productivity, you should help your employees manage their schedules.
Set clearly-defined tasks and working hours that employees can stick to. Invest in home office supplies, so that everyone on your team can build a quiet, distraction-free workspace of their own.
Consider running daily productivity check-ins, so that you can identify who is struggling and what you can do to help them do their job.
Overcome the Challenges of Working Remotely
Working remotely is here to stay. However, the challenges of working remotely can be resolved by listening to your employees and taking a proactive approach.
For more tips on getting the most out of your team, we have got you covered.
Make sure to consult our dedicated Business Management guides for expert tips on how to unlock your team’s potential.
