The demand for flexible working is growing as a result of workers searching for a better balance of their work and personal lives. As a result of the demand, some type of telecommuting is now offered by more than two thirds of organizations. While it is a great idea for workers, it challenges organizations to maintain productivity of workers and protect themselves against risk. Below are some suggestions regarding telecommuting approaches.
Maintain Responsibilities:
It is important to ensure that all workers are treated fairly. To do this, employers must make sure they assign an equal number of tasks to on site workers and remote workers.
Comply with Safety Regulations:
If an employee injures themselves while working from home, it can still be considered a work injury since their home can be considered an extension of the workplace. Therefore, employers must comply with worker’s compensation regulations and OSHA. To reduce injuries, include information in your policy that describe what areas are part of the work environment, how to keep the environment safe, and how employees should report an injury.
Create a policy:
Creating a policy can help to ensure clarity for everyone regarding responsibilities and expectations. The policy can help enlighten employees who is eligible for telecommuting, what fixed hours should be worked during the day, and what the process of becoming a telecommuter entail. It is also important to have a process to track and verify how many hours telecommuters are working.
Make Security a Priority:
It is important to set guidelines to protect the company’s private information that remote employees with be accessing. This can include secure servers, passwords, fire walls etc. Restricting the use of personal devices can also help.
Stay Social:
Telecommuting can sometimes feel isolating for workers. Without being in the office, workers may feel out of the loop. By suggesting frequent interaction through video conferencing and workplace visits, you can help to keep them connected.