In recent months, companies have been forced to embrace a remote workforce, shifting from daily office interaction to the occasional Zoom conference call. Can you hear me? In some industries, the workforce has ground to a complete halt, as more than 6.6 million Americans file for unemployment. Still, so many are figuring out a new world of remote work.
Not all businesses were equipped to immediately make the shift, and policies have been written on the fly. People are trying to do their best, especially if they were not used to working from home to begin with. If you find yourself in this boat, that’s okay. There’s no arguing that working remotely has its benefits and its challenges. Here at iSpace Office Interiors, we’ve laid out some things we have adjusted to that may be helpful for you, too.
Home Office
In this unprecedented time of social distancing, people all around the world are staying home as much as possible. While this transition to a home office is essential for those that are able to, it is also challenging. Make sure you are set up in a dedicated spot. If this is a separate room, set it up with a comfortable desk and chair. It may be tempting to kick your feet up on the soft couch with a laptop on your pajama-clad lap; however, this is not ideal for productivity. You may also end up with some back pains over time.
Rather stand? Us too! A sit-to-stand desktop workstation can convert your existing (or new) desk to a stand-up desk to help keep you alert and comfortable while working from home.
Staying organized is also key. Whether you’re working from home for a couple of weeks or your company has realized this will be a permanent change, staying organized will keep you from scrambling when trying to meet deadlines. Get some bins and baskets for your desk or a filing cabinet to keep files neatly stored. We all love our children’s artwork, but it’s probably not best served on the recent financial report we have been working on.
And don’t forget about the importance of lighting. You’d be surprised how a dedicated light can change the feel of your home office space and support productivity. It can help your eyes from straining in a dimly lit room as well as help keep you awake and efficient throughout your nine to five.
Communication
When you don’t have the luxury of stopping by each cubicle to check in and see progress in person, remote communication becomes key. And don’t be afraid to over-communicate. Check in with your team more than you normally would in the office. Let them know you’re there for them. Not only does this make them feel like they’re still part of a team, but you get a better picture of where your staff is with their workload. There are helpful tools such as Google Hangouts, Slack, and Asana that can keep your team organized and connected. Those quick “water cooler” ideas and chats can be organized in your dashboard and give your entire team access to them.
Document Sharing
Keeping your internal documents available is now at the forefront of many business endeavors. When your team is working in the office, they all share the same network, server system…or um, filing cabinet. However, working from home doesn’t offer that ease of access without a cloud-based system. iSpace Office Interiors recently (and thankfully before the shutdown) switched to using Google Apps. We can now access our email, calendars, documents, client folders, and vendor information and connect with a co-worker all through one easy-to-use app on our computer or our phone. Thanks to our all-around friend, tech guru, and owner of Charley Grey for this timely addition to our business!
iSpace Office Interiors
If you don’t have an office return date, now could be the time to spruce up the space and surprise your employees when they can return to the office. With a new floor plan, new design elements, or new breakroom furniture, you can make returning to work much more pleasurable. To find out about all iSpace Office Interiors has to offer, contact us today!