Working From Home: 3 Ways to Boost Employee Productivity and Wellbeing

business leadership Mar 30, 2022
Life Success Academy

 

      KEY POINTS

  • Create flexible working hours.
  • Help your employees create a dedicated workspace.
  • Continue providing company perks and social activities.  

I've worked from home in different capacities for more than 30 years. I tried it all - from one day a week to a full time. Businesses, like management consulting, implemented working from home policies many years ago, so their employees and the management team practiced years before other companies started implementing similar procedures.

This shift, working full time from the office to working from home, is not easy. Adjustment is necessary for both sides. Technology must be in place, and people must be trained to use it successfully. But that is just the beginning.

Yes, companies want their employees to be happy, but at the same time, the company's bottom line is always the first thing leaders have to be aware of. So what can leaders do to increase employees' productivity island their wellbeing n this relatively new business trend?

There are many elements of working from home (remote) policies such as internet security, technology, privacy, communication, eligibility, compensation, expectations, etc., but we will not discuss that here. The question is, what can you add to the policy that helps employees' wellbeing?

Here is a simple way to solve the working from a home dilemma. Most (if not everything) has to be in place as if people work from the office. If employers and employees get into this mindset, working from another location rather than office productivity will not be impacted. It could be significantly increased if we do the following.

   1. Create flexible working hours 

We work in the global economy. Most of us deal with folks from different timezone. We adjust. And we are still more productive than ever. So why can't you adapt to your team member's needs? 

For example, if the company working hours are 9 AM- 5 PM, does that mean that every employee will have to follow this? Probably not. Adjust working hours to team member needs, but make it clear, official, and publicly available to all the team members. So if John needs to take and pick up kids from school and will be out of the "home office" from 9 AM - 9.30 AM and 3 PM to 3.30 PM, allow him to do so so, he doesn't have to sneak out of home and worry if he missed anything.  

If you do this for eligible employees, you will not only help them, but you will help your business.

   2. Help your employees create a dedicated workspace 

I've been lucky and have had my home office for years. Many folks did not have the opportunity or need for the home office. Working from home can be tricky. We can not stop the regular family daily flow and activities. And dedicated working space is the answer.

I am not asking you to do a home addition and build another room if employees do not have one, but what I am suggesting is to help them create that space. Let's be honest. How much did you spend building that beautiful office? How much did you pay for the chairs, desks, monitors, furniture, etc.? And how much are you going to save (even if you still paying for that office space) on office maintenance - from cleaning to supply and more?

Now you can establish particular Work from Home Budget to help employees buy that unique chair, big monitor, remote headset, etc. Hire a designer who can help create dedicated space (this can all be done remotely). Check with your team members to ensure they are comfortable and have everything they need to be productive when working from the office. 

When you do this, you create trust and help your team members work in a better environment, and assure increased productivity.  

   3. Continue providing company perks and social activities

Many companies have perks such as complimentary breakfast, coffee, dinner when working late, social gatherings outside the office, holiday celebrations, etc. When your employees work from home, chances are they do not have access to this. Why? Why can't you still provide similar perks and activities that will make employees love working for this business, and you will ensure lower employee turnover?

List all the perks you provided while people work from the office. What can you do now to simulate these activities? If you had a complimentary coffee/tea, can you send a monthly supply to your employees? Can you arrange to ship a breakfast once a week if you had a complimentary breakfast in your office? Can you create a replacement if you provided dinner to employees working extra hours, late nights/weekends? Just imagine how employees will feel when they receive at home some of these perks they used to get in the office anyway. 

Now review and list all the social activities for the past few years. Regardless of what it was - monthly happy hours, game tickets, gathering in the park, team lunch, holiday celebrations, etc., and find an alternative. Imagine a surprise lunch that arrives at your employees' door right before the team meeting? 

Remember, you are doing all of this to improve productivity. And as a side effect, you are improving employees' wellbeing.  

Braco Pobric is an Internationally Recognized Positive Psychology Expert, Executive Coach, and Corporate Trainer. He is the bestselling author of Habits and Happiness: How to Become Happier and Improve Your Wellbeing by Changing Your Habits. Braco is a founding member and Chief Happiness Officer of the Life Success Academy, Certified Positive Psychology Master Coach and Trainer, and former globally Certified Trainer and Business Coach for Dale Carnegie Training. He trained over 60,000 Students in 172 countries.





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