To help you better manage your remote employees, we’ve gathered our top four tips on how you can improve your remote working arrangements for everyone involved. 

1. Communicate clearly and more often 

One of the biggest downfalls of managing remote employees is the lack of communication. Without the in-person interactions we often have in an office setting, it can be difficult to find time to effectively communicate with your employees or share relevant information with them promptly. So to combat this, make sure to set up at least weekly catch-ups with your entire team, and one-on-ones with each of your employees. 

But, if you have important updates or information to share with your team, don’t wait until your next catch-up or one-on-one. Just as you would pull your team into a quick meeting in the office, message your employees to see if they are available for a brief video conference. Keeping your team informed and in the loop as much as possible will be greatly appreciated by your employees and help them stay motivated and excited about their work, especially during a challenging time.

2. Make sure everyone is aware of what is expected from them

It’s important to remember that working from home can mean different things to different people. While some may choose to work the same hours they normally would in the office, others may want to work different hours, such as starting later in the day and ending later, or vice versa. If your remote working arrangements are open to flexibility, let your employees know that they can adjust their working schedule if needed, but that they need to inform you of their new hours. But, if you need your employees to be online during specific hours, make sure they are aware of that. By being clear and upfront with your employees about what is expected from them while they work from home, you can avoid any misunderstandings which could cause extra stress or anxiety for your team. 

3. Set clear boundaries 

When working from home, it can be difficult to separate your work life from your home life—especially if you live in an apartment or don’t have a home office. For this reason, it’s important to set clear boundaries with your employees about when they can and cannot reach out to you, and vice versa, ask them to also let you know what times of the day they are available. Make sure both you and the rest of your team adhere to these, meaning avoid message your team or schedule any meetings outside of their working hours and discourage others from doing so. Without having clear boundaries with your colleagues and employees, you could find yourself working or being online all day every day, which can lead to you burning out.

On the other hand, it’s also important to set clear boundaries with your partner, kids, roommates, and other family members you may be living with. Let them know that even though you are home, during your working hours you will be busy and should not be disrupted for casual chitchat – natural as that may feel in a household setting. It can also be helpful to avoid doing any household chores during your work hours. Try to keep your work and home life as separate as possible to ensure both you and your employees are getting the most out of your remote working arrangements. 

4. Encourage non-work-related virtual interactions

Working from home for an extended period of time can be a challenging transition, especially for your employees who have never worked remotely, or only did so occasionally. Today, this is further compounded by an increasingly stressful and uncertain global climate. To help keep your team motivated, try and schedule some non-work related virtual interactions. Things like a weekly virtual get-together for lunch where teams can discuss favourite movies or T.V. shows they’re binging at the moment, a monthly virtual happy hour, or even taking a virtual meditation or yoga class together could help keep your team’s spirit and morale up. 

There’s no doubt that working from home can bring many benefits to your health, career and work-life balance. But suddenly finding yourself in a remote working situation can leave employees and employers feeling a little lost and unmotivated. To help both you and your team transition into a remote working environment, make sure to implement these four tips to ensure you are getting the most out of your employees, even when they are not in the office. 

With more than 15 years of experience in the recruitment industry, Jay Munro has worked in a variety of roles in agencies and job boards, from consulting and recruiting, through to leading the product development of new sourcing technologies. As an Employer Insights Strategist with the Indeed Employer Insights Team, Jay pairs platform data with industry trend analysis to share Indeed’s story and bring the value of the company’s programs and solutions to life.

The post 4 tips to improve remote work for everyone appeared first on Recruitment Marketing.

With health and safety issues on our minds, keep up healthy workplace practices at home to keep fit and avoid the negative impacts of sitting down all day. 

Here are three simple tips to stay healthy while working from home, from Australian workplace charity, Tour de Office.  

1. Set a reminder to move

In the office, you may be used to getting up regularly to talk to coworkers or move from meeting to meeting. But when you’re working from home and there’s less reason to move, it can often fall by the wayside. Set an alarm to stretch your legs and get your blood flowing.

Bonus: Being in your own home is a great opportunity to do some basic exercise you can’t complete in the office. Do a few yoga poses or jog on the spot for a minute.

2. Take a proper lunch break

No, we don’t mean moving to the couch for some Netflix. Give your eyes a rest by stepping away from your desk, avoiding screens, and spending some time in a different part of the house for that hour break.

3. Find your 30 

Make sure you’re getting in 30 minutes of exercise a day. Staying active during challenging times is great for both your physical and mental health. 

Squeeze in a workout in the morning or afternoon, during the time you are typically commuting. It’s also a chance to get some important Vitamin D, to clear your mind, get through your work-day or unwind from it.

The post Staying healthy while working from home  appeared first on Recruitment Marketing.