The pandemic's swift arrival meant employers in our community had to scramble to keep their organizations running. Manufacturers, food processors, and retail establishments like grocery stores developed safety protocols to keep their essential employees working. The frontline nature of health care and law enforcement meant workers in those professions had to protect themselves while helping the sick and protecting the public. Due to the pandemic, each industry's workplace had to move fast to innovate and integrate their current practices with new virtual strategies to maintain their productivity. 

An At-Home Workplace

Thanks to technology, we saw working remotely as a viable option for individuals in business, education, technology, and similar professions. We turned kitchen tables and other spaces into satellite offices. Parents juggled homeschooling with writing reports, studying spreadsheets, and meeting with colleagues online. The longer the pandemic lingered, the more accustomed we became to working remotely. We adapted to a new norm, creating spaces and managing our time to be as productive, if not more, at home as in the office. As the pandemic's heavy hand began to lift, the Chamber observed a desire to keep the work-from-home trend going. It seems remote work options are here to stay, and the Chamber is here to support organizations as they consider the best way to implement remote work. Business leaders in our region who adopt remote working may find that their organizations thrive, and their most important asset—people, are happy and productive.

Out of Necessity Came Results

Working from home offered improved quality of life for those who managed their time efficiently. Some employees were so successful that they demanded to keep this new arrangement. Not all managers were eager for employees to remain in their home-based workspaces. Still, with the genie already out of the bottle, those unwilling to compromise risked losing experienced and hardworking employees to companies willing to offer flexible working arrangements.

Many employees in our community find they are happier and more productive when they work virtually. Remote work allows an organization to tap into a diverse global talent pool. Cloud-based collaboration and project management tools replaced conference rooms, projectors, and whiteboards. Zoom became the virtual conference room. Many organizations in our community embraced remote work and vow to continue this new way of doing business as an attractive bonus to job-seekers pursuing work-life balance.

Research Shows Remote Work Can Work

Remote work is not new. According to Pew Research, 23 percent of individuals who had the option worked remotely before the pandemic. During the pandemic, that number was as high as 71 percent. Start-ups can significantly reduce overhead costs by hiring highly qualified remote professionals. At the same time, some leaders are not excited to relinquish the in-person interactions and management styles found in traditional workplaces.

Find a Remote Work Approach that Fits

The good news for our community is that leaders are finding creative compromises to keep veteran employees happy and attract new talent seeking a more flexible work life. Some organizations allow employees to continue working from home. Others put hybrid schedules in place, with employees working from home one or two days per week. With this new way of working, organizations have developed strategies to enhance the experience and build camaraderie. Bringing employees to the office for onboarding, in-person staff retreats that include vacation-like activities, and creating virtual spaces where employees engage in water cooler conversations are some ideas that work.

As the digital age grows, so does the demand for remote work. This demand means that employees need to work from anywhere in the world.
However, many companies still don't have the right tools to help employees connect and collaborate remotely. Tools to aid your employees in boosting creativity and collaboration regardless of their location are essential in providing your company with a virtual culture that rivals your central office and others across your industry.

Slack

Slack is an excellent tool for culture in remote work because the channels offer dedicated spaces for individuals to discuss specific subjects. The process keeps your team naturally aligned from anywhere since they can see the same conversation and stay up to date.
Other features like built-in chatbots allow you to run discussions without typing out a sentence. You can also pin important messages and files for your team, making them easily accessible.

Zoom

An excellent tool for remote work, Zoom allows employees to see the same content in one place. This content can be anything from slideshows of virtual meetings to articles on the latest trends in remote work.
Zoom also has a built-in video recorder that allows employees to capture and share videos with their colleagues. And an instant messaging system that allows team members to communicate without interrupting any ongoing session.

Asana

Asana is one of the most popular remote work tools in the market. With Asana, you can easily connect with your team and collaborate on projects.
You can also use Asana to track your work and manage tasks. Additionally, Asana has an automatic task synchronization feature that helps you document all the priorities and pieces needed to complete a project.

Remote Desktop

A remote desktop is an excellent tool for remote work. You can access your company's office software, such as Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Using a remote PC lets you keep your work connected and avoid any potential tech glitches. Additionally, using a remote PC will help you stay organized and keep track of your company's progress.

Clockify

Clockify is an excellent tool for managing time in the small world. It allows employees to keep track of their time, including sleep, work, and social media time.
It's a valuable tool because it helps you stay organized and focused on your work. Additionally, it's an easy way to keep up-to-date on what's going on at work.

Skype

Skype for business is an excellent tool for remote work because it allows you to conference call and connect with people in the exact location. Its ability to have multiple people on the same call means attending to urgent matters swiftly. You can also create groups and assign members to make it simpler to find the person you need.

Bottom Line

As the technology of the internet and mobile devices continues to evolve, so too does the workplace. With more people working remotely, businesses can tap into a new talent pool by providing an environment conducive to creativity and productivity. The tools above can help you get started and set your company for success.