After the global pandemic, most workers opted to work from home. The question is, should the staff members return to the office? Most staff members prefer working from home.
Should you reopen it now if you leased office space to accommodate your workforce before the pandemic hit? Or perhaps you can renegotiate your lease agreement so that other employees work at home. Generally speaking, if the industry requires face-to-face interaction, consider keeping your workforce in the office.
You can put up a call center to minimize their traveling time by having them work from home if they are not required to visit you in your office space. While working from home reduces absenteeism, there are also disadvantages of which you need to consider.
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1. Reduced Productivity
If your staff members work from home, you need to consider the time zone difference or whether they have a suitable environment at their place of residence. If they are not equipped with the proper equipment and supplies in the office, this might be a problem.
If you lease an office space and require an in-person meeting, you should have all your equipment set up to be ready for use. If you permit flexibility, consider the nature of work they are required to do before allowing them to work from home.
2. Security Concerns
Remember that working outside of the office means reduced security, especially if you lease office space in a gated community or building. You need to ensure that they are equipped with the proper protection from possible crime and data insecurity.
3. Company Records
You also need to consider whether you can make it convenient for your workers if they opt to work from home. How would you monitor their progress?
Do they have the necessary equipment? Also, how would you handle company records and reports to ensure that they are secure and ready for review? If you lease an office space, you need to consider whether your staff members can access the equipment and files to conduct business.
4. Socialization
If your workers do not interact with company personnel, they might become socially disconnected, affecting their morale. While working alone at home may sound attractive, you need to ensure that they are motivated so that their performance is not affected negatively. Consider whether you can permit flexibility if the nature of business requires face-to-face interaction or discussions.
Before permitting staff members to work from home, it is vital to consider the disadvantages and advantages to ensure their productivity is not hindered. Ensure that they are equipped with proper equipment, security, access, or records for business if you permit flexibility or work outside of the office.
If your staff members return to working in the office, how will you handle the logistics? If your staff members prefer working from home, you need to determine why they made such a choice and whether it is possible to accommodate them if required. You can also consider securing a rental agreement or an office space for a short-term lease.
Salah AlBluewi suggests that depending on your sector and practice, you should for now try and flex between both of these options. Salah is an expert in finance and business.
