Most organizations have been slow to embrace remote work. However, thanks to COVID-19, this process has been expedited. Since the stay-at-home orders were issued 74 percent of CFOs expect that employees working from home as a result of today’s public health crisis will continue working remotely once the pandemic ends.

With teleworking here to stay, there are several strategies companies can implement now to ensure that the remote experience accommodates and keeps employees satisfied while guaranteeing high levels of productivity well into the future.

Executing Thorough Training for Both Employees and Executives

For companies like HGS, a leading BPO management organization that moved 70 percent of their global BPO operations to remote work within only a few weeks, employee training was one of the largest undertakings in the shift to Work@Home. “I can’t emphasize enough that training is key,” explained HGS’s Marco Colaiacovo in a recent webinar. “You’re going to train things that you don’t think you need to train but again, for now, it’s a new environment. We also understand, as far as training goes, support and need for leadership. So, we’ve undertaken a global training for our leaders to learn how to effectively communicate and manage people remotely.”

Making Robust Communication a Priority

COVID-19 is having a jarring effect on employees each with varying circumstances ranging from working alone in seclusion to balancing work while watching children now out of school and unable to attend daycare. This means that the need for touch-bases and check-ins are more important now than ever not only to keep teams unified and connected but to ensure the wellbeing of employees. The need for robust communications will be critical for successful teams long after COVID-19 has been brought under control.

Rewarding and Recognizing Remote Employees

In a traditional office setting, it can be easier for managers to show employee appreciation through one-on-one meetings and luncheons as well as team gatherings. However, there are ways to recognize now remote employees. To enhance job satisfaction, managers can reward employees with technology allowances and new equipment such as upgraded headsets and office supplies. Beyond office supplies, managers can reward and recognize employees via gift cards and even through– the least costly yet highly valuable — praise on team calls and to executives.

COVID-19 serves as a catalyst for a new normal of remote work. Through strategies including training for both employees and executives, making robust communication a priority, and recognizing remote employees, organizations can make the work-from-home experience not only rewarding for employees but beneficial for the business.

For more strategies on managing and optimizing work-from-home programs, click here.