As we see many organisations now asking staff to work from home as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic it is important to help those people, especially if they are not used to working from their home environment. Can they, for example,
- Assess their technological capability – many people have broadband in their homes, but not all of them necessarily know the speed they get, and the upload/download numbers. Some work from apartments with shared WiFi etc and may get variable speeds depending on the competition for bandwidth around them. How can you help them understand what their options are?
- Manage the expectations around their working arrangements – if you are in a situation where the kids are off school and the rest of the family are around it can be hard to remain focused. Providing some guidance around this tricky area could be extremely valuable.
- Make a judgement about the information security and privacy issues with working in a home environment. Not everyone lives in their own home with their family – some live in shared accommodation with other adults, or can only practically work in common areas. Are they putting your information security policies at risk or potentially exposing your clients’ or staff personal details to prying eyes?
There are many other aspects to a rapid change to working from home that have to be considered, from culture through technology all the way to the management of remote teams. At IDC we have guidance on the technology, the approach and the practical experiences of getting collaboration right. If you would like to get involved in a facilitated discussion with other organisations in this situation, please let me know.