How to Adopt a Remote Work Policy
If the COVID-19 pandemic has shown employers anything, it’s that not all work needs to be done in person or in an office setting. The initial COVID-19 lockdown forced many organizations to re-examine how their teams work and what’s possible in remote work settings.
Not only can a virtual office cut down on expensive overhead costs, but surveys have shown that employees prefer flexibility.
We’re sharing a few helpful tips to adopt a remote work policy from the experts at Prescott HR. Keep reading to learn more!
What is a remote work policy?
One of the very first things you should do when deciding if you want to allow your employees to work remotely is to write everything down. The only way for employees to be successful at working from home is for the organization to clearly outline rules and expectations. That’s where a written Remote Work Policy comes into play.
A Remote Work Policy is essentially a written agreement between an employer or organization and an employee. Your Policy should clearly outline any expectations your employees will be required to meet during their remote work hours. A Remote Work Policy document can outline expected office hours, time off approval processes, and more.
Now that you understand how important a written Remote Work Policy is to the function of an organization, here are several important considerations to keep in mind when creating one.
Be Clear, Thorough, and Direct
Nothing causes chaos more than unclear communication. This Remote Work Policy document should be as clear as possible, so there is no misunderstanding between employers and employees.
Establish Working Hours
It’s important to determine which hours you expect your employees to be “logged on” during remote work. There are several different ways to go about this. Some employers may not require set work hours, and just want to see that the work is being done. Another option is to set a time range, similar to how the hours would be in-office, like 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for example. Finally, there’s the option to set a total number of hours expected for each employee to complete. That could mean eight set hours, to be completed when it’s most convenient for the employee.
Decide on a Dress Code
Just because an employee is working from home does not exactly mean that they should wear sweatpants and t-shirts to work. If maintaining a set dress code is important to your organization, you should lay out these dress code guidelines clearly in your Remote Work Policy.
Get Feedback from Your Team
The best way to know how your remote work policy is going is to ask the people most affected by it: your team! After drafting an initial Remote Work Policy, run it by different members of your team for constructive feedback. This is also a document that can be reviewed regularly and adjusted according to your organization’s needs.
Work with Prescott HR
Does your organization need help implementing a remote work policy? We are here to help!
Prescott HR offers a wide range of services that can help your organization evaluate your current remote work policies or how to develop a new one. Our unintimated HR practices allow us to be focused and effective, providing your business with precisely what you need. Give us a call today at 443-351-8818 or contact us online.
Give us a call today at 443-351-8818 or contact us online.