Working from home is something that is, generally, brought into a business’ overall operations slowly. Its integration tends to be gradual so that every party can get a firm understanding of how it will impact them, what they can do to keep working productively, and whether it is an efficient and effective means of operating. 
 
However, the ongoing Covid-19 crisis has meant that many employees with no experience of working from home – and potentially no desire to do so – are being forced to remain within their house to limit the spread of the virus. 
 
We are in unique times, but it is essential that companies keep operating as efficiently as they can – and that means ensuring remote workers are capable of hitting targets while confined to their home. 
 
So, with that in mind, what can employers do? 

Ensure that everyone is aware of their targets and goals 

The best way of ensuring that people can hit the targets set of them is to, of course, ensure they know what those targets are. Check in with your employees regularly to be sure they know what is being asked of them, that they are fully aware of deadlines, and whether they believe they have the tools/software necessary to do their role effectively. 
 
However, it is also essential to allow your team members to be able to set their own goals; a degree of autonomy is not only expected when working remotely, but is most definitely beneficial, because it means that there will be no need for any degree of micromanaging. You must have faith in your employees and know that they are capable. This can be done, in part, by having established KPIs in place. 

Where possible, maintain routine 
 
If you would generally have regular meetings in the office, try and keep to these, even if it means moving to video conferencing or Facetime calls. Try to have check-ins often, not only because this will ensure targets are met, but will stop people from feeling isolated and will help with their personal wellbeing. 

Keep everyone in the loop 
 
Many employees will, undoubtedly, be going through a very stressful time right now. The constantly altering news cycle, the fact that children are home, and the seemingly never-ending slump in the economy, means that many people will be worried about whether they are going to have a job going forward. The very best thing you, as the employer, can do to keep morale and productivity high is to ensure that everyone knows where they stand, how the company is faring, and what this means for their role. Honesty is always the best policy, but in this instance its importance cannot be overstated. 
 

For more information on how to manage your team effectively, with tips to looking after employee wellbeing and productivity, download our handy guide: Managing the wellbeing and productivity of your remote team.