How To Boost Staff Productivity Whilst Working From Home

Working from home can be a challenge in itself, never mind during a global pandemic.

From keeping motivated to learning how to cope with distractions, it’s likely that working from home may take some time for your employees to adjust to.

Of course, there are many benefits of your workforce working remotely. These include:

• Lower costs
• Increased staff retention
• Access to a wider talent pool

However, for these to outweigh the advantages of being in the office, staff productivity must be considered. According to Business News Daily, working from home can increase staff productivity; given the correct procedures are in place.

Ensure your employees are well-equipped

The first step is providing your workforce with the right equipment. You may be required to offer laptops, computers, wires or even desk chairs.

Depending on the size of your business, you may view this as an unnecessary expense. Be assured that companies that invest in their staff will reign in the long-term.

Given that your staff will spend several hours facing their screens, proper support is vital.

A padded desk chair will avoid back or neck pain from arising. You should encourage your employees to adjust the chair’s height where necessary and to sit facing forwards at all times with their knees resting lower than their hips.

The correct equipment will promote a suitable office set-up, meaning your entire workforce will be compliant with the recommended health and safety guidelines. Not only this, but your staff will appreciate the effort that has been put in to ensure smooth operations.

With access to technology, your staff will be more inclined to work hard and stay connected. This will lower the risk of communication barriers. Research by Towers Watson suggests that companies with highly effective communication practices can expect to see 47% higher total returns, meaning communication and profitability are closely interlinked.

Establish a set routine

With 29% of remote employees admitting to struggling with work-life balance, you should focus on creating a sense of structure for your employees.

Each working day should begin with a morning check-in (either via video call or phone call) to establish their weekly priorities. During this call, you’ll be able to discuss their wellbeing and address any concerns.

A good routine will also include scheduled breaks. According to a survey by Air Tasker, 37% of employees agreed they feel more productive when taking regular breaks. Experts recommend you should take breaks every 20 minutes to maximise efficiency.

Provide steady support

In order to develop strong relationships, you should provide a support network for your team.

Regular communication will allow you to gain a better understanding of potential concerns, whether they be work-related or personal issues – such as worrying about the effects of lockdown on their families.

Whether your staff are struggling mentally or physically, as their senior, you should aim to settle their worries. If comfort is an issue, e.g. members of staff are experiencing body aches or pains, consider sending new desk chairs or padded cushions. Alternatively, try to encourage regular exercise.

It’s important that your employees recognise the importance of self-care. In many cases, stress can be relieved by promoting 8 hours sleep and planned mealtimes.

Encourage team-building activities

To improve employee morale, schedule after-work activities (such as a virtual happy hour or bingo) to reward your team for their hard efforts.

As well as serving as entertainment, team-building activities are a great way to create bonds and relieve stress. As a result, employee satisfaction will increase.

Happy staff will be more inclined to work hard, boosting productivity.

Find out more

Our latest resource ‘Health & Safety – Working From Home’ outlines the steps you should take to create an appropriate home office. We’d recommend downloading the checklist to send to your staff so that they can learn the importance of a safe workspace.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we can help you meet all health and safety regulations. With the right measures in place, your business will be able to reach its full potential.

If you’re in need of specialist cleaning experts, do not hesitate to get in touch. Give us a call on 0208 066 0360 today or email us on enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk.