There’s no doubt about it, we’re entering unfamiliar territory when it comes to business, thanks to COVID-19. If you haven’t already, chances are your offices will soon be transitioning from having staff on-site to adopting a work from home policy. At any other time, I would be telling you about the benefits research has shown with allowing employees to work remotely. Instead, let’s focus on how to get you set-up quickly, correctly, and safely for the duration of the pandemic.

Communicate Early and Communicate Often

It’s important to let your teams know early what your plan is, especially in times of crisis. Not only will this help reassure them, it will allow them to plan for the transition as well as help you figure out what equipment is available and what you need to source ASAP. It’s possible not everyone will have a laptop at home that can run the programs needed, for example.

Let employees know what’s happening and what the expectations will be. The clearer things are, the better.

Get The Right Technology

There’s nothing worse than sending employees home to work and them not being able to do their job. Ensure whatever software upgrades, additional computers or laptops, VPN technology, and so on that you need is sourced as quickly as possible – and don’t forget that most things can be accessible in the cloud. If you need help with this, give us a call – we can help you find the best business class computers and get you set up quickly.

Don’t forget, you may also need to invest in Slack, Zoom, or another communications tool to keep employees connected throughout the day.

Implement the Right Security Measures

Security when employees work remotely is different than security needed when everyone works under the same roof. Make sure all of your businesses data and files are backed up and ensure staff are educated about the risks. It’s best practice to have an Employee Policy for Safe Use; update it to include remote work situations. Check out our blog for more tips on protecting your business from a data breach.

Have an up-to-date disaster recovery plan in place, just in case.

If you’re making the change to allowing employees to work from home (or if you already have and would like a second set of eyes), give us a call at (514) 634-4636 x 101. We’ll be happy to help ensure you have all the proper tech in place to ensure a smooth transition – for you, and your staff.