A good home office policy is a very attractive benefit for employers and employees. It is undeniable that this type of program improves the balance between personal life and work, in addition to bringing more motivation and individual productivity to each of the professionals in your company.
Another benefit is ecological. After all, there are fewer people moving around, less plastic cups and unnecessary prints in the office. Carbon dioxide emissions in the streets might decrease dramatically, something that is very good for the environment. During the Covid-19 pandemic, pollution levels in major cities in the world have dropped dramatically, causing new ozone layers to form in the atmosphere.
However, if your company’s employees work from home, even if only once a week, it is essential to have a very well defined and clear home office policy. The lack of attention to detail here can have serious consequences, especially if the worker is not adequately supervised or if the security of his home does not meet the standards.
To assist you in the mission of implementing a suitable remote work program, below, we point out some points for you to take into account.
Who can work from home?
All employees in the same area must have the benefit. Even so, you must be able to recognize, talk and guide that professional who needs a more structured routine and processes. Thus, you will have more guarantees that the productivity of your team will not be impaired.
The necessary equipment
Depending on the branch of your company or the team in question, it is possible that employees need specific equipment, for example: headphones, headsets, webcam etc. One is for sure, communication between the parts in the scope of work operations must run smoothly.
Another important point is to think about whether the employee will use the company’s laptop or own computer. And incentives? Will they have help for internet and electric bills? Will the transportation voucher be discounted? These factors must be considered by every company owner who applies “work from home”.
Health and safety
Employers have different types of responsibilities for people who work outside the company’s physical facilities. It is necessary to include an addendum in your home office policy where it is stipulated that a team can go to the employee’s home to analyze the risks of the place. Adequate workspace, with table and chair, light, wires, inputs and outputs … Everything can and should be evaluated. This avoids future problems for both sides.
Company information security
Even if the employee is outside the company, he will continue to access confidential and very important information for his company’s business. In addition to it, other people may enter your home.
Therefore, it is worth thinking: how to recover documents and information if the employment relationship ends? How to protect the company’s assets? What types of prevention to use?
Performance supervision
Some companies use task tracking and supervision software to assist with this process during the home office. Not to mention instant messaging apps. An online, fast and effective way. But, depending on the size and area of ??operation of your company, this will not be an option. So, you must be aware that you need to establish a way to follow the daily lives of your teams, communicating clearly and objectively, even if not in person. In this context, there is a need to be able to wipe, lock and locate the devices when they are lost, stolen, or when you must terminate a remote employee. For that the company needs capable tools to control devices remotely and also secure all data stored in it. One of the best tools for that is DriveStrike.
DriveStrike protects the device as well as data stored on it from the risk of theft or misuse in remote places or places far from surveillance. There are at least 4 main features offered by DriveStrike:
1. Locate
DriveStrike is able to identify the actual location of the device.
2. Lock
This tool is able to protect data from unwanted third-party access.
3. Wipe
If the data may not be saved this tool can be used to delete data in the device (in the case of the device being controlled permanently by a third party). In other words, this feature is something related to remote wipe.
4. Encrypt
Integrated BitLocker support or assistance with VeraCrypt to better guarantee data security.
When your employees work in their own homes with your device, there are certainly some data that you don’t want them to see. Here DriveStrike plays a role!
Alignment of expectations: what are the motivations of your employees?
It should be clear in your home office policy what the company expects of its employees. Classic example: taking care of children or taking trips.
It is important to pay attention to these issues and clarify what is necessary. Tell us if you need to be connected all the time, how much time for lunch and snack, if you can be absent during the work period, as well as explain on which days the professionals can use the benefit, among others.
Make a good home office policy
The more detailed your remote work policy is, the easier it will be to solve problems related to the rights and duties of an employee. Even if it is extensive, this set of rules and data will be the guide for the best functioning of the benefit within your corporation.
Want to attract great talent?
The policy should also describe the expected workday of someone who is working from home, which is why it is very important to have the means to monitor each person’s development. In case you need continuous and routine updates, establish the frequency with which the employee must attend the office.
Discuss the home office policy and risk assessment procedures at the worker’s location with the legal and HR departments. Another option is to hire external consultants who specialize in home office or remote work issues.