With the threat of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, looming over America, many companies are looking for ways to maintain productivity while limiting the spread of the illness. After seeing the dip the stock market has taken since China began quarantining cities and businesses there is even more pressure to make sure American businesses stay productive. For companies that already have a remote workforce it’s business as usual, but for businesses that have yet to have employees working remotely there will likely be a tough transition period.
Benefits of Remote Work
Remote work allows a lot of flexibility for employers and employees. Without the distractions that come with a typical office, many employees focus better and end up being more productive. Couple that with the lack of commute and you’ve given employees a much more ideal work-life balance. Employers pay less for office space and can use the extra money to focus on their cybersecurity needs which is important for all companies remote or not.
The lack of contact and time spent in the office will limit the spread of the disease. It will also discourage those who are currently ill from still coming to the office. The CDC is encouraging companies to come up with a remote business plan in the event the illness becomes more widespread.
Drawbacks of Remote Work
For many businesses, having an entirely remote workforce is unrealistic, but typically even these businesses will be able to have part of their workforce remote. The transition from office to remote can be difficult, particularly for employers who like face-to-face interaction with their employees. There will be a much larger expectation of trust and communication between employer and employees. This will mean using new platforms for communications such as Zoom for video conferencing, Slack for instant message between employees, and Trello for project management.
Workers will need to get used to a new routine and schedule. Many remote workers report finding it difficult to separate work from life which means time management will be key.
How We Can Help
Whether you’re looking to permanently transition your workforce to remote work or temporarily to limit the spread of illness, Anonymous Assistants has many experienced virtual workers. We can help with extraneous tasks if you find you need someone temporarily to handle some of the workload as people get settled. Since all of our contractors already work remotely, they are familiar with many different online communication and collaboration platforms and can help other employees familiarize themselves with them. As a virtual based business, we have a lot of experience to offer! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us! We would love to chat about what your options are, temporarily or permanently.
