As businesses are adopting protocols to comply with state and federal regulations regarding COVID-19, many establishments are reopening their doors and finding a new “normal” for their employees. To acclimate to new work practices, some businesses have decided the best course of action is to have their employees to come in on a part-time basis; so staff work time is now split between the office and home. Finding a way to balance the workload between a home and an office environment can seem tricky so we’ve come up with some tips to make the adjustment much easier!
Organizing Your Workload
When planning out your split workweek, keep two separate to-do lists where you determine which tasks are better suited for an office environment, and which ones would be better completed at home. List your projects in order by their deadlines, and set high-priority tasks at the top of your to-do list. Planning what days you will be working on projects ahead of time will allow you to meet with your coworkers and management about any issues before it is too late to address them.
Save Important, In-Depth Projects for Home
If you have to draft up an important proposal or some other vital piece of content for your business, common office distractions can hinder your progress. When you have a huge project that requires your full attention, save it – if you can – for the quiet environment of your home. Studies have shown that employees who practice remote work are actually more productive than their office-working counterparts. Working a split schedule between your home and office is a great opportunity to divide your projects between what can be done in interrupted spurts and what requires isolation and quiet to complete.
Client Meetings
As we transition back to the office, chances are many clients you haven’t heard from in a while will want to touch base with you. Having a face-to-face meeting with your client (while practicing social distancing of course) will make the exchange more memorable and you will both leave on a higher note compared to if you had done the meeting over the phone. This is a great time to review your client’s goals and offer solutions that you both can benefit from.
If your client would prefer to keep the meeting virtual, consider the benefits of adding a wireless presentation or an interactive display solution to your office environment to amplify the meeting experience. You can create faster and more efficient meetings in any conference room, boardroom, or huddle space and they are terrific for in-office meetings as well as meetings with virtual counterparts. If your client would rather the meeting remain virtual, you can still conduct the meeting from your display in the office to increase the productivity and professionalism of your interaction!
Team Meetings
On days where the whole team is in the office, business owners or team leaders should set aside an hour for a business strategy meeting. Discuss your latest successes and failures, and address any concerns among your staff. Having a face-to-face company meeting will bring the team together, as everyone’s voice will be heard and employees can provide feedback with you and each other regarding what’s working well and what needs to be adjusted.
Additionally printers and multifunction devices with wireless printing options and app-based workflows enable you to have all your meeting materials printed and ready to go, while helping you and your teams maintain a hands-free workplace.
Final Thoughts
Many businesses are establishing differing protocols when it comes to what a typical workday will look like after COVID-19. While there is not a one-size-fits-all solution for helping employees transition back to the office and into this ‘new normal’, it is helpful to all to stay organized, keep communication open, and to adhere to social distancing / COVID-19 guidelines. Overall, offices that are adopting a split workweek between remote and offsite work are optimistic about improving general productivity while keeping employees safe!
