One of the best parts of modern digital communication? The rise of the home office and the ability for thousands of employees to hold their vacation days and get work done even when they don’t or can’t make it into the office. But, a properly developed and supported home office is more than a couch and a laptop, and if you want to get the most out of your employees when they’re working remotely you’ll want to set a few basic home office policies and also contribute some IT support to help promote proper productivity.
Company Tech vs. Personal Tech
The first policy you need to deal with involves the technology your employees will be using. There are a few options to decide between. Firstly, you can opt to provide computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, etc. from the company. This way your IT department can set each machine up correctly and you guarantee compatibility.
Or, if you prefer, you can grant each employee an allowance with the freedom for them to specify the technology they prefer. This way each employee can use a system they are familiar with, which fits their style, mobility, and processing power needs, and which they will feel responsible for. Be sure to specify minimum system requirements and have your IT team install the required applications on each device.
Dual Monitors, Recommended or Required
Dual monitors are shown to vastly improve productivity, and their mandated presence in a home office can translate into better performance. However, employees may object to the extra space consumption in their personal residences.
Connectivity and Video
Outside of hardware, software and its use will necessitate certain policy decisions. Will your employees be required to be available on email during work hours? Should each employee be available for webcam conferences? What about an IM program? These policies, though they may be difficult to enforce, help promote instant communication across your company in the absence of face-to-face contact.
Software
Similar to hardware decisions, software is something that your company will mostly likely need to provide to specific team members and maintain over time with license renewals, IT support, and security updates.
Security Software
Data security has to be a priority, and that means that all staff computers, whether they are used at home or in the office, should be supported with up-to-date security software. Require employees to maintain these programs and make security updates mandatory and automatic.
Internet Access
A good home office cannot function without reliable and reasonably fast home internet. Your company will need to decide between allowing employees to use their standard internet packages as is, or providing a stipend to cover part of the cost of home internet.
Get Home Offices Right with Grundig
Home offices are a great solution for many employees who can’t be in the office each workday but who still want to contribute. If you want proper IT support for your business, including remote access applications, cloud software, and hardware support, call us today at 925-528-9081.
