Now’s the time to recognise all employees… those who are going above and beyondthe expectations of the work environment, and recreating their workplace in their ownhome. It’s so important to realise and acknowledge the struggles your staff may havewhen working from home. Not only are they working their normal hours, but they arealso fighting their own battles. With their children, the world around them and withthemselves: mentally.
How can you ensure you are working from homeproductively?
? Manage expectations1. With Yourself: Days can run away with themselves when you are workingfrom home as well as looking after kids. Instead of developing a list of goalsdaily, it is a better idea to set a list of weekly goals. This way you will preventyourself from becoming overly stressed with expectations and targets, andyou will also ensure you are working both productively and effectively.
2. With your colleagues: You will need to ensure that your colleagues are awarethat whilst you are working from home, you are at a reduced capacity. Don’tworry though; many of your colleagues will be in the same position! Why notchange up your work hours? This will enable you to remain responsive andproductive, but when it is best for you.
3. With your kids: During this crazy time, you are working above and beyond foryour employer, so in theory, your kids should for you too! Depending on theirage, it’s important to let them know that this time is perfect for them to work ontheir independence. To ensure you are working from home productively, youwill need to guarantee that they know when it is okay for them to interrupt you,and when it’s not okay! Why not offer them treats and incentives?
? Share your schedule with your partner
Working from home while simultaneously caring for kids can be incredibly stressfuland draining, which is why it’s important to make time for your own self-care. Yourpartner may have varied work hours in comparison to you, and if so, it would bebeneficial to utilize them. Share your schedule with your partner! Timing andscheduling are key if working from home and protecting your mental health is to beeffective. When taking time in the day to play with your children, you should bephysically and emotionally present in doing so. Try not to think about work (when youcan, separate your work and home life). Create a fair and realistic routine. Stick to itwhen possible.
? Let kids be kids
Gather a whole range of toys; rotate them to keep them new and interesting.Remember 10 to 20 minutes of independent playtime gives you more time to getthings done! Working from home will also allow you to show your children that workis healthy and good for them! Watching you as an example, will aid their overalldevelopment and could potentially shape their future attitude towards work!
How can you recognise your staff for going above and beyond?
Working from home is stressful and has many limitations, so it’s important to ensureyou are rewarding and recognising your staff for everything they are doing; a simplethank you will suffice! If they receive good feedback from clients or customers, youshould voice that to the whole team. Working from home doesn’t put a stop toappraisals! Ensure everyone is recognised openly and purposefully! You can do thiswith us: Each Person…
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