What is a remote or hybrid work policy, and why is it essential to establish one?
It's important to note that it's ok to still be figuring this all out! As businesses, we are all adapting to the new normal, and it helps to be transparent with employees. Remote work policies can come with a caveat that this is new territory and that you might need to tweak and adjust as you go along. As we will see, bringing your employees into the process can help retain the spirit of camaraderie and is a crucial step to ensure any policy works for as many team members as possible.Hybrid working offers an exciting new chance to reinvent the way we work. By creating a policy that reflects your team's input, you demonstrate trust in your staff to do what is best for their productivity and wellbeing. When done right, both employee and employer can reap the benefits for years to come. But where should you start when trying to shape the future of your business in the hybrid working world?
7 steps for shaping a remote or hybrid work policy
1. Get feedback from focus groups
2. Refine ideas with management
3. Outline the tools co-workers will need to work effectively from home
4. Consider company culture and career development
5. Seek legal advice
6. Reveal your remote work policy
7. Re-evaluate your remote work policy
What should be inside your remote or hybrid work policy?
No two businesses are the same, and each organization will have specific needs for their remote work policy. However, the following themes are typically included in most companies' policies.
Clarification on the who's, why's, where's and when's
Working hours
Equipment
Cybersecurity
Communication
Legal rights and responsibilities
Career development
Making space within your remote work policy to address how managers will check in to discuss career development can also help assuage these concerns, as can creating occasions to celebrate people's achievements and contributions. Setting up virtual and in-person all-hands meetings or offsites are just two methods of showing your employees their work counts.