The Covid-19 pandemic may have changed the way we work forever.
Almost half the UK’s workforce worked from home in April 2020, and many discovered that doing so can improve work/life balance.
Countless leading corporations have declared their commitment to flexible working patterns after the pandemic.
That doesn’t mean that all office-based businesses are likely to go fully remote any time soon, though.
Below we discuss the possibility of a hybrid approach to work and highlight the key tools employees need to make this transition successful.
Adopting a Hybrid Approach
Though many businesses have discovered that their employees can work effectively from anywhere, remote working isn’t for everyone – or at least not full-time.
Some employees miss the social aspects of office working while others lack an adequate home working setup.
In response, many businesses adopt a hybrid strategy that mixes remote and in-office work to cater to different working styles and preferences.
This will mean allowing staff to dictate where they work and how they split their time.
Hybrid working comes with various advantages and pitfalls. Flexibility over location and hours is now expected as standard in many industries and can help businesses attract talents.
But if leaders begin to prioritize office goers over remote workers, they could create a de facto class system.
So, it’s crucial that businesses fully embrace remote work – and investing in equipment and software is a key step towards doing so.
The Remote Toolkit
Various tools can keep remote and office-based workers connected and secure, including the five highlighted below.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN)
VPNs encrypt data so that files, personal information, and user activity are masked from others. You can get VPN extensions, such as a vpn chrome extension that specifically protect browser traffic. However, in some cases, this can leave personal information on the actual device vulnerable to cybercriminals. A VPN app is more of an all-in-one service, rerouting the entire device’s internet traffic both incoming and outgoing through a VPN tunnel.
Implementing a desktop VPN (https://nordvpn.com/download/) can help remote workers keep company and client information secure wherever they’re based.
Video Conferencing Software
Remote work shouldn’t come at the expense of face-to-face interaction.
Using Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Hangouts can help connect remote and office teams for work and social purposes.
Team Chat Apps
The same goes for instant messaging apps, which allow for quick communication without setting up calls or going through email.
Slack is one popular option on the market right now.
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage allows users to share files from any device and location rather than connecting to an office network with a desktop computer.
Project Management Software
It can be trickier to keep tabs on projects if people aren’t working together in person.
Project management software allows users to create, assign and track tasks to manage workflows and deadlines.
If executed well, remote work offers benefits for businesses and staff alike.
Could a hybrid approach become the new normal?
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