As the world continues to adapt to the ongoing pandemic, many businesses are transitioning to remote work as a solution to curb the spread of COVID-19. The new normal has radically changed the workplace dynamic, and the HR industry is not spared.
Working from home has proven to be useful in increasing employee productivity, minimizing overhead costs, and improving mental health. The HR department can also benefit significantly from remote work, and this article will discuss why HR should work from home.
Flexibility
Remote work offers flexibility that in-office work cannot. HR professionals can work from anywhere and anytime they are comfortable without worrying about the office hours. A flexible schedule provides HR employees with the freedom they need to complete their work efficiently while handling personal responsibilities.
HR personnel often work long hours, and the ability to swap between tasks and take breaks when needed is crucial for their productivity. Remote work allows HR employees to schedule their workload according to their peak productivity hours without facing the constraints associated with traditional in-office work.
Reduced Overhead Costs
One of the most significant advantages of remote work is the reduction in overhead costs. An HR team working from home will free up office rental costs, utility bills, office maintenance costs, and additional expenses associated with in-office work.
This cost-saving benefit of remote work can be a significant advantage, especially within competitive market environments. The funds saved can be used for other business needs such as employee training, employee retention bonuses, or upgrading the HR technology infrastructure.
Increased Productivity
Working from home increases HR productivity. Being away from office distractions such as unnecessary meetings, unwelcome visitors and noise, chatty colleagues, commutes, and so on, HR employees can concentrate better and be more productive.
Researches have established that remote workers experience fewer distractions and interruptions while working from home, leading to improved focus, output, and quality work.
Improved Mental and Physical Health
Studies show that working long hours behind an office desk can have a negative impact on an employee’s mental and physical health. Remote work has several health benefits that can help to improve employees’ wellbeing.
HR professionals working from home can switch between tasks, take breaks when needed, and work in environments that suit their comfort. Taking breaks, moving around, and accessing natural light are some of the initiatives that help to improve employee morale, reduce stress and anxiety, and ultimately improve productivity.
Attracting and Retaining Talent
Remote work is a desirable perk for most employees, and it is fast becoming a significant determiner of hiring and retention decisions. Offering HR professionals an option to work remotely can be an attractive perk for new hires and play a critical role in retaining valuable employees.
Access to a Larger Talent Pool
Remote work increases HR’s ability to access a larger talent pool without worrying about physical location limits. By removing the constraint of proximity, HR personnel has access to a more diverse group of candidates who have the necessary skills and experience to fill open positions.
In a traditional office set-up, HR personnel may be limited by the applicants’ distance, restricting their pool of qualified candidates. Remote work allows HR to hire employees from different geographic locations and demographics, bringing in unique perspectives, ideas, and cultural diversity.
Efficient Collaboration
If an organization invests in adequate communication and collaboration tools, remote work can lead to more efficient collaboration between HR and other departments. With cloud-based technologies such as video conferencing and project management software, the HR department can stay connected to other departments and relay updates, changes or requests.
These tools make the HR work process more streamlined and accessible, thus increasing collaboration, accountability, and ultimately resulting in better teamwork across the organization. Remote work simplifies communication due to the ease of video and voice calling, instant messaging, and document sharing.
Disaster Recovery and Continuity of Operations
Remote work provides an added layer of protection against unexpected disasters that can halt regular office operations such as natural disasters, pandemics or cyber-attacks. With remote work, organizations can continue with their operations uninterrupted, reducing the risk of significant revenue loss.
HR personnel can work from home, and their responsibilities will continue as usual. Businesses that have invested in remote work strategies can quickly pivot to a work-from-home plan in case of unexpected disruptive events.
How HR Can Succeed Working From Home
As remote work becomes more prevalent and standard, companies of all sizes and industries are looking for ways to improve their remote work policies as a strategy to achieve their long-term strategic objectives. HR departments face the challenge of balancing the needs of their employees and the business’s objectives in a work-from-home environment.
To make remote work successful for HR teams, the following measures should be taken:
Invest in appropriate technology infrastructure
HR departments should ensure that their technology infrastructure can support remote work. Robust communication and collaboration tools like video conferencing software, project management tools, and instant messaging allow HR teams to collaborate seamlessly regardless of physical location.
Set clear expectations
HR departments should set clear expectations for their employees working remotely. A comprehensive remote work policy helps establish expectations around remote work and guides the HR team on how to address remote work-related concerns.
Encourage social interaction
Working remotely can be isolating, and HR departments should consider finding ways to replicate social interactions in the virtual space. Hosting virtual happy hours, team-building exercises, and online contests can help create a sense of team spirit and promote social interaction.
Establish regular check-ins
HR teams should ensure that they stay connected to their employees to maintain an understanding of any difficulties or challenges they may be facing. Regular check-ins with employees, both individual and team, is essential to ensure that everyone is on the same page, promote accountability, and avoid misunderstandings.
Prioritize the training of employees
HR departments should prioritize the training of their employees to ensure that they have the necessary skills to work remotely. Training can also help employees adapt and implement remote work policies seamlessly.
Final thoughts
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of remote work to improve employee productivity, reduce overhead costs and improve employee morale. HR departments can benefit significantly from remote work due to its flexibility, reduced overhead costs, increased productivity, improved mental and physical health, enlarged talent pool, efficient collaboration, disaster recovery and continuity of operations.
With the right investment in technology infrastructure, remote work can improve HR operations, attract and retain talent, and result in growth in revenue. As the world moves past the pandemic and into the future, the growth of remote work continues, providing new opportunities for businesses to adapt and thrive in a changing work environment.