COVID-19

As you know, digital is the gateway to teleworking. Nevertheless, some companies are not yet equipped, if only to meet remotely.

The analysis of your needs and some short-term investments are to be considered such as:

• digitalising your 'priority' documents
• Easy backup of shared files on a cloud system
• The choice of remote collaboration tools to communicate and meet together

The health of your employees also depends on the prevention of teleworking accidents or somewhere else.

Nevertheless, there are also other reasons to set up a legal framework:

• Strive for equity by offering the same working conditions to all.
• Maintaining productivity at work
• Preventing any risk of conflict due to misinterpretation or abuse

To do so, define the framework of possibilities and limits of teleworking thanks to 3 essential documents: 

For any change in the company, and especially in the event of a crisis such as the one we are currently experiencing, it is essential to communicate with your employees on various 'health' aspects to avoid confusion, stress, or even panic such as:

• Coronavirus information and hygiene measures to be implemented.
• How to react to the first symptoms of the disease
• Facilitating dialogue with the occupational physician

It is not because you switch to full-time teleworking mode that you will lose contact, even if it is true that from the third day onwards, the effect of loneliness is felt. To avoid this, plan ahead!

In the office, the social link is naturally and spontaneously nurtured during meetings or breaks around the coffee machine.

Whereas in teleworking, it will be useful to organize your social life, to plan it so that the social link remains active.

There are many tricks and tips you can use to maintain the interaction:

• Remote meetings with an informal chat at the beginning and end of the meeting
• Virtual ice breakers to create a friendly and motivating atmosphere
• Phone calls instead of e-mails
• Informal chats
• Virtual breakfasts or luncheons
• Online teambuilding

As you will have understood, it is not enough to have the right tools to telework, it is also necessary to have the right attitude towards others.

It is of utmost importance to you that teleworking does not weaken the organization.

Therefore, agree on a charter for remote collaboration principles to remain effective and decide together on best practice including the following aspects:

• Technique: is everyone at ease with the tools or is training necessary?
• Planning: is everyone sharing their agenda in a transparent way?
• Attitude: how do we handle emergencies?

Making use of the above tips and tricks will allow you to start teleworking safely for the next few weeks.

However, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that implementing teleworking in a sustainable way in your organization requires more time, reflection, co-creation and training for all the actors of change.

As mentioned above, we are in Belgium fortunately not in Phase 3 of CoVID-19 and therefore not in quarantine. So do not cancel all your small group meetings for all that!

With Nest Your Desk, there are several ways possible to sustain teleworking:

• Schedule some time for online consulting to enhance your teleworking plan.
• Begin a step-by-step implementation process tailored to your organization and based on the tools already in place and what you are still missing today. 

We all hope that this extreme situation is temporary and short-lived.

Usually every company should have a "teleworking plan B" even if they do not wish to activate it. The lesson has been learned.

And thanks to this experience you realize that once the crisis is over it will be an opportunity to make teleworking sustainable and adapted to your organization thanks to all the tools suggested above.