Project Management: Work from Home Policies

Are employees more productive in the office or when they have the option to work from home? To be honest, it depends on who you ask. Business leaders can't seem to agree on whether working from home is beneficial or detrimental to the company. One thing is certain, however: remote work is on the rise, according to the numbers.

According to a recent study by Global Workplace Analytics, 40 percent more employers in the United States now offer flexible workplace options than they did five years ago. Furthermore, 69 percent of employers offer ad hoc remote work to at least some employees.

So, should you provide your employees with the option of working from home? And what kind of guidelines or rules would you need in place? Let's go over some of the things you should think about when drafting your own work-from-home policy.

What is a Work from Home Policy?

Simply put, a work from home policy is a set of company guidelines that outlines how employees can work remotely rather than physically coming into the office.

Obviously, some jobs cannot be completed from a distance. If customers come to meet you at your workplace on a regular basis, for example, you must be present in your office. However, the data shows that the majority of people can work from home, with 56 percent of employees having some job responsibilities that can be completed from home.

Whether you allow your employees to work from home or not, it's critical to have an official work from home policy in your employee handbook so that everyone is on the same page.

Will Your Staff Be Productive Working from Home?

The debate over remote work productivity is far from over, but in order to achieve the best results, you must set your team up for success. The most important thing you can do to boost your team's productivity is to use the appropriate technology. When teams are unable to meet in person, they must instead collaborate digitally.

The best way to accomplish this is to use work management software that allows team members to collaborate on a single platform. Remote work will lead to disorganisation and a loss of productivity if you don't have a good system in place to gain visibility into your team's work.

Want to learn tips on the same? Go through an effective PMP prep today!