With homeworking being thrust into the spotlight in 2020, adopting new ways of working has become more important than ever. For those who cannot work from home, you might already be starting to get back to working in the office as normal. For remote workers, now’s the time to plan your return to work. We’ve come up with some handy tips to ease you back into office working where it’s safe for you to do so.
Let’s start with some simple things you might have forgotten. It’s always good to hit reset – and this goes for your devices too. Your wi-fi, phones and printers will need a little love, as they’ve not been used for months. Unplug, reboot and reconnect them. We all need a fresh start.
First check your hub’s plugged in and there aren’t any loose cables. Switch off your hub and leave it for five minutes before switching it on again. This should give it time to get all the cogs whirring and your internet back up to speed. If you have any problems, check out this handy guide on how to fix a lost broadband connection.
You probably put a call divert or an out of service message onto the office phone. The last thing you need is to be on the phone to us on your first day back trying to remove them. Never fear; there’s an easier way. Simply dial #21# to remove the divert/service message. If you have any other problems, have a look at our phone line FAQs.
If you need help with any other connectivity issues, we have a step-by-step guide showing you how to report a fault.
A building left empty for a few months needs some TLC.
Crack open a window and let some fresh air waft through the building. It’ll breathe life into both you and your office.
Try to leave the taps running for around twenty minutes so you have fresh water – your morning coffee will thank you.
As moving back to working in offices is likely to be a gradual process to start with, make sure you take the time to check the latest government advice on how to make your workplace safe for employees with appropriate space for social distancing.
Coronavirus hasn’t just affected our working lives, our personal lives have been impacted too. Try to take some time away from the tech if you can; we could all do with a digital detox. Though there are many benefits of working from home, the lack of human contact can be demoralising. Working in the office brings chatting and coffee breaks. After seeing colleagues through a screen for months on end, spend some time with them face to face – following government guidelines, of course. Grab a cuppa and catch up.
You may feel slightly out of touch with the tech world. Maybe it’s time to brush up on your digital skills before diving headfirst into work? Our Digital Skills Training for Business programme has proved to be a success with businesses of all sizes. Why not give it a go?
Managing virtual teams is likely to be an ongoing process as we return to work. Our principal innovation partner, Dr Nicola Millard, looked at four collaboration conundrums to be aware of when working remotely, and top tips for managers to help their teams thrive. Don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go to plan at first. Allow yourself time to adapt to the situation. This hasn’t happened before and there’s no guidebook to how you should be working. Just do what works for you and your business.
Adapting to homeworking is an ongoing process. Take time to reflect and review what you’ve learnt from this time and how you can move forward. Are you able to offer your employees ongoing flexible working? Could more meetings be solved over email? Do you need to plan some team-building exercises to support continued collaboration?
Take time to reflect. Your business has been navigating new ways of working through a global pandemic. Our network has supported businesses across the UK to continue to adapt, but now we’re looking to the future. What’s next for your business?
