When I first thought about this article, many of us were
scrambling to prepare for our workforces to begin working remotely as states
were shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward a few months and we are still
working from home. Some states are even
considering shutting down again.
Many offices were already set up for telecommuting, as was ours
and the transition wasn’t difficult. Our
phone calls come in via email, that includes a recording of the message as well
as a text message, we connect to email and files over a virtual private network
(VPN), and we all have computers and printers in our home offices. There was no
lag time working remotely. We stay in
touch with email, cell phones and monthly Zoom staff meetings. No more than two
people are in the office at one time and everyone has hand sanitizer. Masks are required in common areas and by all
visitors.
Some of you let your employees work from home as long as their
work can be done remotely and there’s a good Internet connection. While most don’t allow employees to take
office equipment home, some allow employees to use their own equipment or they provide
a laptop and monitor. Employees who have
to make outbound calls or receive inbound calls, leave their work phone number
as a call back number and use the voice mail to email platform or other
software.
Remote workers have productivity goals in place and
employees must be at 100% productivity or greater. Some lucky workers have flex time, which
works well for those with spouses or children at home.
Linda Patry, CRCE, President of the AAHAM Virginia Chapter
and Director of Patient Financial Services at Mary Washington Healthcare instituted
telework for her team earlier this year. She shared her productivity techniques
below:
“If someone has a job where it’s hard to measure
productivity, we ask the Associate to keep a list of work they do every day,
which they pass onto their Supervisor at the end of the week. They are expected
to be readily available via phone or instant message. We report out on productivity to each
Associate weekly. Managers and Directors are copied on those emails as
well. Each Supervisor (who also works
from home) has a quick morning meeting with their team members to ensure that
everyone is doing well and has no questions or issues. Supervisors must
also distribute a list of work/projects they have done over the week.”
If you or your facility is considering telework, here are
some tips on what you need to set up a home office:
·
A designated area or room to separate home from
work as well as add privacy
·
A comfortable desk with space to spread out
·
Sufficient lighting
·
USB and electrical outlets
·
A strong Wi-Fi signal
·
Sufficient Internet speed, the more, the better
(at least 3 Mbps)
·
A desktop or laptop computer with a built-in
webcam, microphone and speakers
·
A telephone headset is helpful if you are on the
phone a lot
·
A printer with extra paper and toner
·
A file cabinet or mobile file drawers
·
A green plant to bring a touch of nature inside
and also to help clean the air
·
An uncluttered wall or area to use as a back
drop for videoconferencing
The benefits of working from home are many:
No Commute
No commute equals no wasted time! The average full-time worker spends an
average of 4.35 hours a week or 200 hours+ a year commuting. It saves money on gas and wear and tear on
your car and is good for the environment.
Healthy Meals
Working from home offers the ability to cook a quick, healthy
meal and saves money by not eating lunch out and opting for fast food. Use leftovers or make ahead meals. Stock your fridge with healthy snack options,
like fruit, nuts, raw veggies, cheese cubes and sparkling water.
Fewer Sick Days
People who work from home take fewer sick days and get
sick less often.
Wear Whatever You
Want
Whatever helps you be productive and in work mode, go for
it. Some people prefer to dress like
they were going to the office, others prefer casual or athleisure wear.
These uncertain times can create anxiety and stress. Maybe these times can also help us reflect on
what is truly important and add to our personal growth, be kinder, more
grateful and more empathetic.