Featuring:

Andrew Hewitt, Analyst

Show Notes:

Let’s start with some much-needed good news: Most information workers believe the fast and furious transition to remote work in response to the coronavirus pandemic has gone well, according to our PandemicEX survey data. This is impressive, as the percentage of full-time remote information workers in the US has ballooned from 8% to 69%.

But as the weeks turn to months, firms must develop a successful work-from-home strategy. According to Analyst Andrew Hewitt, there are four pillars to success: tech, culture, compliance, and structure. Of these, tech and culture are the most pressing concerns, with compliance coming in at a close third.

To do their jobs well at home, workers need access to tools for collaboration, file sharing, and security, especially VPN and multifactor authentication. For some organizations, new tools, such as videoconferencing software, may need to be quickly introduced and then reviewed for security once the pressure has eased off. There’s been an upswing in phishing attempts as hackers attempt to capitalize on employees’ heightened emotions. If possible, reiterate antiphishing training.

Culture is an incredibly important part of a work-from-home strategy, especially at this moment. Employees are under immense pressure, with many working long hours. Outside of work, lots of employees are caring for family members, some of whom are sick. This is a make-or-break time for your employee experience. By prioritizing flexibility and empathy, firms set themselves up for success now and in the future. This could include encouraging employees to disconnect from work, rest up, and use their vacation time.