The recent pandemic has profoundly changed our lifestyles, and in particular the way we work. Repeated lockdowns and the impossibility of going to the workplace have forced the vast majority of employees to work from home.
Teleworking then became very popular and the number of technologies related to remote work exploded.
Video conferencing services Web giants, such as Google Meet or even Microsoft Teams, have seen their number of users soar. The video conferencing market grew by 2,900% in the space of 4 months at the beginning of 2020. In 2023, it is expected to represent more than 14 billion dollars.
It is thus thanks to these various videoconferencing, messaging, cloud technologies... that teleworking is made possible.
However, the multiplicity of platforms and collaborative tools can have harmful effects on the health of the company and individuals.
The proper use of technologies during teleworking represents a real challenge for businesses.
In this article, we will first focus on the various challenges and issues posed by teleworking technologies. Then, in a second step, we will share with you some good advice for a better use of these technologies.
1) The challenges of teleworking technologies
One of the main challenges associated with teleworking technologies is managing to maintain a balance between personal and professional life.
With teleworking, there is no longer physical separation between office and home. It therefore often becomes more difficult to distinguish between private and professional life.
The transport time that made it possible to separate the two and serve as a decompression chamber no longer exists.
In just a few meters, you go from your office to your bedroom or even to your kitchen.
The temptation to respond to emails after conventional working hours is often stronger and it becomes more difficult to pick up.
Ce lack of separation between these different moments is a source of stress for employees.
In fact, according to an Opinion Way study in March 2021, more than 45% of workers suffer from psychological distress linked to overwork and the stress generated by teleworking.
Moreover, it is not always easy for all employees to use these technologies skilfully.
Not all employees own not the same skills in terms of computer tools.
Generally, employees from Generation Y and Z are more familiar with these tools and have a good learning ability.
On the other hand, older workers encounter more difficulties.
Their lack of ease reduces their productivity, making them less effective than when they previously worked from the company's premises.
Moreover, these various technological tools can become real temptations for our concentration. Indeed, sometimes they are sources of distractions and disrupt the employee's activity.
Usually, younger employees are the most sensitive to these distractions. Interpelled by a Facebook or Instagram notification, they are then able to get away from their tasks for several tens of minutes.
According to an Odoxa study in March 2021, 18-24 people would feel 60% less efficient when they telework.
The lack of autonomy and supervision are the main reasons.
Finally, teleworking and its tools may prove to be Harmful to mental health employees. Loneliness linked to lack of contact Real interaction with the teams weighs on morale. The multiplicity of videoconference meetings affects the social bond and team cohesion.
According to a study by the Paris Workplace, 36% of employees suffer fromseclusion linked to the practice of teleworking.
This psychological distress is harmful both for their health, but also for the productivity of the company. A depressed employee is a less efficient and less productive employee in his work. It will also be more easily prone to”Burn Out” and aux work stoppages.
2) A few tips for better use of technology
First of all, as with a lot of problems, communication is often the key to resolution. As a manager, it is essential to communicate as much as possible with his employees, and in particular on the use of these technologies when working from home.
This makes it possible to better know their needs and to illuminate the gray areas. As a result of these discussions, they will be able to determine the right teleworking ratio per week or per month, and choose the technologies most suited to their needs.
At last it is good To organize Once a year, a Feedback to discuss, among other things, the workload, and their expectations.
In order to make up for the lack of IT skills of some employees, the company must be able to offer training courses.
These training courses can focus on the use of the tools themselves, but also on how manage your schedule when you are teleworking.
They can take place in the form of seminars or “e-learning”.
An assistance system must also be set up in order to help employees, at any time, with their IT tools.
Finally, the company must also offer a service ofPsychological support for employees in a situation of psychological distress.
Managing through trust is a good way to maintaining productivity of its remote employees.
In a climate of mutual trust, employees feel more considered and empowered. The manager must then focus on the result of the team and no longer on all the employee's behaviors since he no longer has an eye on it.
For this, he can offer the Drafting a charter with its employees to define the operating rules for teleworking, in particular the hours during which employees are likely to be reachable.
In order to promote the autonomy and motivation of everyone, the manager can list goals to be achieved per day.
Finally, it is prudent to be vigilant to work-life balance employees. This can mean regular phone calls with employees to check in on them and to ensure that their workload is bearable.
The simple fact of calling them sends a positive signal to employees who will no longer feel forgotten, but on the contrary considered.
Finally, the manager must be very vigilant about connection times and sending emails to make sure they don't work overtime and manage to pick up the phone at the end of the day.
M-Work is a solution of telecommuting management. This tool allows you to manage and organize your work week in the best possible way. m-work gives employees the flexibility that they want while allowingincrease efficiency teams thanks to an efficient and optimized organization. Users can thus visualize in a Claire and transparent the presence of their colleagues, and therefore organize themselves to better meet at the office.
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