11/04/2020
Working from home can be and will be very challenging, As the corona virus pandemic spread business big, medium and small will look at new ways to maintain operations.
This will drive new behaviours in how we will operate in the future.
The rapid demand for bandwidth will place strain on current networks and push telecommunications operators to the limit. Those operators who will be able to respond to the demand will come up tops and not only in the short term but, long term. Satisfying customer needs now will place service providers in s better position to face the future, this however, will come at a cost, CAPEX will increase, and so will we find new OPEX drivers:
The trend “Telecommuting “and” Work from Home” will become a reality. It is possible that a lot of people working from home now will continue to do so in the future.
This will enable companies to move form large office blocks to smaller, cheaper accommodations for those employees that cannot work from home, This will realize significant savings to organisations, it may also result in a drastic changes that will drive a new model in the PROPERTY market. Large Office blocks can be converted to SMART villages, housing shops, prep schools and day care centres while employees work from home.
Those employees that will be working from home, especially now during the lock down, here are some guidelines to follow.
This is not the exhausted list but, it will give some idea of what to do and what to expect:
ROUTINES:
• It is important that employees adopt some sort of routine, that simulates the working environment (coffee breaks, lunch etc..)
• Set up your work space in order to separate yourself from “Noise” and avoid distractions
• Start early- Same as if you would have working from the office
• Act as if you are going to work
• Structure your day
• Maintain contact with your team
• Fight off the temptation to eat or snack all day
• Build flexibility into your daily routine- still giving the required working hr
ERGONOMICS:
• Communicate and share your expectations to all in the home:
• Make sure that you have a comfortable chair
• Ensure proper lighting
• Ventilation
• Limit “Noise” (difficult with children, dogs, neighbour drilling, mowing lawn etc.)
PRODUCTION
• Research has proven that production can rise between 15% to 20%
• input and output: quality is important in terms of what you pass on in the value chain: ask for feedback and give feedback along the supply / value chain
• Avoid the “Social Media Trap” –
TECHNOLOGY
• Technology can be most challenging-
• Make sure that you have all applications required to do your work.
• You have connectivity to the company network
• You have the proper safeguards and firewalls loaded
LEARNINGS FROM A PREVIOUS PROJECT
• Unauthorised use of company vehicle
• Drinking during working hours
• Unauthorised absence form work- unable to locate employees
• Theft form vehicles (where employees did not have proper lock up facilities)
• Transporting of family members in company vehicle (especially when kids had to be dropped off at school)
• Due to insufficient dispatching and tracking tools- a lot of time and money wil spent on new developments to track and monitor production and vehicle movement: Keep this simple
• Trust- trust employees to work on their own without supervision.
• Stay connected: It is important to stay connected to your team and your work-
o It is suggested that operations mangers do have periodic start up meeting via conference to do “Employee Health Check-in”
