Over the past few weeks, several companies have transitioned into a remote workforce in response to needs for social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While some of these organizations have had a smooth transition, underprepared companies are facing a productivity hit due to various challenges they are facing, such as the lack of technology needed for remote working.
In order to ensure a smooth transition into a remote workforce, companies should look into renting out flexible offices or coworking spaces to allow teams to split between offices, which encourages social distancing. Renting out space at these facilities also reduces financial risks for organizations as they typically operate on flexible, short-term leases.
Implementing the property technological tools is also essential when shifting to a remote team. Encouraging employees to move their work files to a secure cloud system ensures that their files are easily accessible in a remote situation and allows them to remain productive.
Security risks increase when remote working if the proper protocols are not put in place. Create specific guidelines for staff to follow, such as offering a work-from-home toolkit that explains how to securely access the company’s network outside of the office.
For instance, CBRE’s two-office strategy in Singapore has allowed the company to switch gears immediately. Activity-based work areas were repurposed for split teams between offices and technology implementation allowed for secure access to work files and the CBRE platform.
