Connecticut Business Centers

Human resources (HR) has the invaluable task of recruiting talent for the company, dealing with any internal problems and keeping employees engaged. Because an HR deals primarily with people, how the office space is set up can impact the way they do their job. This is especially true in this current environment, where everyone is mostly working from home. 

Remote work has been on the rise even before other things have happened, but now most small and medium-sized businesses have taken to this model (to mostly great results). A virtual workplace calls for adjustments not only to the work routine and business process, but also to how people communicate and interact with each other. This adds some amount of challenge to HR–how can they do their job effectively when people are no longer working in the same physical space? 

The trusted source of high-quality office space rentals, Connecticut Business Centers, shares some of the challenges–and opportunities–posed by a virtual workplace to HR:

HR Challenges in a Virtual Office Environment

There are a few cons to working remotely from HR’s perspective. For starters, the employees will need to be dependent on their own resources in order to meet deadlines and ensure consistent production. Essentials like good Internet connectivity, a decent computer setup, and unlimited power, are the standard in conventional office environments. But when everyone is working remotely, the quality and reliability of these resources will vary with each team member. If a server goes down or the power is cut, a dip in performance and production will soon follow. 

There’s also the matter of adhering to company policies. HR will have a more difficult time tracking any ethical or policy violations because of remote work. If a given employee is found lacking in performance, it may take a while before HR notices. And there’s the fact that working remotely can weaken the bond not only between employees, but between their leaders, as well. While virtual meetings and project management softwares can help keep everyone connected, there’s still no replacing face-to-face conversations. HR’s job is to foster solid relationships–something that remote work can negatively affect.

How HR Can Overcome These Challenges

But HR isn’t HR if they can’t tackle these drawbacks and turn them around. There are a couple of ways they can help to make a virtual office space successful. They can, for instance:

• Hire talent with great communication skills. Dead silence is the bane of every virtual meeting. Everything is just awkward, and nothing seems to move forward, when everyone is just listening instead of speaking, too. For this reason, HR should choose people who can talk clearly and confidently. This helps ensure that every video conference is lively and productive.

• Make sure to provide regular updates. HR can promote a culture of clear and effective communication even in a virtual office space by making an effort to reach out to the team on a regular basis. Whether it’s for reviewing what each member has done, providing feedback or suggestions, or congratulating the team for a milestone they’ve reached, regular updates can help keep them engaged.   

• Take advantage of tech apps. Technology is the foundation of a good virtual team. There are plenty of apps you can use to meet every need–from using Skype and Google Meet for web and video conferencing, to getting Microsoft Flow for workflow automation and Trello for project management. The neater and more user-friendly the app, the better. Using them can help develop familiarity between team members, while helping keep the work process streamlined.

HR Advantages in a Virtual Office Setup

There are a few downsides to remote work, sure, but there are also just as many benefits. A virtual office space, for instance, allows HR to hire talent regardless of geography. This opens up a wider pool of excellent candidates they normally wouldn’t have access to in a conventional office setting. Not only that, employee retention rates will also increase. That’s because the employee is not only paid fairly, they can also work on their own terms–an advantage they’ll surely enjoy.

The fact is that productivity hours are different with each employee. Some are more focused in the mornings, while others are more driven in the late afternoons. The flexible hours offered in a virtual workplace allows employees to work on their own terms. Since there are less time restrictions, their physical and mental health will be on point, helping improve their productivity. Another thing–a virtual office environment can benefit the company because it’s considerably more cost-effective than maintaining a traditional office setup. Anything that benefits the company is always a good idea in HR’s book.

About Connecticut Business Centers

Small and medium-sized businesses looking to stay mobile and connected without being confined to a conventional office need not look any further than Connecticut Business Centers. Our virtual office space solutions may be just what you need. They offer the best of both worlds–complete mobility to get work done without any hindrances, combined with a prestigious address and full connectivity, with access to meeting rooms and business support services. You have the option to choose from a variety of our programs, including Mail and Call. 

Our Mail program gives you a Class A business address, lobby listing, mail collection with secure old, and mailbox usage. If you want a professional phone presence for your business, check out our Call program, which includes a local phone number and a dedicated receptionist to answer your calls. All of our virtual office programs can be customized to better fit your needs. At a fraction of the cost of a full-time office, you’ll get the facilities and technology you need to stand out in your field.

Schedule Your Virtual Office Consultation

The highest quality office space solutions are found at Connecticut Business Centers. From virtual offices and co-working spaces, to full offices and meeting room rentals, we have got you covered. Just give us call and we’ll discuss with you how our customized virtual office solutions can help your business grow and succeed in the current environment. You can reach us at (203) 359-5600, or just fill out this contact form to schedule your consultation. Our offices are located at the heart of the Stamford, Connecticut central business district. We look forward to hearing from you!