Manage remote work during emergencies with HR software

As the global population increases and international travel becomes more common, there is a greater chance of infectious diseases becoming widespread pandemics. The world is becoming more interconnected. Diseases can not only spread at a faster pace, but they can affect a larger population. In the recent past, we have seen the outbreaks of SARS, Ebola, Dengue, MERS, Zika virus, yellow fever, Lassa fever, and many more.

The high mortality rate associated with these diseases is a huge threat. In a world bank report about pandemic preparedness, it was also mentioned that these outbreaks bring economic losses close to $570 billion. Currently, the outbreak of the coronavirus has been reported in many countries, including China, the US, Russia, Australia, Japan, the UK, Thailand, and Singapore. As a result, many people are falling ill or losing their live, and the global economy is taking a hit. During circumstances like this, it’s vital to both protect the health of employees and keep your business going. Organizations around the globe must discover different ways to maintain their company’s bottom line without putting their employees at risk. One way is to allow employees to work from home. This prevents diseases from spreading through an office environment while ensuring productivity remains steady.

The issue is that remote work can fail terribly if it’s not managed properly. Not all employees can work from home effectively. Employees may not be able to communicate with their peers, leading to misunderstandings. An employee’s sense of self-accountability may become distorted if they aren’t used to working from home, and employers might find it difficult to monitor team productivity.

This is where HR software can help. Using HR software, you can easily and efficiently manage your remote workers. Here are some of the HR software features that will help your dispersed workforce stay engaged and be more productive:

1. Time management

With HR software, employees can clock in and clock out from anywhere at any time. This will help employers track the amount of time employees spend working, completing projects, or engaging with clients. Employee attendance and timesheets are integrated, so payroll can be processed easily and employees can be paid on time.

2. Video collaboration

Virtual collaboration is highly necessary for your remote workforce. Employees need to stay in touch with each other to brainstorm and work efficiently. They may also have to communicate with their clients. Thanks to online audio and video meetings, employees can meet virtually and discuss different issues from wherever they are. Your employees can also share their screens with their peers and talk simultaneously with the built-in audio feature. During times of emergency, virtual meeting tools can be used to communicate action plans to your employees.

3. Internal chat

Employees and their managers should feel connected while working without having to organize meetings or calls. This is where an internal chat comes in handy. Different groups can be created to communicate important information to a team as a whole. Response times are quick, especially if the chat is accessible from an employee’s mobile device. This means informed decisions can be made quickly in the event of a crisis. When there is an open line of communication, employees also will feel more engaged and be more productive.

4. Internal feeds and forums

With internal feeds and forums, all your employees can be kept on the same page. Important announcements can be made easily without having to email each employee. Employees can also share their opinions and feedback through the comments sections. Discussions can be started any time, and decisions can be made swiftly. For instance, discussions regarding an ongoing emergency can be initiated to improve organizational awareness.

5. Employee self-service

Employee self-service portals can be very useful, especially for working remotely. Personal and professional records can be accessed easily without dependence on the HR department. During an epidemic or pandemic, if your employees need some information about their Mediclaim, they can just log into their portal and find the necessary information.  Information about their team members, including email IDs, phone numbers, and more can also be found easily.

Due to urbanization and globalization, the world is becoming smaller. As a result, the chances of an infection spreading and becoming a pandemic is very high. The mortality rate of pandemics can be enormous, and the economic impact can greatly hurt businesses. During such situations, employers can offer remote working options, which ensures the safety of employees and maintains business productivity. Employees who work from home can be managed efficiently if your company has an HR software system in place. It allows employees to collaborate with their peers, stay connected, and find the information they need—all from a single platform.

With Zoho People, our HR software, your employees can be managed remotely. All the necessary HR functions can be completed from a single platform. Learn more about our remote HR software here.