Coronavirus: why employers
shouldn't be reluctant to allow
homeworking

The fear of spreading the coronavirus in the workplace has forced organisations to take a number of measures to ensure safety of their employees. One of the safest measures is to offer employees - where possible – the possibility to work from home.

Although it may not seem so, teleworking has some advantages for organisations as well. Staffing specialist Walters People highlights some of the advantages employers can benefit from.

employers shouldn't be reluctant to allow homeworking

1. Less stress

The Corona virus is on everyone's lips, also on the work floor. Employees are afraid of getting infected by taking public transport during rush hour, or simply by bumping into a sick colleague. The stress involved in this situation can have a negative impact on staff’s motivation and productivity. By allowing them to work from home, organisations not only reduce the chance of the virus being spread in the organisation, but also more or less reassure employees.

2. Better corporate image

Taking such steps is a good way for employers to show that they care about the well-being of their employees. In the short term this will put them at ease, but also in the long term it has a positive effect on their sense of appreciation and thus on the overall good image of the organisation.

3. Increased performance

By offering the possibility to work from home, organisations generally ensure a good work-life balance for their staff. Provided they respect certain basic rules, they can organise their working day in the way that suits them best. In an office environment, all employees must adapt to the same conditions. When working from home, they have more control: they can choose at what time of the day they prefer to work (early in the morning or late in the evening). This allows them to perform better than during the working hours they would normally spend at the office.

4. Benefit from available technology

Thanks to today's technologies, homeworking is no longer an obstacle to performing daily tasks from home.

A lot can be organised remotely: meetings can take place via video conferencing and colleagues can check the status of team projects via online shared calendars and to-do lists.

5. Alternation

It is important to note that such homeworking measurements do not necessarily imply an obligation for all staff to work from home every day of the week. For example, some organisations choose to have their teams rotate (every other week), allowing a constant presence in the office while ensuring the good health of all staff members.