Security, Seclusion and Infrastructure - Three things needed for a successful WFH Experience
Both companies and personnel are struggling to create desirable working from home (WFH) experiences in order to get their work done and salaries flowing since last few months. In this article, we look at three important factors needed to achieve this desirable experience.
Security
The most important thing that concerns an employer or client regarding WFH is security. Since the worker is working from long distance, how do you ensure that your comms and processes are secure, and aren't sabotaged by any third party (due to a virus, hack, etc.)?
If your employees work on a windows machine, having a good antivirus scanner can be a way to solve this problem. Apart from that, having some strict policies and guidelines about what to install and what not could also be a great help. But if your worker is a consultant or contract hire, it will be difficult for you to have such guidelines.
What you can do in addition to above is to strictly compartmentalize your workflow so that you (as employer) will remain unaffected even if there were security issues at your worker's end. An effective way of doing this is to work entirely through web-based platforms only that accept GET/POST requests, and don't have any installable desktop apps on your worker's machine. Desktop apps, like Java applets, add an extra layer of complexity and provide increased security risk to both yourself and your worker.
The most typical case for a desktop app is having time tracking tools at your worker's end. You should refrain from doing this as much as possible as its also not good for healthy trust relationship with your workers (another key factor for successful WFH).
Seclusion
Having a secluded workplace where the worker can freely work for 7-8 hours a day is important, this is something only your worker can manage. Most common issue people face these days is the botheration from relatives or other occupants of the house. They may indulge in arguments and noises which can be detrimental to working in a focused and professional environment. A common way to solve this issue is to make a treaty with other occupants so that you may get a room entirely for yourself and you may not be disturbed for defined hours during the day (unless its an emergency).
Infrastructure
In most cases, this typically includes just a laptop and internet. Again, it could be challenging if the only source of internet is your home wifi router and your kid or parent is already using it to stream HD on Netflix right when you want to get your work done! Discussing the problem with them openly will help a lot. Maybe, you don't need so much bandwidth for your work, after all. Maybe, your 3G/4G connection is sufficient to upload your code or artifacts to your company's server through their web platform! If not, then one of you may have to compromise. Perhaps, they never needed HD in the first place and 720 pixels is perfectly all right for them!
The most important thing that concerns an employer or client regarding WFH is security. Since the worker is working from long distance, how do you ensure that your comms and processes are secure, and aren't sabotaged by any third party (due to a virus, hack, etc.)?
If your employees work on a windows machine, having a good antivirus scanner can be a way to solve this problem. Apart from that, having some strict policies and guidelines about what to install and what not could also be a great help. But if your worker is a consultant or contract hire, it will be difficult for you to have such guidelines.
What you can do in addition to above is to strictly compartmentalize your workflow so that you (as employer) will remain unaffected even if there were security issues at your worker's end. An effective way of doing this is to work entirely through web-based platforms only that accept GET/POST requests, and don't have any installable desktop apps on your worker's machine. Desktop apps, like Java applets, add an extra layer of complexity and provide increased security risk to both yourself and your worker.
The most typical case for a desktop app is having time tracking tools at your worker's end. You should refrain from doing this as much as possible as its also not good for healthy trust relationship with your workers (another key factor for successful WFH).
Seclusion
Having a secluded workplace where the worker can freely work for 7-8 hours a day is important, this is something only your worker can manage. Most common issue people face these days is the botheration from relatives or other occupants of the house. They may indulge in arguments and noises which can be detrimental to working in a focused and professional environment. A common way to solve this issue is to make a treaty with other occupants so that you may get a room entirely for yourself and you may not be disturbed for defined hours during the day (unless its an emergency).
Infrastructure
In most cases, this typically includes just a laptop and internet. Again, it could be challenging if the only source of internet is your home wifi router and your kid or parent is already using it to stream HD on Netflix right when you want to get your work done! Discussing the problem with them openly will help a lot. Maybe, you don't need so much bandwidth for your work, after all. Maybe, your 3G/4G connection is sufficient to upload your code or artifacts to your company's server through their web platform! If not, then one of you may have to compromise. Perhaps, they never needed HD in the first place and 720 pixels is perfectly all right for them!
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