Although working remotely has been a thing for a long time now, it never really got any real traction until COVID-19 hit every country in the world.
With the forced confinement that prevents people from going to their office, what were once on-site staff became remote workers overnight.
And as beneficial as the setup may be for you and your employees, communication issues are still seen as a huge problem. Most businesses don’t have a system in place to address those gaps that were created because none of your staff is actually in the same room anymore.
That’s why VoIP services like those provided by Telnum are very much needed to ensure continued smooth operations.
But did you know that doing so helps not only you but also the remote workers themselves? Here are a few ways that VoIP is the best thing you can do for them AND for you:
It makes them happier
Because they’re working remotely, it can be harder for you to monitor employee morale. But just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a potential problem.
That’s why we highly encourage people in management positions to ensure there’s a way for them to provide feedback. As you already know, happy employees are more likely to be more productive too.
By letting them continue their job on a remote work arrangement, that’s exactly what you’re doing! You’re giving them more time to spend on themselves and their family, keeping them from the harsh daily commute, and indirectly protecting them from being exposed to COVID-19.
However, sustaining a work-from-home arrangement may not be possible if you don’t have a solid communication system in place to aid the transition.
Before, just having computers could have done the job since they can just slide to the next cubicle to reach their coworkers. That won’t do the trick anymore.
So keep them happy. VoIP will definitely be effective in that endeavor.
It will give them less work to deal with.
One of the most popular benefits of VoIP is its ability to let you slash your phone bill by as much as 90%. But as the owner of a company, you have the power to redistribute that benefit so that your remote staff enjoys it as well.
If you feel that your staff is working overtime too much, you could hire another person to help with the workload. As a result, everyone will have less work.
And you might be thinking that this is a waste of company resources. After all, why would you hire an additional person when the current staff is already able to do the job?
Anyone would tell you, an overworked staff can only serve you for so long. Without addressing this issue, your employee turnover rate could skyrocket.
Meanwhile, those who decide to stay would have even more work in their hands. While you’re looking for a replacement for those who quit, they’ll be extremely overworked.
Not only would this decrease their morale, but it would also make them more prone to making errors.
VoIP prevents this potential worst-case scenario from materializing.
It makes it easier to foster teamwork and friendships.
The bright side of remote work is that it allows them a better work-life balance. But it’s not without its own downsides.
For some people, remote work can mean isolation. Without people to interact with every day, it could lead to mental health issues.
That’s the problem when what you have to support communications is just the bare minimum. Although inefficiently, you can technically get the job done with just that. However, it may keep some of them pretty lonely.
If the only way they communicate is via email and occasional video conferencing, they won’t feel like a part of the team. Now, this is a problem because being a part of an organization entails teamwork.
Therefore, it’s your job to foster that spirit of teamwork to create a harmonious working environment. That may be hard without VoIP.
Because they’re dealing with inefficiency, they won’t have time to get closer to the other members of the remote staff.
This may lead to a loss of transparency because they don’t know how to address an issue with someone who’s basically a stranger. At worst, it can lead to fights due to miscommunication.
Conclusion
VoIP is crucial in maintaining a stable and efficient workflow in the virtual world. It addresses a lot of issues that are created because of the shift from face-to-face to remote, benefiting both business owners and remote workers. And make no mistake, this tech is here to stay. The only real choice you have in your hands is whether you’ll get it now or prolong making the shift
