While technology may present opportunities, it does come with its own set of challenges. For firms that are not adept with such future-forward contingency plans, a significant cause of concern is the idea of data privacy – or the lack of it. With maximum budgets being invested in the necessary IT solutions required, companies are questioning the management of data and organizational security with their employees working remotely. The IT department of a leading chemical manufacture company went into overdrive to create a Webex platform for their executives (300 in number) to avoid continuity issues – and they were one of the first textile mills to shut operations. "We make sure to maintain contact with our employees daily using the infrastructure we have set up. We want them to understand that they will be taken care of, " commented a senior leader from the organization during our discussion. Some companies are also setting up VPN infrastructure for their employees to ensure increased security. Senior executives have narrowed down various platforms to help stimulate virtual conversations both at a personal and professional level, like WhatsApp for personal updates, humor, and healthy banter vis-à-vis Zoom and Hangouts for official work. Project management tools like Asana are also being introduced to keep track of work and timelines.
Although some companies might have pre-empted these situations and prepared in advance, this may not be the case for all. Employees who didn't have access to laptops or devices are being set up with new systems in their homes with shared server access. Most firms are also providing remote server access to all partners and department heads.
But investment in technology does not end there. One of the escalating issues today is the bandwidth of the internet available to sustain each company working online. Assuming most of the workforce is technologically equipped would be wrong at this juncture. While the majority of the senior management may have this access, ensuring the same throughout the firm may pose a significant problem. Not every individual has WiFi at home or even the luxury of a separate workspace. Most employees have also reportedly been using their mobile hotspots due to the lack of network capabilities. It doesn't help that the current network providers are switching between 4G and 3G services for sustainability – thereby hampering the progress of the work assigned.
How does the organization keep its employees engaged in this regard? Companies like Hewlett Packard are providing their employees with relevant infrastructure such as WiFi dongles and equipment for power backup to ensure uninterrupted internet connection and electricity, which can be unreliable in parts of India. "Our main focus here is to keep our employees engaged and feeling good about themselves," said Sailesh Menezes, Bengaluru-based senior director and head of HR in India for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, who also ensures daily follow-ups are done on video throughout the firm to maintain a familial connect.2 Other firms are helping their employees rearrange their schedule and are becoming more understanding with the distractions which may exist from one person to another. But is that enough?
Hindrances like these have led to opportunities offering sustainable software solutions to firms who need them. GoScale and Pesto are two examples of the same. GoScale, a Bengaluru-based technology consulting and engineering company, is introducing digital timesheets – auto-monitoring tools – which can log how many hours the employee is spending on their laptops working on the project. Pesto, on the other hand, is addressing the distractions at a more granular level. A Gurugram-based startup that is into educating and training remote engineers, Pesto is offering educational content on how to manage remote work and has already received more than 100 registrations across sectors. Their model 'Remotelli' offers sessions on the best practices to be followed to ensure the overall well-being of employees.3
"Indulging our employees to be productive for social media offers a two pronged benefit: one, it tackles the boredom and isolation as you work from home, and two, it offers a positive validation to both the firm and the employee.”
Although some companies might have pre-empted these situations and prepared in advance, this may not be the case for all. Employees who didn't have access to laptops or devices are being set up with new systems in their homes with shared server access. Most firms are also providing remote server access to all partners and department heads.
But investment in technology does not end there. One of the escalating issues today is the bandwidth of the internet available to sustain each company working online. Assuming most of the workforce is technologically equipped would be wrong at this juncture. While the majority of the senior management may have this access, ensuring the same throughout the firm may pose a significant problem. Not every individual has WiFi at home or even the luxury of a separate workspace. Most employees have also reportedly been using their mobile hotspots due to the lack of network capabilities. It doesn't help that the current network providers are switching between 4G and 3G services for sustainability – thereby hampering the progress of the work assigned.
How does the organization keep its employees engaged in this regard? Companies like Hewlett Packard are providing their employees with relevant infrastructure such as WiFi dongles and equipment for power backup to ensure uninterrupted internet connection and electricity, which can be unreliable in parts of India. "Our main focus here is to keep our employees engaged and feeling good about themselves," said Sailesh Menezes, Bengaluru-based senior director and head of HR in India for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, who also ensures daily follow-ups are done on video throughout the firm to maintain a familial connect.2 Other firms are helping their employees rearrange their schedule and are becoming more understanding with the distractions which may exist from one person to another. But is that enough?
Hindrances like these have led to opportunities offering sustainable software solutions to firms who need them. GoScale and Pesto are two examples of the same. GoScale, a Bengaluru-based technology consulting and engineering company, is introducing digital timesheets – auto-monitoring tools – which can log how many hours the employee is spending on their laptops working on the project. Pesto, on the other hand, is addressing the distractions at a more granular level. A Gurugram-based startup that is into educating and training remote engineers, Pesto is offering educational content on how to manage remote work and has already received more than 100 registrations across sectors. Their model 'Remotelli' offers sessions on the best practices to be followed to ensure the overall well-being of employees.3
