The long term effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the way we do business don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Retail giant Amazon recently announced it will allow many tech and corporate workers to continue working remotely indefinitely.
The new policy was announced in a blog post, and differed from Amazon’s original return-to-work stance. Up until last week, most employees were expected to go back to the office at least three days a week when they reopened in January, 2022.
“We expect that there will be teams that continue working mostly remotely, others that will work some combination of remotely and in the office, and still others that will decide customers are best served having the team work mostly in the office,” wrote CEO Andy Jassy.
Amazon’s message comes on the heels of Microsoft’s September announcement that they too would be delaying their return-to-work plan indefinitely. “Given the uncertainty of COVID-19, we’ve decided against attempting to forecast a new date for a full reopening of our U.S. work sites,” said corporate vice president Jared Spataro.
As more businesses follow the footsteps of companies like Microsoft and Amazon, there’s a growing need to keep work teams connected. Here are some tips for working and managing a remote workforce.
- Stay connected using video conference sites like Zoom, and quick communication platforms such as Slack.
- Clarify expectations by having ongoing conversations with your team. Make sure everyone is clear on what needs to be accomplished and when.
- Get organized using programs like Dropbox and Google Docs. When everything is easily accessible, it makes future transitions like returning to the office run smoother.
- Set your office hours and stick to them. Creating a set schedule helps with overall work-life balance. The lines can often get blurred when working from home.
- Create a dedicated office space for fewer distractions throughout the day.
- Don’t forget to take breaks. Going for an afternoon walk or grabbing a quick bite to eat can help keep you motivated and avoid burnout.
Experienced Employment Law Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator, Investigator, Legal and Media Commentator
Twice-named a U.S. News Best Lawyer in America for employment and labor law, Angela Reddock-Wright is an employment and labor law attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and certified workplace and Title IX investigator (AWI-CH) in Los Angeles, CA. Known as the “Workplace Guru,” Angela is an influencer and leading authority on employment, workplace/HR, Title IX, hazing, and bullying issues.
Angela is a regular legal and media commentator and analyst and has appeared on such media outlets as Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Law and Crime with Brian Ross, Court TV, CNN, NewsNation, ABC News, CBS News, Fox 11 News, KTLA-5, the Black News Channel, Fox Soul – The Black Report, NPR, KPCC, Airtalk-89.3, KJLH Front Page with Dominique DiPrima, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, Forbes.com, Yahoo! Entertainment, People Magazine, Essence Magazine, the Los Angeles Sentinel, LA Focus, Daily Journal, Our Weekly and the Wave Newspapers.
Angela is a member of the panel of distinguished mediators and arbitrators with Judicate West, a California dispute resolution company. She also owns her own dispute resolution law firm, the Reddock Law Group of Los Angeles, specializing in the mediation, arbitration, and investigation of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace claims, along with Title IX, sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct conduct cases, along with hazing and bullying cases in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, fraternities and sororities; fire, police and other public safety agencies and departments; and other private and public sector workplaces.
For more information regarding resources for employers, businesses, and employees during this time, connect with her on LinkedIn for new updates, or contact her here. You may also follow her on Instagram.
This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.