Remote working advice for businesses
In light of the Coronavirus situation, many businesses are taking steps to enable their staff to stay at home and work remotely. At TalkTalk Business, we are committed to helping you and your customers keep your businesses on track and stay productive. And as an established connectivity provider and advocates of flexible working, we have plenty of experience in enabling our own teams to work outside the office environment.
Here are some suggestions and advice that might help your business during this time. We’ve also included a selection of tips you could share with your customers, to help them troubleshoot any connection issues they might face and keep them connected.
We have also provided a downloadable template that you can use in your customer communications.
How to help your customers get the most from their home connectivity
Here's some tips to help your customers get the most from their home connections:
Check connections and router location
A good place to start is checking the back of your router to make sure all your cables are firmly secured at both ends and that you’re using a microfilter, if needed. To get the best performance from your router, we suggest checking it has the clearest path possible to your computer (the fewer walls the signal has to pass through, the better) and that no furniture is obstructing it.
Turn off and on
Try turning the router off for 10 seconds and switching it back on at the mains plug, though you shouldn’t have to do this more than once in a 48-hour period.
Reduce video streaming
Try turning off any devices not in use (streaming boxes, games consoles, computers etc.) to improve performance.
Try a wired connection
Most routers come with an extra ethernet cable already, so if you need a more robust connection, connect your computer directly to the router.
Use your master socket
Your master socket is slightly larger than any extension sockets in your house and can usually be found in your hallway or near your front door.
Reduce signal interference
Signal interference can affect your Wi-Fi’s speed, so ensuring there’s no other broadcast technology (streaming devices, consoles, cordless phones etc.) close to the router can help.
Change your wireless channel
Wi-Fi routers broadcast on a particular channel and if your neighbours are using the same channel the signals can overlap, causing connections to slow down. Depending on your technical ability, you may want to speak to your provider to guide you through the process and improve your connection speed.
Don’t forget to disinfect devices
Even if you’re the only user, it’s worth keeping on top of hygiene and maintaining a clean workspace. Antibacterial wipes or sprays are usually fine, but it’s always worth checking if the device manufacturer has any recommended cleaning instructions first.
Considerations to help your customers and their staff to work from home
Primarily, employees will need to be able to access vital information and documents to keep their business moving. So, the first question you and your team might want to think about is whether they have computers at home they can use, or if they'll need a laptop to take with them.
How can my customers access files easily?
Collaboration software like Office 365 can make access to work documents at home much easier, using SharePoint and OneDrive.
How can I ensure my customers remain connected?
Your customers may need to call their Internet Service Providers and double check if their connections can support home working. It’s also worth checking if their staff will need any technical information (server addresses, passwords etc.) so they can access the files they require.
What other equipment will they need?
Do your customers have office telephones with direct dial numbers? If so, can you route them to the correct mobile or home phone number for each employee? Other than a laptop, the appropriate software and an internet connection, are there any other physical or digital resources they may need?
How can I support employees during this time?
Depending on the work required, try to be as flexible and as clear as possible with the hours you expect your teams to be available, so that they can work their home lives around the job and continue to deliver for your business.
Tips on structuring for staff working from home
Some staff who are new to working from home might find it difficult to find a structured routine. Here are a few things might help ease their transition and adapt to remote working.
Create your workspace
Pick a space that you can dedicate to your work and keep it as organised as possible. Then, as you start getting used to remote working, you're already in the right frame of mind.
Structure your day and stay focused
Try planning your day as if it was a normal day in the office and keep to the same schedule you would do at work, including any breaks or time away from your desk.
Look after yourself
Getting up from your desk to stretch your legs, even if it's just walking to the kitchen to make a coffee, is a great way to refresh the brain.
Enjoy yourself
Working at home doesn’t mean working whenever you are home, so leave some time at the end of the day for you to relax. While you do have to get your work done, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun at the same time!
