Moe Vela, former director of administration and management for the Office of Vice Presidents, Al Gore and Joe Biden spoke to HRreview and said “from all bad can come some good” regarding COVID-19 and more businesses now adopting remote working.
Prior to the outbreak of the virus, Mr Vela supported the notion of remote working and is currently a director at TransparentBusiness, software which helps you perform whilst remote working. Mr Vela explained that the system monitors your activity, however, when you are doing a personal task you can just turn the software off. As TransparentBusiness website describes itself:
At TransparentBusiness, we believe in the amazing power of technology. Technology levels the playing field for opportunities, builds bridges, shortens distances, and allows millions of people to work from anywhere they want.Our platform is designed to help our clients increase freelancer productivity, protect client budgets from overbilling, allow coordination and monitoring of their work force, and provide real-time information on the cost and status of all tasks and projects.
Mr Vela has ten top tips for remote working, they are:
- Create a routine and make this you’re new normal. Self-discipline is required and set real work hours
- Establish boundaries between work and personal life, create a designated workspace and remember to practice self-care (that doesn’t include social media) but get your work done
- Constant communication with your colleagues and managers—important that communication remains strong if not stronger
- Loyalty is key—it fosters trust and remember your employer is worried about productivity and efficiency so do your part to mitigate that concern
- When appropriate and feasible, offer to do video chats instead of phone calls—-nothing will ever replace the value of face to face interactions
- Make yourself aware of software tools and solutions that might make remote work more effective and suggest that your employer implement them.
- Focus on the positive—no commute, better work/life balance and the comfort of home and use that positive attitude to work diligently
- Whether through software or just through updates, keep your employer updated on your work product
- Employers—use the resources in the marketplace like videoconferencing and remote workforce monitoring and coordinating software to mitigate the risks of a remote workforce
- Above all, participate in the act of transparency–it’s always the best way to go.
Mr Vela said:
If we handle this correctly, then maybe we can move to more of a remote workforce. However, employers need to coordinate in a non-invasive way.
Whilst part of the White House Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Government Council, Mr Vela years before the outbreak of COVID-19 helped to establish remote working as a solution to an emergency crisis that the US may face.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
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