WEBVTT 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:15.000 Hey everyone! Ben Schmerler here. Thanks again for tuning in for another one of DP Solutions Tech Tips 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:18.000 The last couple of months have been unlike anything we’ve experienced in the past. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:26.000 Whether you are a worker on an assembly line, a healthcare employee on the front lines or a back-office staffer, your job has undoubtedly changed. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:31.000 At the time of this recording, some states are beginning to “reopen”. But what does that even mean? 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:41.000 Here in Maryland, one of the things it means is that gatherings must be limited to no more than 10 people. So there’s a good chance that even if you are open, many of your staff will still continue to work from home. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:47.000 In fact, some businesses have decided to keep some of the work from home changes in place indefinitely. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:55.000 And even with some restrictions being lifted, your staff probably has some concerns about their own risks in coming back to the office and what that will actually look like. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:03.000 So I’d like to offer you a few tips on adjusting to this new reality where your office environment may look quite different than it did before the pandemic. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:07.000 TIP 1 – Re-evaluate your technology 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:16.000 When the shutdowns happened, many businesses were forced to rapidly spin up a remote workforce as part of a disaster recovery plan when being in the office was no longer an option. 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:25.000 Many were successful in creating core functionality for their team, but they probably would have done things a little differently if they were given more time for strategic planning. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:28.000 The next time you have a technology planning session, nothing should be out of bounds. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.000 You should be planning as if you don’t know what other changes might be necessary down the road. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:40.000 Think about different scenarios that could arise and make a wish list of how you would like your processes to operate under those situations. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:48.000 Then work with your IT partner to come up with a realistic implementation plan to prioritize your goals and establish a practical timeline to make it happen. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:53.000 TIP 2 – Don’t stop using your collaboration tools! 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:59.000 There’s really no reason to stop having Virtual Meetings right now. And it’s certainly safer from a health perspective. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:07.000 Collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams allow you to share your screen and keep group notes to track what goes on in your meetings. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:17.000 While obviously some interactions must happen in person, you should continue to take advantage of the digital communication and collaboration tools that are readily available to you as much as you can. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:25.000 You can do so much more with your tools if you challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone and do things a little differently. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:27.000 TIP 3 – Be flexible 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:32.000 Before the pandemic, being in the office was an escape from our personal lives. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:37.000 However, COVID-19 has merged our personal and work lives together. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:47.000 Lots of home workers are adjusting to their kids, spouses, and sometimes even their pets being around all the time along with the distractions and interruptions that accompany them. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.000 That has required employers to adjust their expectations about how their staff works. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:58.000 I suggest you try to be flexible about the ways you work and the courtesies you extend to those you work with. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:08.000 Fortunately, technology is there to help you. And with the rise of hosted Cloud solutions for many business tools, allow your team to work on items that aren’t time sensitive at a time that is convenient for them. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:20.000 Times are tough and supporting one another is how we are all going get through this. Even small actions could make a big impression in the future, and reasonably flexible work from home policies can pay dividends to your work culture. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:27.000 What challenges do YOU anticipate in planning for a return to the office? What tips do you have for others planning to get back to work? 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:30.000 Let me know in the comments section 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:33.000 And as always, stay vigilant my friends!