The latest on all kinds of information, news, and resources that help you make working remotely better.
10 ways to boost productivity in the workplace | Dan Buckley, CEO, Cognexo, Smeweb.com
High productivity means more output, and efficiency, with a long-term impact on business development. Operationally, it involves leveraging technology, optimizing workflows and fostering continuous improvement, enabling companies to stay agile, quickly adapt and outpace their competitors. But productivity can only be as successful as your employee engagement and wellbeing strategies.
Here are ten proven strategies to boost productivity levels in the workplace.
1.Foster a positive company culture
A positive company culture that values teamwork, recognizes achievements and transparency, promotes autonomy and inclusivity can significantly enhance employee morale and productivity. Celebrating successes and fostering a supportive environment encourages employees to perform their best.
2. Set clear goals and provide feedback
Setting clear, achievable goals and providing regular, constructive feedback helps employees understand expectations and stay on track. This clarity and communication foster a sense of purpose and direction.
3. Implement collaborative tools
Adopting platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana facilitates better communication and project management. These tools help teams stay aligned, share files effortlessly and streamline workflows, ultimately reducing time wasted on email chains and meetings.
4. Adopt flexible work schedules
Allowing employees to work flexible hours or from remote locations can lead to increased job satisfaction and reduced burnout. This flexibility enables employees to work during their most productive hours and better balance work-life commitments.
5. Creating a culture of learning
Providing opportunities for employees to learn new skills and advance their careers can increase motivation and job satisfaction. E-learning, workshops and training programmes ensure teams remain knowledgeable and engaged.
6. Promote health and wellness programmes
Creating a culture of openness around mental health is crucial. This can be achieved by encouraging transparent conversations and ensuring mental health is treated with the same seriousness as physical health. Leaders should ensure that no employee feels they have to hide their struggles or suffer in silence. Open door policies are essential in creating a safe and supportive working environment.
7. Utilize AI and automation
Embracing automation and AI is not just about replacing human tasks but enhancing human potential. By offloading repetitive and mundane tasks to machines, employees can focus on what they do best; creative problem-solving, strategic planning and building relationships. Tools like AI-driven chatbots for customer service or automated data entry systems can significantly reduce manual workload.
8. Encourage regular breaks
Promoting regular breaks helps prevent burnout and maintains high levels of focus and energy throughout the day. We have all seen the AI prediction of the ‘future worker’ – techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique encourage structured work intervals followed by short rest periods, can ensure this doesn’t come to fruition.
9. Optimise meetings
Meeting schedules can be streamlined by implementing strict agendas and time limits. Discouraging video calls and encouraging stand up meetings to keep them short and focused. Reducing unnecessary meetings frees up time for employees to focus on their core tasks and enhances creativity.
10. Encourage employee autonomy
Empower employees by giving them control over how they complete their tasks. Trusting employees to manage their workload and make decisions can increase their engagement and productivity. Autonomy fosters a sense of ownership and accountability. Focus periods are also incredibly effective in boosting productivity, as well as autonomy.
By incorporating these strategies, businesses can create a more efficient, motivated and productive workforce. Embracing both technological advancements and holistic approaches to employee engagement and wellbeing is key to sustaining long-term productivity gains.
15 Well-Paid Remote Jobs You Can Do at Night | Zobia Shazi, Maxmymoney.org
From writing to surveys, there are numerous options to choose from. Here are 15 remote careers that could be done at night to create a flexible yet rewarding career.
1.Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is a very flexible job that one can do at their earliest convenience, even at night. Freelancers are assigned projects ranging from articles to blog posts, web content, or technical writing. People interested in this opportunity should form a portfolio of writing samples, create a profile on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, and pitch to online publications or content agencies.
2. Web Development
The average pay for this will be between $60,000 and $120,000 annually. If working on freelance terms, the person can earn an hourly wage between $30 and $150, depending on the expertise level and clients’ expectations of difficulty in relation to the project. Learn to code with Web Design languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.
3. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative support to very busy business owners and entrepreneurs. One may be required to look after the emails, schedule appointments, or even run the social media accounts. Because of the nature of tasks and the level of expertise, virtual assistants’ pay is usually $15 to $50 an hour.
4. Graphic Design
Graphic designers design general visual display content for websites, advertisements, etc. then, social media. In this job, one could make an average amount from $45,000 up to $90,000 per year.
5. Online Tutoring
Tutoring can easily be done during the night, primarily if you work with students living in a different time zone. It’s possible to make anywhere between $20 an hour up to even $80, depending on the student’s knowledge and the subject or level of study.
6. Digital Marketing Specialist
Tutoring can easily be done during the night, primarily if you work with students living in a different time zone. It’s possible to make anywhere between $20 an hour up to even $80, depending on the student’s knowledge and the subject or level of study.
7. Customer Service Representative
Tutoring can easily be done during the night, primarily if you work with students living in a different time zone. It’s possible to make anywhere between $20 an hour up to even $80, depending on the student’s knowledge and the subject or level of study.
8. Transcriptionist
Transcription is taking an audio recording and putting it into words on paper. It can be done at night and requires ample listening and typing skills. Transcriptionists make anywhere between $15 and $30 per hour.
9. Software Development
Software developers design and maintain software applications. This technical job is flexible and can be done at any time of the day/night. The average developer’s salary is between $70,000 and $130,000 annually.
10. Copywriting
Software developers design and maintain software applications. This technical job is flexible and can be done at any time of the day/night. The average developer’s salary is between $70,000 and $130,000 annually.
11. Data Entry Specialist
Data entry specialists enter and organize data for companies. The particular work usually can be done flexibly, including at night. A data entry specialist could earn anywhere from $10 to $25 an hour, depending on how technical the jobs require your skill level to be.
12. Online Survey Participant
Participants get paid to provide feedback about products and services. Once more, it is one of those flexible freelance jobs that can be done even at night. A survey participant makes between $1 and $50 per completed survey.
13. Virtual Recruiter
Virtual recruiters assist companies in finding and recruiting talent. They can be done from home and mostly allow flexible hours, like night shifts. Virtual recruiters can generate between $20 and $100 per hour, even with bonuses based on successful hires.
14. Social Media Manager
Social media managers create content for and manage social media platforms. This job can comfortably be done at night because social media is an industry that never goes to sleep.
15. Translation Services
Translators are people who translate written text from one language to another. Depending on the client’s needs, this can be done remotely and at night. Translators may charge between $20 to $50 per hour, but specialized fields of medicine and law could be higher.
11 Effective Ways to Increase Employee Retention | Spacecoastdaily.com
High turnover rates in turn lead to decreased levels of productivity, increased recruitment costs, time wasted spent on training, and most importantly, lost sales. In order to avoid such issues, companies across the US are focusing on strategies to improve their employee retention rates.
Here are some of the most effective ways to increase employee retention in 2024:
Match Their Value
Employees “acting their wage” can never be a problem for a company as long as the employers ensure that compensation and benefits are aligned with what their employees are worth. By matching their value, employers can ensure that their employees feel valued and don’t seek opportunities elsewhere.
Reward Their Efforts
Recognizing and rewarding your employees can go a long way in helping them feel appreciated and valued. From public praises to bonuses and promotions, there are numerous ways to cherish your employees for all their hard work.
Foster a Positive Work Environment
Ensure transparency and open communication in the organization by communicating goals, challenges, and successes with your team. Employees should also be motivated to express their opinions and ideas freely.
Encourage a Work-Life Balance
Employees should be allowed to balance their work responsibilities alongside their personal interests and relationships. Not only will this help reduce burnout, but also foster a positive work environment.
Nurture Professional Growth
One of the most effective ways to increase employee retention is investing in their personal and professional growth. According to a workplace survey report, 94% of surveyed respondents stated that they would stay longer if their company helped them learn.
Practice Empathy
Practicing empathy not only ensures employees improve their sense of belongingness and connection, but it even helps businesses retain and attract new talent. Employers should foster open communication, be approachable for employees, and demonstrate empathy in their actions at all times.
Promote Team Building
Team building activities can help inculcate a sense of unity and mutual respect towards coworkers. When employees are provided a team environment where they have positive interactions with their team members and feel connected to them, it is more than likely that they feel engaged and valued.
Cultivate a Feedback Culture
Feedback that is both constructive and positive can help employees learn their current levels of performance, identify areas of learning and growth, as well as carve a path of development for them. Employers can also build stronger connections with their subordinates through open communication and feedback.
Reduce Employee Burnout
Engaged, motivated, and well-rewarded employees are more likely to experience lower levels of burnout than those who aren’t.
Offer Cool Job Perks
Almost all organizations today are offering facilities such as good healthcare and flexible work schedules. In order to be one step ahead in the employee retention game, employers can offer cool job perks on travel, food, car rentals, and more. There are many such services that organizations can make use of to offer employee discounts.
Below are 5 ways to check the authenticity of work-from-home job offers and prevent scams:
Verify the legitimacy of the company. Research about it and check the official company website. Make sure it is professional and check reviews of the company online for a better idea.
Be cautious of unsolicited offers. Cross-check the job offer in several job portals. Be cautious as genuine companies seldom send job offers without a proper application process.
Never provide personal or financial information. Avoid sharing personal details such as location, bank information, date of birth, and others to avoid security broaches before verifying the legitimacy of the job offer.
Use secure communication channels. Make sure you are communicating through a secure and trusted communication channel. Always be informed about privacy settings in the communication platform.
Ask detailed questions. Do not hesitate to ask proper questions and try to get detailed answers about the company and the job offer. Make sure they use a legitimate payment platform for salaries and provide written documentation of employment and company policies.
Worksnaps 