Remote work is now the norm for many organizations across the country. Although the transition to working from home was sudden, many organizations have been able to thrive in a remote setting. With lower overhead costs and more flexibility for employees, many companies have even decided to forgo their physical office space and fully transition to a fully remote setting.

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While the idea of a fully remote organization can be an exciting step forward for your company, there are many factors you’ll need to account for to make it a reality. Here are five steps you’ll need to take if you intend to fully transition to a remote office setting.

Communicate remote guidelines with your staff

Communication is key for any business, but it’s especially important in a virtual setting. When transitioning your staff to a fully remote office, you’ll need to be transparent about expectations. For example, employees will want to know if they’ll be able to keep their specific working schedules and how productivity will be tracked. To ensure everyone has all the facts they need, have a written set of guidelines for employees. This will give your staff the clarity they need to thrive in a virtual environment.

Invest in the right technology

If you want to set your employees up for success in a fully remote work setting, you’ll need to invest in the right technology for them to use. This includes everything from the right infrastructure to the tools they need to communicate with their team. Depending on your current company policies, it may make sense to buy all of the tech equipment upfront and ship it to their homes. However, it could be easier for your organization to offer work from home stipends so your employees can buy everything they need for a great work from home experience.

Set up a virtual hiring strategy

A fully remote team means you’ll also need to consider a virtual hiring strategy for new team members. This goes beyond strictly setting up virtual interviews. Instead, you must take an entirely virtual-first approach, from the skills you look for in new remote hires to how you showcase your company culture.

Set Up A Virtual Onboarding Process

Along with a virtual hiring process, you’ll also need to create a virtual training program for all your new hires. This will not only help your employees succeed within their specific role, but it will also help them become part of your company’s culture. To create a successful remote onboarding process, you’ll need to educate your new employees on the organization’s core values, as well as provide videos or screen shares of any tech they may need to use. This will ensure your new employees are equipped to make a substantial impact from the start.

Maintain Company Culture

Just because you are working remotely, doesn’t mean that company culture should take a step back. In fact, it may be more important than ever to maintain your company’s culture to keep your employees connected. There are a variety of ways you can do this, whether it be through virtual team building activities or even offsite retreats. By creating a strong remote company culture, employee engagement, productivity, and retention is certain to go up.