Coronavirus and Business: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review

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A GUIDE TO MANAGING YOUR (NEWLY) REMOTE WORKERS

by Barbara Z. Larson, Susan R. Vroman, and Erin E. Makarius

In response to the uncertainties presented by Covid-19, many companies and universities have asked their employees to work remotely. While close to a quarter of the U.S. workforce already works from home at least part of the time, the new policies leave many employees — and their managers — working out of the office and separated from each other for the first time.

Although it is always preferable to establish clear remote-work policies and training in advance, in times of crisis or other rapidly changing circumstances, this level of preparation may not be feasible. Fortunately, there are specific, research-based steps that managers ...