This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
Working from Home: A New Normal Amid Covid-19 ¶
With the Covid-19 pandemic spreading rapidly, many employers have been forced to implement work-from-home policies to curb the spread of the disease. This shift has brought about a new normal for many workers, who are now facing challenges in staying on task and measuring productivity.
According to the government, Kenya has 320 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and the numbers are expected to increase. As a result, many workers are finding it difficult to adjust to the new work environment, which is often plagued by distractions, lack of privacy, and unsuitable working spaces.
HR managers are also facing a significant challenge in measuring the productivity of their employees while they work from home. Many employees are taking advantage of the policy to go on vacation, and some are even using the opportunity to engage in leisure activities such as drinking and watching Netflix.
"Our problem with this concept is that many Kenyans think working from home involves drinking and Netflix. Our productivity is low. I think it boils down to our general trustworthiness and our collective ability (or lack thereof) to work unsupervised," said one employee.
Chief Justice David Maraga has also spoken out against truant judges and magistrates who have been frustrating and sabotaging the delivery of justice. He has ordered them to conclude all pending cases by the end of May and to submit monthly reports directly to him.
Experts such as Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford economist, have warned that the global work-from-home movement could generate a worldwide productivity slump and threaten economic growth for many years.
HR practitioners such as Davis Tamba and Joyce Nyakundi have shared their experiences and tips on how to manage employees working from home. They emphasize the importance of clear communication, setting expectations, and allocating duties to employees.
According to Barbara Larson, a professor of management at North-eastern University in Boston, the key to working from home is clear communication with your boss and knowing exactly what's expected of you. She recommends having regular check-ins with your manager and setting deadlines for the submission or completion of work.
Other timeless tips for working from home include creating a dedicated workspace, dressing professionally, and treating the work-from-home experience like a real job.
