How to Effectively Support Your Team and Balance Office and Remote Working

The way we work has changed for good. Since the pandemic reshaped the modern workplace, many businesses have embraced a hybrid model, combining remote work with time in the office. Integrating home working can positively impact a business by attracting top talent, offering greater flexibility, and enhancing operational efficiency, making it a strategic move for business growth and competitiveness.

But with this shift comes a new set of challenges for HR teams and managers alike. How can businesses support employees working from home while maintaining productivity, engagement, and wellbeing? And how do you strike the right balance between home and office life?

Home Working

Home working, often referred to as remote working or working from home, has rapidly become a standard part of modern employment. Thanks to advances in technology and a growing demand for flexible working arrangements, more employees than ever are able to perform their jobs from the comfort of their own homes. This shift offers significant advantages, such as improved work life balance, reduced commuting time, and the ability to tailor your work environment to your personal preferences.

However, home working also comes with its own set of challenges. Employees may find it harder to stay connected with colleagues, manage distractions, or separate work from home life. The key to making the most of home working is to leverage the benefits, like flexibility and autonomy, while proactively addressing potential drawbacks. By using technology to stay in touch with your team and setting up routines that support both your work and personal life, you can enjoy the advantages of home working while maintaining strong connections with your colleagues and your company.

The Benefits of Working from Home

Working from home offers a range of benefits for both employers and employees:

  • Increased productivity – Without the distractions of a busy office or lengthy commutes, many employees report higher output.
  • Improved work-life balance – Employees gain more flexibility to structure their day, reducing stress and increasing satisfaction.
  • Reduced overheads – Businesses can save money on office space and resources.
  • Wider talent pool – Employers can recruit talent from anywhere in the UK (or beyond), no longer restricted by geography.
  • Better service for customers – Flexible working arrangements allow businesses to accommodate various schedules and serve customers in different time zones more effectively.
  • Greater sense of freedom – Working from home provides employees with more autonomy and the freedom to manage their work environment and schedule.

But it’s not without challenges. Remote working can lead to communication issues, isolation, and difficulties in managing performance, unless the right systems are in place.

The HR Challenge: Supporting Remote Teams

Supporting a remote or hybrid workforce requires more than just letting employees log in from home. Employers have a legal obligation to consider employee requests for flexible work arrangements, such as home working. A well-structured organisation can foster a sense of community and reduce feelings of isolation among remote staff by promoting regular communication and team engagement. HR leaders must develop a clear strategy that addresses:

1. Clear Communication

Working remotely can quickly become frustrating if communication channels aren’t smooth. It’s vital to:

  • Set clear expectations on working hours and availability
  • Use collaborative tools (like Microsoft Teams or Slack)
  • Encourage regular check-ins with line managers
  • Schedule regular phone calls to ensure staff stay connected and supported while working remotely

Activ People HR supports this by giving HR teams and managers access to centralised employee data, shared documents, and communications, ensuring everyone stays aligned.

2. Performance Management

Tracking performance from a distance is one of the biggest challenges of remote working. It’s essential to:

  • Set clear, measurable goals
  • Review performance regularly
  • Provide feedback and recognition

With Activ People HR’s performance management module, managers can schedule 1-to-1 reviews, track objectives, and keep a record of progress, all in one place.

3. Wellbeing & Mental Health

Remote work can be isolating, especially if employees feel cut off from the wider team. It’s important to recognise and address feelings of isolation and stress to improve overall wellbeing. Some employees may be struggling with mental health challenges or managing work-life boundaries while working remotely. HR should help employees deal with challenges such as loneliness or distractions at home. Additionally, providing necessary support and accommodations for employees with a disability can be more challenging when working from home. HR can help by:

  • Encouraging regular video catch-ups
  • Promoting mental health resources
  • Training managers to spot signs of burnout

Activ People HR makes it easy to manage training records and track completion of wellbeing workshops or mental health awareness courses.

4. Absence Management

It’s important to monitor absence trends across both remote and in-office workers. A remote worker could still be off sick and that absence needs recording just as diligently as any other.

With Activ People HR’s absence management tools, businesses can track leave types, identify absence patterns, and ensure return-to-work processes are followed. Tracking absences and leave on a week-by-week basis is essential to maintain accurate records and ensure compliance.

Hybrid Work: Balancing Office and Remote Days

Many businesses are adopting hybrid models, with employees splitting time between home and office. This offers flexibility, but requires careful coordination. To manage work-life balance effectively in a hybrid model, it’s important to set boundaries between work and personal time. Communicate with other members of your household to minimise distractions during remote work days. Establish a routine to shut down your workspace at the end of the workday, helping to create clear boundaries between your professional and personal life.

Here’s how HR teams can support hybrid models effectively:

  • Use shared calendars: Tools like the department calendar view in Activ People HR help teams coordinate office days and prevent overcrowding or underuse of workspace.
  • Set clear hybrid policies: Define expectations around remote vs office days. Activ People HR allows you to store and share company policies in one central hub.
  • Monitor engagement: Undergo regular check-ins and employee 1-1s to identify how employees are feeling. Are they thriving remotely or craving more in-person connection?
  • Foster inclusion: Make sure remote workers have the same access to opportunities, development, and promotions as office-based colleagues.
  • Remind employees to take regular breaks and respect work hours: Encourage staff to remember boundaries and healthy practices to prevent burnout and support mental wellbeing.
  • Establish a consistent routine: Promote the importance of a daily routine to help differentiate work and personal life, reduce stress, and maintain motivation.
  • Schedule short breaks every hour: Advise employees to take brief breaks each hour to refresh and maintain focus throughout the workday.
  • Incorporate exercising into daily routines: Suggest adding regular exercising, such as a morning walk or pre-work stretch, to improve health and support work-life balance.

Setting Boundaries for Productivity

One of the most important aspects of successful home working is setting clear boundaries. Without the physical separation of an office, it’s easy for work to spill over into your personal life, or for household distractions to interrupt your working day. To maintain productivity and a healthy work life balance, it’s essential to create boundaries that work for you, your family, and your employer.

For example, you might set specific work hours and communicate these to both your household members and your colleagues, ensuring everyone knows when you’re available and when you’re off the clock. Creating a dedicated workspace, even if it’s just a corner of a room, can help you mentally switch into work mode and stay motivated throughout the day. It’s also important to schedule regular breaks and set limits on overtime, so you don’t risk burnout. By prioritising your needs and being clear about your boundaries, you can stay focused, productive, and maintain a positive balance between your work and home life.

Tax Relief for Remote Workers

If you’re working remotely, you may be entitled to tax relief on certain expenses that are necessary for your job. This can include the cost of equipment like computers, phones, or office furniture, as well as software and even a portion of your home’s running costs, such as electricity or internet. To benefit from tax relief, it’s important to keep detailed records of your work-related expenses and understand which items are eligible under current tax rules.

Employers in the UK may also offer tax relief schemes or reimbursement programs to help cover the costs of home working, so it’s worth checking with your employer to see what support is available. By taking advantage of tax relief, you can reduce your overall tax bill and make home working more cost-effective. Make sure to review the latest guidance from HMRC or your local tax authority, and don’t hesitate to seek advice if you’re unsure about the process. This way, you can ensure you’re making the most of the benefits available to remote workers.

Top Tips for Supporting Home-Based Employees

  1. Set them up for success – Provide the equipment they need to work comfortably and securely.
  2. Trust your team – Avoid micromanagement. Focus on output, not hours at the screen.
  3. Create connection – Use virtual coffee chats or team games to maintain morale.
  4. Encourage boundaries – Help employees avoid burnout by promoting healthy work-life habits.
  5. Use the right tools – HR software like Activ People HR can centralise everything, from policies to performance reviews.
  6. Promote skills development – Encourage employees to upgrade their skills through online learning and training opportunities, helping them adapt to new challenges and enhance their capabilities.
  7. Search for online events and courses – Support staff development by using an event finder tool to search for relevant online events and courses that match employees’ needs and interests.

HR’s Role in Shaping the Future of Work

Remote and hybrid working are here to stay. The most successful companies will be those that embrace flexibility while still supporting employees with the right structures and tools. HR plays a critical role in designing this new way of working and with the support of intuitive software like Activ People HR, it becomes much easier to manage. From absence management and performance tracking to policy sharing and department calendars, we help make HR simple, no matter where your people work.