It is no longer business as usual. With the COVID-19 many companies
are implementing remote work and requesting or demanding their employees work
from home.
The Insurance Journal reports in the past, certain licensed insurance employees were restricted from working from home by a Florida law that required agents conduct business from their agency offices. But due to the unprecedented conditions insurance reps can now work from home.
“Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who oversees the Florida Department of Financial Services, has issued a directive allowing Florida agency customer service representatives who would otherwise be restricted from conducting business outside of a licensed agency to do so given the current circumstances,” reports the Insurance Journal.
“This change will certainly allow more flexibility and opportunity for agents during these unusual times,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s leading independent homeowners insurance agency.
Working from home can be a blessing and a curse. Below are
some tips to keep you productive and not feeling isolated.
Establish a schedule– Create realistic office hours.
If you have children at home, it is not sensible to think you can work the same
hours as a typical workday. Check your employer’s expectations but make them
aware of your limitations during this time.
Get dressed– Going through a routine of taking a
shower and putting on clothes will help your mind prepare for work, as opposed
to rolling out of bed in your PJ’s.
Create a workspace– If you do not already have an
office, designate a place to work. Place your laptop on a surface-a dining
table, coffee table or kitchen counter. Also, be sure to keep it as you would
at work, organized and tidy.
Make sure you are secure-Whether you are using a company provided or personal tech, be sure your mobile phone, laptop, home computer and router are secure. NBC News spoke with the country’s top digital security experts and they made the following recommendations. Always utilize the company’s designated communications platform. Install a commercial grade security software. Be alert for hackers and scammers taking advantage of increased telecommuting.
Check-In-Establish times throughout the day to
check-in with co-workers, your boss, your team. This will keep you organized
and on the same page. Even if you don’t have to check in with co-workers. Working
remotely can eliminate the social connection you have at work, maintaining that
connection is vital to your well-being during a time of already strained social
interaction.
“Send your co-workers a funny meme, joke or emoji,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s top independent homeowners insurance agency.
Utilize video-Phone calls are great, but video is
better. Communication is better grasped when you can see facial expressions. It
also helps deepen the connections with people. Check out Skype or Zoom.
Get on up-Be sure to move around and give yourself
breaks, check the mail, grab a snack, or go for a walk down the street. Get
some fresh air and breathe. These are unique times, but we will all get through
them if we stick together, be patient and extend kindness to others.
GreatFlorida Insurance is here for you. If you have questions about homeowners insurance contact us today.
