Making calls in the home office: These video tools are even free of charge

Because of the corona virus, many employees work in the home office. The exchange with colleagues should not be too complicated. The following tools help.

• Because of the corona virus , many employees have to work in the home office .

• Sometimes there is a problem with the technology.

• We give tips for free video tools that are easy to use.

Video tools for the home office

Because of the corona pandemic * , many employees are currently working in the home office * . This is already routine for some, but completely new territory for other employees. Everyone certainly has - sometimes more or less - to struggle with the technology and the other processes in the work at home.

Read here: You should avoid these mistakes when videoconferencing with colleagues

Phoning is of course indispensable in these times . For agreements between individual colleagues, it is often enough to pick up the phone and clarify a problem. But as soon as several colleagues want to exchange ideas in a group, video chats are particularly helpful - the camera can also be turned off at such digital meetings (who cares) and can talk about audio in the group via headphones . It is best to always have a headset with a microphone ready for the switch.

The range of applications is wide. Here is an overview * of the most common free video conferencing tools that are relatively easy to use.

* This overview is only a section of what is available on the market (some tools are also available with additional functions in the paid version).

Video tools for the home office - more tips

Every team should ask themselves what is technically best feasible for the employees in the home office. You can get detailed information from the respective provider. Here are a few tips to help you choose:

• There is a practical function on Skype, for example, where the screen can be visually divided - this is particularly helpful in the home office if you want to show your colleague something on the monitor at a distance.
• The tool whereby is particularly easy to use (free for up to four people), it runs across platforms in the web browser. Only one person has to register, set up the chat room - and send a link to the other participants. Everyone who clicks on this link is directly in the chat.
• The free zoom app is particularly practical on your cell phone. There are only a few steps to the video switch: Open the app, "New meeting" (if you are the person who invites) or "Join" (if you have been invited). The chat environment already opens - if desired, also on the go.
• And another tip: In the home office, it is often a good idea to write to your colleagues via a channel via chat (for example, via Slack or WhatsApp) (for example, when it comes to the distribution of tasks) - and in addition and with yourself exchange the agreed times in the video switch in another tool. This makes it easier to keep an overview.
• After the first few days in the home office, every team should ask whether a tool is really suitable - or which alternatives might work better.
• But the following also applies in the home office *: Communicate with colleagues as regularly as possible. This also applies (depending on the arrangement) to the breaks, for example - just briefly let me know what you are doing and why you may not be available on the spot or by phone. Then the colleagues can adjust to it.

Also interesting : Corona pandemic - can the employer order overtime - and what about the vacation?

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* merkur.de is part of the nationwide central Ippen editorial network