Northern lights up the work-from-home workplace
The upstate New York cooperative sets clear expectations and follows up with remote employees to ensure success in its WFH arrangement.
Since the coronavirus pandemic forced Northern Credit Union ($410.7M, Watertown, NY) to send home staff members, the North Country cooperative has learned a lot about how to ensure a high level of service and security even in a work-from-home arrangement.
Here, Jessica Ridsdale — an 18-year Northern employee who became senior vice president of human resources, training, and compliance in February 2019 — shares a few of those lessons.
What was it like sending people home at the onset of the pandemic?
Jessica Ridsdale: When the pandemic began, we closed our relationship centers for all but appointments only and set up the ability for employees in all areas of the organization to work remotely. For everyone’s safety, we had to move quickly. Our CEO and some senior team members were onsite helping employees pack up their workstations to take home. Our IT team was readily accessible over the phone to help employees set up their equipment at home.
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