Working remotely is the dream of many job seekers. It can be an amazing career choice for those who thrive on self-motivation and are able to avoid distractions such as household chores or a sedentary lifestyle.
However, building a strong company culture with remote employees isn’t always easy. There are several factors that need to be considered when implementing a remote work policy.
Benefits
Providing flexible working arrangements to employees and clients can save companies money on rent, utilities and furniture. In addition, it helps a company to attract and retain talent from a wider geographical area.
Moreover, remote work can reduce the risk of workplace health issues, such as stress and burnout. It also allows employees to manage their own schedules, thereby making it easier for them to find the right balance between work and home life. For example, they can attend doctor appointments or pick up a grocery order during the day without worrying about missing a deadline.
Employees can also take the time to work on their own projects, or spend the day with family. This flexibility gives them a sense of control over their own lives, which can improve morale and help with the recruitment of top-performing candidates.
A key benefit of remote working is the fact that it can be more productive than traditional offices, thanks to technological tools like videoconferencing and collaboration software. In addition, employees can avoid distractions like socializing in the office or going to the gym, and they can focus on getting the job done.
While the ability to work remotely can make it more difficult to build team camaraderie, many people report that they are able to develop better communication skills because of their remote status. This is because remote work forces workers to communicate effectively, rather than relying on verbal explanations or non-verbal cues.
Another major benefit of remote work is the elimination of travel costs and associated pollution. This can have a significant impact on the environment, as well as local economies. It can also improve access to services for those living in rural areas, preventing them from being left behind by urbanization and depopulation.
Finally, working remotely can allow employees to serve in a place that matters to them, which can contribute to the wellbeing of local communities. For example, a company can hire a local person to work remotely in a developing country, enabling them to continue to support the community they know and love.
Challenges
When it comes to remote work, employees often feel isolated and disconnected from their colleagues. They may miss impromptu coffee meetings or lunches, and they might have to deal with cultural differences between themselves and their coworkers from different countries. This is why it is important for companies that allow remote work to create intentional structures to help their teams stay connected and engaged. GitLab, for example, has a set of guidelines and best practices for how its all-remote team members can connect with one another.
Another challenge of working remotely is ensuring that employees are able to focus and concentrate on their tasks. They may have trouble separating their work from their personal life, which could lead to overworking or burnout. A study by Buffer found that 22% of people who work remotely experience difficulties with unplugging from their jobs after work. To mitigate this, it is important for employers to clearly communicate the expectations of their remote work policies, including who to contact in case of emergencies, what communication channels are used in specific situations, how often feedback should be provided, and more.
Managers and supervisors must also be willing to model the behaviors they expect from their remote workers, which can be difficult for some managers. The value of effective communication is especially crucial for leaders and managers, who must be able to relay their company’s vision and values to all their staff. In addition, they must be able to build trust with their remote teams and encourage collaboration and engagement.
Lastly, companies that have a remote-first policy must invest in the technology and tools necessary for their teams to be productive. This includes videoconferencing software, remote computer hardware, and secure file storage. In addition, they must train their teams on how to use these tools and ensure that they are accessible from anywhere in the world.
While there are challenges to all-remote work, they can be overcome with thoughtful planning and careful execution. GitLab has a number of resources to help organizations get started, including guides for setting up remote workspaces and training materials for new hires and team members.
Risks
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic forcing organizations to allow workers to work from home, it is important to understand the significant cyber security risks that remote work can pose. Without the proper technology, processes, and practices in place, remote working can lead to data breaches, employee identity theft, and other negative consequences.
While many businesses have implemented firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), and other cybersecurity tools, they cannot monitor what happens on employees’ personal devices and computers when they work remotely. This can leave them vulnerable to cyber attacks that may not be stopped by existing systems, such as phishing emails or ransomware that encrypts files or entire devices.
Additionally, many remote-based employees use file-sharing services to send and receive work-related documents. These can be a major source of cyber vulnerabilities for remote-based employees, as they often lack encryption and are accessible to anyone on the same network. This can make it easy for cybercriminals to access sensitive company information and steal valuable data.
Furthermore, many remote-based employees use their own personal smartphones to conduct business activities, such as calling clients or using the office printer. These smartphones are unlikely to be encrypted, leaving them susceptible to hacking. This can expose data as simple as voicemails to hackers who can use it to impersonate the employee or sell it on the black market.
Finally, if a remote worker uses public Wi-Fi to communicate with coworkers, it can be easy for criminals to intercept their data and gain access to confidential company information. This is because public Wi-Fi typically does not use encryption, making it an ideal setting for criminals to conduct malicious activity.
Managing a remote team can be more difficult than managing an onsite one, but it is possible to get the job done well and ensure that the right processes are in place. It is essential to set clear expectations for remote workers and communicate with them regularly to ensure they are up-to-date on all work-from-home policies and protocols. In addition, it is helpful to prioritize results over tracking hours, as this allows employees to focus on accomplishing tasks rather than worrying about how much time they’re spending at their desks.
Resources
There are a number of tools that help remote workers to stay productive. These include chat applications and videoconferencing software, file-sharing, and remote desktop access. Some companies also set aside a budget to equip remote employees with working-from-home equipment, such as laptops and monitors. Depending on the nature of the work, some people may need additional monitors or even a second screen to facilitate multitasking. Other essential tools are collaboration tools, such as an online whiteboard and a document management system. These allow teams to work on projects in real time, and can be used to track progress.
Other helpful resources for remote workers can be found on websites like Buffer, which offers tips for working remotely with a team. One of their tips is to use a tool called Pomodoro timing, which allows you to block out periods of time for focused work and take regular breaks in between. This approach helps to prevent burnout and ensures that you have a healthy work-life balance.
Another resource is Instagantt, a project management tool that helps to create a strong sense of team culture among remote workers. This tool helps to maintain accountability and communication, and is often regarded as one of the best remote work tools available. It provides features such as task templates, workflow automation, milestones and notifications, baselines and critical paths, and automatic project scheduling.
Some people and companies also focus on creating rituals to maintain a sense of community when working remotely. For example, some companies will hold virtual celebrations of company milestones or events, and others will encourage remote employees to share personal and professional achievements with colleagues on a regular basis.
There are also a number of online tools for remote workers, such as collaboration and document management systems. Some examples of these are Asana, GitLab, and Airtable. Some of these tools are free and can be used by individuals, while others are more expensive and intended for larger companies. There is a wide variety of options, so businesses should experiment to find the tools that are most effective for their remote team.