Working remotely can be a challenging adjustment for some. But for the right person, it can be an excellent opportunity to increase productivity and become a more resourceful individual.
Companies such as Ghost and Atlassian have full-time remote teams with employees from around 70 countries. If you’ve worked from home before, highlight that experience in your resume to help hiring managers identify you as a potential fit for their company.
Work-Life Balance
Many people choose to work remotely because they want more control over their schedule and life. They can save money on commuting and take care of family or personal obligations without worrying about missing a deadline. In addition, employees who feel they have a good work-life balance are more energized and engaged at work. They are also more likely to be loyal and productive for their employer.
However, achieving a work-life balance isn’t easy for everyone. For example, some people struggle with social isolation when working from home. Others find it difficult to separate their work life from their personal life, especially when they are always thinking about their job. Fortunately, there are several ways companies can help their employees strike the right work-life balance.
Encouragement of Remote Work
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses shifted their workplace practices in order to allow employees to work from home. In some cases, employees may split their time between onsite and remote, while in others, they work from home 100% of the time.
While there are challenges associated with working from home, many employees say the flexibility and freedom of a work-from-home lifestyle is worth the sacrifice. In fact, a 2021 FlexJobs survey found that 79% of respondents said the lack of a commute was one of the most significant benefits of working remotely.
To ensure remote workers have a good work-life balance, employers should provide tools and incentives that make it easier to achieve. This includes setting clear expectations and boundaries for remote work, encouraging employees to check in frequently and providing training on healthy workplace practices. Additionally, employers can offer perks such as childcare stipends and gym memberships to support their team members’ health and wellness goals. Since every business is different, it is important to listen to feedback from workers to understand what they need to achieve a healthy work-life balance. It’s also crucial for managers to be transparent and honest with their teams about how often they are expected to work outside of regular office hours in order to keep them engaged.
Flexibility
Before the pandemic hit, companies were already embracing remote work to boost productivity. The flexibility of working remotely allows employees to fit their jobs into the schedule that works best for them. This means that they can balance work, family life, and hobbies. It also helps them reduce their environmental footprint by lowering traffic congestion and cutting down on air pollution.
Employees who work remotely can also choose their own workspace. This could be their own home office, the coffee shop down the street, or any other place that is free of distractions. The flexibility of working from home is also beneficial for those with children or elderly parents who need to be cared for during the day.
However, the flexible work model can create its own challenges. It requires clear communication between managers and employees about expectations and deadlines. It is important to make sure that both sides understand the benefits of the arrangement and avoid any misunderstandings that may lead to mistrust.
One of the biggest issues that arises with flexible work is that it can be difficult for employees to separate their personal lives from their professional ones. For example, some employees have difficulty putting down their phones when they get home from work. They might even be tempted to continue working at home, which can cause them to burn out.
In order to avoid burnout, it is crucial to set boundaries between personal and professional life. This can be done by creating healthy work-life balance habits such as setting reasonable expectations, prioritizing tasks, and avoiding distractions.
Lastly, it is important to consider how the flexible work model impacts the company culture and the team. This is especially true for a company that is new to the flexible work model.
In the long term, flexible work can be a great way to increase company morale and productivity. It can also help to attract the best candidates for a job. It is easier to find talented people when you don’t have to limit your search to those within commuting distance of the office. This allows companies to build dream-teams on-demand, rather than settling for the best person available locally.
Access to Resources
A successful remote work culture requires more than just a strong internet connection and file-sharing apps. Companies need to adjust their mindset, tools, and processes to support professionals who work off-site. This shift can be especially challenging during a pandemic, when employees may need to follow strict social distancing protocols.
However, a flexible working policy can help teams overcome these barriers and keep the work going. To make it work, a company needs to set clear guidelines on who can work from home, when, and how. It also must provide the technology and infrastructure to enable these workers to communicate, collaborate, and deliver high-quality results.
In addition to increasing productivity and boosting morale, remote work can cut overhead costs. For example, when workers are able to avoid commuting to the office, they save on gas and vehicle maintenance. Additionally, a company can reduce its IT expenses by eliminating the need for on-site servers and equipment. Lastly, the ability to hire remote workers from across the country (or even the world) can increase the number of qualified candidates for a position, which ultimately lowers hiring and training costs.
While the advantages of remote work are numerous, some employees may experience challenges as they transition to this new work style. Some of the most common issues include loneliness and feelings of isolation, as well as difficulties collaborating with coworkers. While these problems are usually short-term, they can impact employee satisfaction and even cause them to leave a job.
For many of these challenges, there are simple solutions. For instance, some employers offer support services and community forums for their remote employees. These resources can help employees manage their stress and anxiety while working from home, as well as connect with colleagues to share ideas and support each other’s work.
For those who want to continue working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a variety of sites that provide freelancers with opportunities. For example, Guru provides a platform where talent and clients can find one another to complete projects and tasks remotely. Similarly, companies can provide employees with free access to software and services such as Salesforce Essentials or Tableau.
Communication
Many people who work remotely are not full-time employees; they may split their time between onsite and remote. This flexibility is helpful for many types of jobs, including sales, marketing, engineering and IT. Whether you are an independent contractor or a full-time employee, having the ability to take breaks when needed and to work from a location that is most productive for you can make a huge difference in your life.
One of the biggest challenges of remote work is retaining and encouraging communication. It’s difficult to build teamwork and a sense of community when you don’t meet with your colleagues on a regular basis. However, remote workers can still connect through virtual meetings such as video calls or messaging on platforms like Slack. In fact, it’s important to focus on fostering these connections during remote work because they can make a significant impact on job satisfaction.
Another challenge of working from home is that it can be easy to get stuck on a single project. For example, marketers often spend extra hours tweaking copy or engineers might review their code to see if they can improve it. This can lead to burnout, which is why it’s essential for remote workers to schedule frequent and short breaks during their workday.
Lastly, working from home can be challenging because it’s hard to separate work and personal lives. According to a recent survey, 63% of managers said that they checked their work devices multiple times outside of working hours. This blurring of work and personal lives can impact a person’s motivation, happiness, and productivity at work.
In addition to helping companies save money by eliminating the cost of office space, remote work can help employers recruit and retain talent from a wider range of locations. In a time when many industries are experiencing a shortage of qualified candidates, offering the option to work remotely can be a competitive advantage for attracting and retaining employees.