Remote employment has suddenly become necessary for many workers and their companies. Here at Alliance IT we have concentrated the last few weeks on helping businesses to adjust to the technical side of having a remote workforce. In today’s blog we will address the more personal side of remote employment – the struggles people face and the unexpected challenges to staying home.
While many have warmed up to the idea of working from home, others can’t wait to get back to work. These facts may explain why.
- Scheduling Challenges: For those who have never worked from home, the concept seems exciting. They realize they can sleep a little later, linger over coffee, take the dog for walks, even take a break and play with the kids. While these are all huge benefits, it is also critically important for employees to realize that setting a schedule is essential. For one thing, you want to be working when everyone else is working. But more importantly, people find out very quickly how easy it can be to procrastinate and put off work until later. This can quickly transform into working late into the night, over the weekend – all while falling behind. Working from home can be more flexible, but a schedule is still a must.
- No Separation: For years, walking through the front door meant that it was time to relax and un wind. Home was a sanctuary from the stresses of work – not the location for them. When the lines get blurred, it can be easy to slip too far into one position or the other. Some fall into a state of relaxation and complacency, while others find themselves dragging work stress a few feet to the dinner table. With no drive in between work and home to decompress, employees must find another way to separate the two realities. For most, this means setting up a closed door office, not to be disturbed while working. If you can mentally leave the work at your desk and shut the door, you are on your way to beating this challenge.
- Distractions Abound: Kids, dogs or spouses are the obvious distractions, but working from home can be distracting even for those employees who are single. The call of the laundry, the pool beckoning just outside, or the desire to cook up a gourmet meal and watch a movie can grab your attention just as easily. Getting your schedule in place and setting up a separate physical space can help, but it takes discipline to overcome.
- Guidance and Direction: Most people don’t realize just how much they rely on feedback from other people in the course of doing their job. Whether physically handing off a report, having a coworker look over your shoulder, or having a boss check in several times a day, employment usually entails cooperation. As much as being away from the boss seems idyllic, it can be disconcerting at first to operate completely autonomously. (Employers, take note: While its not necessary to go overboard, setting up a time for everyone to touch base a few times a week – even for just a few minutes – will help people to feel less remote. IM tools such as Slack can also help to keep the conversation moving. )
- Unclear Performance Expectations: Hand in hand with the above issue is the confusion which can occur if a manager has different expectations about remote employment than their direct reports. This can quickly mushroom into miscommunications, hurt feelings and even bad blood. Setting up a clear and concise handbook for employees will help to ease this problem, as will a frequent “touch base”, at least in the beginning of the arrangement.
When it comes to working from home, there are many amazing benefits for both employees and employers. It may not be for everyone, but for many it is the perfect solution to the changing way we live and work. Addressing issues head on is the best way to ensure success.
Alliance IT provides managed IT services for companies around the Sarasota and Bradenton area. We are here to help with any technical solutions you may need for your changing business model, including outsourcing and hosting of your networks.
