What is Remote Work and how do people remote working.
Remote work is on the rise. How do people work remotely, why do they work remotely and what are some common misconceptions about remote work?
Remote work is on the rise. While having the ability to work from outside of a corporate office has been feasible for a few decades, working remotely is only now becoming mainstream.
You may have even heard the phrase tossed around in casual conversation: “I’m working remotely now!” or “I’ve been able to travel and take my job with me!” You nod your head as you listen to these people extol the flexibility of their lifestyles and the benefits that they’ve seen in their professional lives because they can work remotely, but you still have a few questions.
What is remote work?
Remote work is a working style that allows professionals to work outside of a traditional office environment. It is based on the concept that work does not need to be done in a specific place to be executed successfully.
Think of it this way: instead of commuting to an office each day to work from a designated desk, remote employees can execute their projects and surpass their goals wherever they please. People have the flexibility to design their days so that their professional and personal lives can be experienced to their fullest potential and coexist peacefully.
There has been a cultural paradigm shift in what society deems to be an appropriate workplace – and remote work has capitalized off of that newfound freedom.
How do people work remotely?
There are a variety of ways in which people can work remotely. That’s the beauty of remote work – people can choose to work in a way that makes the most sense for their lives.
For example, some people have the opportunity to work remotely for the majority of the working week, but have to commute to in-person meetings at the office one day a week. On a typical day, these remote employees work from their home offices or nearby cafés and can work from their company’s office when it’s necessary.
Some remote workers take full advantage of the opportunities that a remote working lifestyle gives them. On top of being able to set their schedules so that they are able to work whenever they are most productive or creative, some remote employees decide to leave their traditional routines behind and hit the road. In an effort to open their minds, achieve greater global understanding and expand their professional network into a worldwide community.
How Remote Work Benefits Employees
- Flexible lifestyle
- Better health and wellness
- Renewed passion for their job
- Higher productivity
How Remote Work Benefits Employers
- Higher productivity
- Cost savings
- Engaged employees
Jobs that can be done remotely
As technology continues to advance, remote work is becoming more common in a multitude of industries. From those that you’d expect (tech, freelancing, etc.) to those that are a bit more surprising (education, healthcare, law), there’s never been a better time to research your options.
Social distancing is the ultimate test case for remote work: Remote employees are a significant step forward in the evolution of work and the technologies that enable us to perform our jobs at any time and from any location have fueled it. This evolution will influence the jobs people apply for and how they perceive companies looking to hire.
As the coronavirus continues to spread, every organization should encourage employees to work remotely. Here are four tips to prepare your team for telecommuting:
- Implement a work routine. Working from home presents a different set of challenges than working in an office. Distractions seem to be everywhere, and the lack of socializing with coworkers can make some people restless. It helps to establish a routine — and importantly, stick to it. Set aside specific hours to answer emails, make conference calls, have lunch and write reports. The next thing you know, your at-home workday will be over. It also helps to designate a workspace in your home. When you’re in it, you’re in work mode — and not tempted to grab a snack or walk the dog when you feel fidgety.
- Maintain a work connection. Distance from the workplace often translates into the distance from workplace values and community. It’s too easy to become isolated and feel like you’re alone in your work when you’re out of an office environment. Maintain a connection to the office by choosing to make calls rather than sending emails, and keep in contact with your department members via video conferencing.
- Establish work-life boundaries. Once you’re at home, if you don’t have clear boundaries it’s easy to become overwhelmed from both sides. Saying yes to every chore because you’re at home and agreeing to every work assignment because you aren’t sure when your workday ends is a sure recipe for stress and frustration. Allow yourself to reflect on what’s on your plate at home and at work, and negotiate with your partner, family, and co-workers when you feel overstretched.
- Inclusive management. As a leader, managing a remote team might be an entirely new experience, but it doesn’t have to be a painful one. Keep track of all your staff and check that they have the necessary tools to carry out their tasks. Schedule face time with individual employees to ensure that they don’t feel disconnected, and encourage collaborations that drive team performance.
Delivering regular feedback to employees, and encouraging them to do the same, helps everyone align with team objectives. It also encourages discussion on what is being done right and what can improve.
