Resources

A growing number of businesses are replacing bulky desktop computers with laptops and docks, eliminating costly overhead while giving employees a dose of freedom. This newfound mobility has caused employers to consider the perks and problems that come with remote work. As with any major shift in office culture, there's benefits and pitfalls that come with change.

Everybody's home life is as unique as their workflow. Whether you have a full-fledged home office or a little bit of space at the kitchen table, there are ways to make a work-from-home day as productive as a stint in the office. As always, there are also ways that a remote workday can go off the rails. Weigh your options-- is it worth the work to make working from home work out?

Pro: The Sound of Silence… Or Not?

Can you hear that? It's the sound of whatever you want. Whether you're listening to Simon &Garfunkel sing The Sound of Silence through your surround sound speakers or it's the peaceful din of an open window, there are no boundaries on your workday soundtrack. Keep the radio off and enjoy the peace of a chatter-free workday or pump up the jams; there's nobody around to tell you to quiet down.

Con: Distractions, Distractions, Distractions

All of the comforts of home are within an arm's reach-- that includes all sorts of wonderful distractions. Televisions, pets, and snacks are waiting for you at all times, and we all know that binging a Netflix series is more fun than wading through another spreadsheet. Resisting temptation is a full-time job in itself; by scheduling your day in advance, you'll find that there's no time to dawdle outside of any pre-planned breaks. Be sure to pencil in some time for lunch and an afternoon breather but try to stay on schedule and meet reasonable goals before "this will just take a minute" takes up the whole workday.

Pro: A Home Away from Home

Take the show on the road once in a while. Break up the workday with a few hours at a café or hit up a local coworking space. Anyplace with internet--or even just a mobile hotspot--can be considered. Ensure that your tasks and working style are compatible with an outside area. We just discussed distractions; a new horizon can be a detriment to some while it may be a success for another.

Con: Incomplete Infrastructure

Two monitors are the new normal. High-speed internet is integral. A phone with conference capabilities is a must. If you haven't invested in the right tech for your home office, it can become hard to cope with job responsibilities that depend on the groundwork that exists in the office. Some companies even restrict access to high-risk servers over less secure connections. Some work is easy to accomplish with a single laptop screen but sometimes there's just a real-life firewall between your desk and the desire to work from the couch.

Pro: A Few Fewer Sick Days

It's impossible to predict and even harder to prevent a rousing bout of stomach flu or the throes of a head cold. When the sickness strikes, it's unfair to bring the bug into the office, but by the time it starts to wane there's still a bit of "should I or shouldn't I?" when the workday comes around. If you remembered to bring your laptop home, it's a no-brainer-- take the day from the comforts of home and keep your pajamas on until the day is done. You'll heal faster and be operating at full-speed in no time at all.

Con: We All Need Somebody to Lean On

Have you ever hollered over your cube to see if your neighbor knows what's going on? Or knocked on your boss' door for quick clarification on a present problem? Even in the days of inter-office chat, there's a convenience and comfort that comes from person-to-person communication and it's hard to capture that energy in a phone call or instant message.

 

 

 

Design & Innovation
Passion
Tips

More From NBF

Working Hard while Working from Home

Perhaps the weather outside is frightful (and your home office is so delightful), you're feeling under a different kind of weather, or there's a global safety concern that could decimate the workforce-- whatever the reason, a work-from-home day might pop up unexpectedly. While fully and partially-remote employees are used to the on-your-own workflow, desk-bound employees might have a harder time adjusting to a different scenery.

Designing a Remote Work Policy that Works

Designing a Remote Work Policy That Works

If we learned one thing during the COVID-19 crisis, it’s that we're a more independent workforce than we once thought. Companies in high-risk areas quickly transitioned to mandated (or highly recommended) work-from-home policies using the tools they already had. It begs the question—how would this have been even easier if preparations started ahead of time?

Lay a foundation for success from the very start. Remaining mindful of employee needs, wants, and everything in between will help your organization thrive no matter where your employees reside. A healthy remote work policy will increase productivity while employees are in the office, so long as they know that they have the trust, support, and flexibility that comes with a well-thought-out remote work policy.

Start Sooner Than Later

Your company should establish your remote work policies long before an emergency strikes. Take steps to implement the tools and rules necessary for success, and consider the different situations that could keep office-dwelling employees homebound for varying lengths of time.

Not all remote work factors are equal. To create the most comprehensive policies, understand the different reasons why employees may become homebound:

  • Global Health Risks: These situations are precautionary, but they often occur during the most severe and threatening situations. Directives to stay home can come from a parent company, senior leadership, Center for Disease Control recommendation, or even a government mandate. While severe, there's often enough lead time to allow employees to return to the office to gather files and other items they need to do their job long-term. These measures can often last for a significant amount of time.

  • Individual Health Risks: When an employee is recovering from an illness, becoming sick, or transitioning back to work from a medical procedure, it's often advisable to stay out of the office until they're at full speed. These situations often arise suddenly, but there should be clear expectations of productivity to determine whether they should use PTO instead. These measures can range from half a day to a few days off work.

  • Inclement Weather: When severe weather strikes, coming into the office could be the difference between making it in for the day or never returning to work again. Depending on an employee’s location and the severity of conditions, it is often advisable to let employees stay put and avoid risk. These are often short instances but hard to anticipate.

Human Resources Is Your Best Resource

When it comes to remote work, there are a few different prevailing schools of thought in the HR community. They can guide you in the direction of what best benefits employees, and, depending on how progressive their policies are, they can recommend solutions to senior leadership and direct managers.

Today's HR departments understand that each department faces unique circumstances, noting that different job duties have different needs when it comes to remaining in the office. Instead of creating sweeping policies that may not benefit every employee, consult the leaders of individual departments to determine the best course of action.

Be Prepared With Software and Hardware

A setup for success starts with day-to-day tools that can work both in-house and remotely. Ensure your hardware and software choices have full functionality in and out of the office. These days, prices are negligible when it comes to choosing between desktops and docked laptops, allowing teams to stay flexible outside the office while making it easier to bring information to on-site meetings.

When it comes to software, use cloud storage solutions to keep files easily accessible at all times. Virtual private networks (VPNs) can protect sensitive data, web-based applications can provide flexible use over an internet connection, and a robust chat system will keep employees in close contact even when they're apart. These tools are just as useful in the office as they are outside.

Create Chains of Communication

When that snowstorm strikes or it's time for nonessential employees to work remotely, a clear and easily understood chain of communication is integral to prevent confusion. Not all employees have cellular access to their work email, making it necessary to communicate through outside channels. You can call it dated or tried-and-true, but a phone tree can be the most logical tool to spread information. Deliver messages to every employee by making it clear that their direct supervisor should contact them in case of closure or emergency, ensuring everybody knows who they should turn to for guidance and instruction.

Your Human Resources Information System (HRIS) may have integrated tools to expedite communication, enabling it to come from a single, trusted source. Whether that's an email blast that goes to employees' personal accounts or a mass text that gives immediate updates for building closures, it's worth exploring the added tools that can streamline the chain of communication.

Embrace a Trusting Environment

Remote work comes with a degree of trepidation. It's dangerous to assume that your perfectly productive in-house employee will suddenly slide off the radar when transitioning to a remote role in an emergency. Just because they're out of sight doesn't mean their work is out of mind. It takes strength in management to remember that work is still the main component of remote work.

Think about the metrics you use to evaluate in-office performance. Every position has benchmarks that you've seen in action—setting those benchmarks as expectations can ensure that remote sessions have the same output as a day in the office.

 

Making a Quick Transition to a Remote Workforce

We can never anticipate when the most trying times will pop up, but we can certainly face these challenges in a way that keeps everybody safe, secure, and productive. During the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, employers and employees have felt immense pressure to keep their staff and themselves safe. This has to begin with taking precautions, whenever necessary, to keep everybody isolated and home-bound.

0 Comments

Leave a Comment

Your comment has been sent.

Sam Pekarske

Sam Pekarske is a commercial and creative copywriter, lending a voice to National Business Furniture's products and resources.