Remote working is the norm. According to certain sources 50 percent of the UK workforce will work at home or from an offices in the coming years.
This is a staggering statistic. It’s easy to understand why.
The advantages of flexible or remote work are evident. While the concept isn’t new but the technology is accessible to make it simpler and less expensive to accomplish it effectively.
Digital leaders who are effective know that software such as Office 365 is revolutionising online productivity and communication. technologies like 4G/5G and shared Wi-Fi in public spaces are bringing the capability.
If you’re considering the introduction of working from home or creating a new policy for remote jobs There are a few points to take into consideration.
First of all, is it really an idea that is worthwhile?
Benefits of Remote Working
We believe that today’s technology, oiled by an environment that is supportive – the advantages that work from homes could be experienced by employees and also benefit our company.
On the surface it’s clear that the benefits are obvious for both employers and employees. However, if you’re thinking about the benefits of remote work on your team it’s crucial to take a look at a few key aspects.
There are five considerations to consider prior to drafting an online working policy.
1. Working Environment
When I inform people that I work at home, one question is more frequently asked than any other: how can I accomplish anything?
They create mental images of pyjamas as well as background TV sets.
Naturally, creating the ideal atmosphere is how productive work gets done. Therefore, a relaxing, non-distraction workspace is top of the list of things to consider for remote employees.
In the end, a lot of money and time is used to design work-friendly workplaces. Lighting and spacing, temperature, swinging chairs. It’s not a good idea to put the HR director in a basement that is damp.
The majority of employees don’t want home visits from their bosses. However, to fully enjoy the benefits of working from home it is essential to provide guidance and training to employees on how to create an environment that is comfortable and free of distractions and to supervisors in how to manage and assist their remote employees effectively.
2. Zero Commute – Cost, Health Cost and Environmental Benefits
The long commute to work every day is not good for anyone.
The ability to avoid the commute every day is among the main advantages of working remotely. The financial, health and environmental benefits alone make remote work a desirable alternative.
Here are a few examples:
Employees save cash (often thousands of pounds each month).
Reduces the chance of staff being late.
Allows employees to begin work earlier.
Increased impacts on the environment (both locally as well as globally).
It saves the company money (can provide flexible working in lieu of higher salaries).
Greater equality for those who have difficulty to travel.
Employees feel more rested.
Employees are more secure (if they were previously walking or cycling in the busy areas).
Healthier employees are happier (if they were previously sat in traffic or taking public transportation).
3. Effect on working hours
One of the most frequent problems that remote workers face is the impact it can have on working hours.
A survey conducted of the Japanese Institute of Labour Policy and Training (JILPT in 2015) of remote workers in Japan found there is a problem with the “ambiguity of work and timeoff’ was the top-ranked disadvantage of remote working for both women (36.4 percent) and males (39.3 percent). Additionally, research conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHLW, 2014) which included employees from 30 Japanese businesses, revealed that 43.5 percent of respondents say it difficult to distinguish between family and work’. **
Many remote workers struggle to determine when work starts and when it ends. Continuous connectivity to work particularly via smartphones requires an effort to clock out. Instead of being able to simply leave the office at the time of day.
Many studies have been conducted on the impact of remote work on working hours. Certain results differ, particularly in terms of demographics. However, the general consensus is that people who work at home or remotely work more hours than those who work in offices.
It’s easy to understand the reason for this. Calls or emails outside of your working hours. Contact during days off or on annual vacation. “20 minutes” of sending emails on a Saturday could easily become an hour or even two. The impact on family and friends that this could have are worth discussing.
“Right to Disconnect” law
In response, a rising number of organizations are embracing the ‘right to disconnect’ law.
The laws are designed to reduce the negative consequences of constant connection to work by ensuring that employees are protected from working time. Sometimes referred to as ‘work-to-silence the issue has been the subject of increasing studies and policies at the national level.
If this constant connection occurs frequently, the weekly hours pile up, sometimes without workers even realizing it. While this may improve productivity in the short-term but the longer-term strains on employees are either unhealthy or not sustainable.
4. Sickness
The policy regarding sickness is pretty simple for office workers If you’re healthy enough to be able to work, then come in. If you’re sick to work, you can you can take the day off.
For those who work at home The lines are blurring.
In many instances there are instances where the number of sick days that employees take when working from home decreases. When the stress of getting to work snuffed out and the stress of having to travel, it’s possible to be at home, feeling tired or sluggish, yet still crank out some work. With no worries about the dirty look from desks across the street, or fearful of being spotted by those who have brought your work along.
This is great for sickness numbers. However, it is not ideal for employers and their employees.
For employees, working when sick means that they are less likely to rest that they require to heal quickly. There have been instances when I’ve fallen ill throughout the night and woke up the next day suffering from a bad ache, but then began working at home. Then, I’d call it quits and go back to bed within an hour or so.
For employers, even though your employees who are sick may be working but there’s no guarantee of the caliber of work they’re capable of doing.
If you’re an employer who has a remote or work at home policies It’s a real balance task of ensuring the health of employees, ensuring the quality of work done and being flexible enough to allow for non-incapacitating ailments.
5. Isolation as well as Team Spirit
Being isolated from your colleagues, and the general hum of your office is an additional challenge when you work at your home.
Many find that finding a quiet space to work can be a great benefit to relax and accomplishing a lot.
Myself, I’m writing this from my home office. The only sound is the distant hum of a tractor and the gentle breeze that has just taken from the wood in front of my windows.
Compare this with our workplace located in Old Street, and you will see why I am grateful for the days I can stay at home.
After a while and with you thinking and occasionally a phone call or two to interrupt the silence it’s easy to lose the excitement of what’s happening’. In the Eurofound report one of the major problems facing employees who work from mobile devices is absence of information sharing in the workplace. i.e. general chit chat. ***
Today, sharing information that is important is simple. However, humans have an inherent reluctance to ask your colleague if they watched anything interesting on television this evening’ via email.
Events like daily meetings or team calls provide this chance. An opportunity to talk freely in between chores and responsibilities. It can not only help to break the silence, but it can it also keeps you in touch with your colleagues, to create bonds and keep a feeling of belonging.
It’s the New World of Remote Working
With the advancement of technology and today’s worker preferences, it’s evident that remote work is in the future.
To adapt to this massive change, it is essential to be aware of the implications of it. To recognize the ‘new realm of work’, which is comprised by new opportunities, standards, as well as new relationships with colleagues.
The modern workplace is in essence separate from time and physical space. The focus is now on the performance of employees over time or location.
It requires a new kind of management that is based on self-responsibility and autonomy for employees. It requires accessibility to data, positive attitude and trust-based relationships.
It is now known that this method of working is based on eight elements to be successful:
Excellent behavior by management.
Autonomy.
Flexibility with regard to time and location of work.
Information is readily available (less hierarchy and access to information in any time) and frequent communication (both top and bottom down).
Results-based accountability rather than the amount of time spent working.
Sharing your knowledge with colleagues.
Online collaboration with colleagues.
Development possibilities. ***
Remote work is in line with many of the recent changes in society, that are possible due to advances in technology.
With the new opportunities and more choices We must consider the way that the working life are being rearranged around our ever-declining workplace walls. To create an office that is beneficial for both employees and employers in the present and future.
Leveraging Professional Intercom Consultation for Business Success
Collaborating with an Intercom consultant has become progressively advantageous for enterprises aiming to enhance their consumer messaging and engagement strategies....