According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16% of the total workforce works remotely at least part of the time. With everything going on in the world today, working from home is becoming more and more prevalent for companies across the world. While many individuals are accustomed to working remotely, this is new to many workers.
Advice for Remote Workers:
Routine/Habits
Start and end work at the same time every day
Don’t start working immediately: have a cup of coffee, read the news, take your dog for a walk, etc.
Schedule breaks: roughly 10-15 minutes at a time, clear your mind, and take a step back
Get ready like you would to go into the office: shower, brush your teeth, comb your hair, etc.
Workspace Environment
Work from a desk or table, your couch or bed proves to be easier to lounge in than work
Dedicate a space to “work”, get in the mindset that when you’re sitting there, it’s time to work
Set goals for the quarter/year and display them somewhere in your workspace as a reminder to stay on track towards those.
Overall
Be Patient: If it's your first time working remotely, it might take some time to find a routine that works for you. Try different things like getting out of the house at lunch time, start / end work at different times, if you have the flexibility. Once you find what works for you, stick to it.
Communicate: Schedule check-in meetings and/or syncs with your team and/or manager on a weekly basis to connect on your goals, project status, and daily tasks. Advocate for yourself and highlight the progress you’ve made, which goals you’ve smashed, which projects you’ve completed, etc.
When you’re not in the office, it can be difficult for a manager to see the daily work and effort you’re putting in , don’t be afraid to bring up important accomplishments.
Utilize tools to limit distractions: Chrome plugins for social media, setting boundaries if you are not the only one working from your home
Stay Social: Plan lunch with a friend, an after work social activity, a workout class, etc. so you aren't home all day.
Considering allowing your employees to work remotely for the long haul and need a few reasons why it’s a good idea, in addition to increased health and safety given the current climate of the world? A few of the many benefits below:
Increased Productivity and Quality
A survey of remote employees by CoSo Cloud, a trusted private-cloud solutions provider for Adobe® Connect™, reported 23% of remote workers are willing to work for longer hours to get more done, 52% are less likely to take time off and 30% reported accomplishing more in less time. Overall, 77% confirmed improved productivity while working from home.
FlexJobs conducted a survey of 5,500 professionals with 66% agreeing their productivity improves when they are not in office, with 76% overall feeling there are fewer distractions outside of offices.
Increases the pool of candidates, with a higher chance of finding the ideal skill set.
Talent Retention
A study done by FlexJobs noted 85% of millennials prefer working from home all the time.
Similarly, a survey by AfterCollege shares results that work-life balance (67%) and flexible work schedule (57%) are the two biggest demands of recent graduates.
Finally, a survey showed 79% of employees said they will be more loyal to a business if it offers more flexibility, with 32% stating they have left a job due to lack of flexibility from their employer.
Additional Resources
“New to Working Remotely? These Resources Can Help” Includes a free learning path to navigate remote work.