September 28, 2022
September 28, 2022
Working remotely from the home or locations other than the traditional office has become a trend. Whereas in the past, it had a bad sigma around it. Many employers felt that the employees were too easily distracted at home, as their supervisors couldn't keep track of their direct reports. When working remotely, the employee can use his or her potential for both professional and personal development. Remote work can be done from a variety of locations, including homes, cafeterias, co-working spaces, etc.
Technologies such as video conferencing software, collaboration platforms, and cloud services keep people connected and able to hold meeting and complete projects from anywhere, at any time.
Recently, different studies have often shown that workers are more satisfied and productive when working remotely, but through this guide, we will be discussing different aspects of allowing remote work at your business.
There are several types of remote working models, including:
Having a remote working setup has multiple advantages and disadvantages for both employers and employees, including higher productivity and reduced costs.
The employee may choose the most productive hours of the day to complete assigned tasks. Outside of office hours, the employees can use their time effectively and improve their work-life balance. For example, a working mother can devote all time to raising her child while completing her office work in the way that makes most sense for their lives. It allows employees to decide for themselves when to start and end their work or how long to take their break within a framework set by management.
By avoiding the daily commute to work, the employee can reduce travel and other related expenses, including the added cost of eating out. As a result, your employee can save more money and, in turn, be more satisfied with his or her job. You as an employee can also reduce the cost of office, electricity, and other miscellaneous expenditures by allowing the employees to work remotely. When fewer people work in the office, companies can reduce their real estate holdings, making more efficient use of the workplace.
Many employees find it difficult to commute and work in a strictly monitored office. By avoiding the daily commute, itself, the stress level of the employees will be reduced, and they will have more energy and time to focus on the assigned tasks. Happier and less stressed employees will be more productive and more committed to their work.
In comparison to regular office employees, the remote working employee tends to showcase their work in a better manner as it is a major criterion to evaluate their work. On the other hand, the evaluation of most office workers is based on office time. Working remotely also helps the employee to not engage and waste time on office politics. Your employees will be at liberty to set up their own office space suitable for their purpose, with fewer distractions from others.
You have more chance of retaining the skilled employees you train if you allow them to work flexibly. You may also attract better resources if you offer flexible work arrangements, which many workers prefer. With remote work, the workers can usually have a more flexible schedule as well.
Remote workers tend to work beyond expected hours to complete the assigned tasks. This sometimes leads to employee burnout and is counterproductive. The problem can be solved by setting precise timelines and limits for your employees. If you find that an employee is breaking the rules, you can help them get back on the prescribed schedule and spend less time working.
There are many distractions at home that can interfere with an employee's concentration on his or her work. These factors include screaming children, traffic noise, ringing doors, barking dogs, and housework. Some employees who work remotely tend to take advantage of the fact that they are not directly supervised by someone. It can be difficult to stay motivated and achieve your goals if there is no active monitoring and your colleagues are not working around you. To an extent, this issue can be solved by effectively distributing tasks based on schedule.
Remote work can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation – especially for those who live alone. The employees working remotely miss out the face-to-face interaction with their colleagues. Unable to interact with real people may hamper their motivation to work in the longer run. This can be solved through several informal online meetings and if possible regular physical meetings.
Sometimes, virtual communication may not receive the required attention and response from the recipient. This mostly happens when communication is done through emails or chat apps. One method to avoid this situation is to implement or use video conferencing tools to communicate with your employees or among the employees. If required, you can arrange monthly physical meetings of the respective teams to clarify things out.
Security is always at the top of a company's priority list. However, it becomes critical when a company needs to establish remote work stations. Things get even more complicated when employees decide to work in a coffee store or other location with public Wi-Fi, and when they bring personal devices onto a corporate network. Cybersecurity issues can be reduced to an extent by implementing proper internet policy and adopting security measures like installation of antivirus software's, firewalls, and VPN's.
Remote work has as many advantages and disadvantages as working in an office. However, the advantages of working remotely prove that it is not something to be afraid of. With the right strategy and a well-drafted Remote Work Policy, you can let your employees work remotely while focusing on the growth and development of your business.