Suddenly working from home?

The Covid-19 pandemic has made working from home necessary for many. While some employees have been full-time remote workers for years, others are new to the experience.

According to Kate Lister, President of Global Workplace Analytics, while 56% of the U.S. workforce holds a job that is at least partially compatible with remote work, only 3.6% of employees work at home half-time or more. Global Workforce Analytics predicts that this will change after people are required to work from home for a long time as a result of Covid-19 and the coronavirus.¹

Some of our long-time remote workers have shared what makes that arrangement successful for them. Before hearing their suggestions, let’s look at some obstacles to new telecommuters.

Challenges

Suddenly becoming a remote worker has its problems:

• Learning new apps for video conferencing and team organization
• Setting up a home office and routine
• Dealing with company infrastructure that may not be able to handle increased demands of work-at-home employees
• Slow home internet connection
• Feelings of isolation

Not everyone is tech-savvy

A friend who is an award-winning professor of philosophy said he would never teach online. But as the saying goes, “never say never.” He’s approaching retirement age scrambling to learn the ropes of online education.

It’s not only boomers, but some younger workers as well, who may struggle to navigate software and apps that make virtual collaboration and management possible. Many are playing catch-up.

That includes businesses

A large number organizations are not prepared. Their infrastructures can’t handle the influx of employees using the VPN and accessing necessary documents. Some lack software that enables shared access to project activities and communication. Connectivity is frustratingly slow. “If the workflow is slow, and you’re fighting small things constantly, it’s hard to stay motivated to do the work you want to do,” one woman working in a tech-heavy environment said.

There’s also the problem of hardware provided for home use. She continued, “Moving from a work station with high-powered desktops, multiple monitors, and fast connections with internal networks to an isolated laptop with a small screen is extremely difficult.”

On the home front

Connectivity problems don’t always originate from the employer’s end. Depending on location and plans, home internet service can be slow and, in some cases, unreliable.
Some of these challenges are beyond the control of individual employees; others are not.

Tips from our experts

I asked our remote workers how they make working from home successful and productive for themselves and the company.

The home office

What do you do when the “office” is your home?

• Use a separate room in your house as an office and ensure you have ample light.
• Have comfortable office furniture, particularly your chair.
• Keep “work” and “home” separated inside the house. It helps maintain the discipline of putting in my time each day and provides mental separation between the two.
• Keep your office in a confined space. Don’t move around with your laptop, sitting on the couch or lounging in the bedroom.
• Playing quiet music can be conducive to working, but television running in the background is a distraction.
• Keep your office space clean and uncluttered.
• Stay hydrated. With no trips to the kitchenette or water cooler, it’s easy to forget.

Family

How do you keep interruptions at a minimum, especially now when many cities and states have closed schools and daycares?

• Discuss the importance of work hours with every member of the household. Interruptions for important matters or emergencies are okay, but no others.
• Find someone to come over and help children with schoolwork, lunches, and outdoor play.
• Provide a schedule for children old enough to watch the time and keep on task.
• Take advantage of online educational opportunities provided by local as well as national and international sites.

Pets

How do you handle pets in the house?

For many, pets are part of the family, and they need care. Keep in mind that a barking dog while you’re on a business call can be distracting to both you and the client.

• People may be more understanding if they are also be working from home. Still, be mindful of the possible problems of having pets in your office.

Time management

How do you manage your time?

• Keep a schedule and maintain a routine with consistent start and end times.
• Take scheduled lunches and breaks. If you take them whenever you feel like it, you may end up spending more time away from work than you should.
• Walk into your office at the same time you would arrive if you were commuting to work; walk out when your workday is done.
• Don’t check email or voicemail at night. Work hours are for work. Home hours are not.

Isolation and stress

How do you handle the lack of face-to-face interaction with coworkers, especially now combined with directives for self-isolation and social-distancing?

• Holding morning team-meeting calls gets the day off to a good start. Hearing what others are doing, their struggles, and questions, keeps us connected. Giving kudos to others at this time is encouraging.
• Keeping a platform open all day for group-chat enables you to bounce ideas around and find fresh perspectives on problems as they arise.
• Ensuring management regularly communicates with the team, even when it’s not necessary adds to feeling connected.
• Recognizing new remote employees for their accomplishments helps them feel like an appreciated part of the team.
• Playing soft music can replace office chatter when you feel lonely or have lots of data to enter.
• Practicing meditation or mindfulness helps. Take a few deep breaths and clear your mind during short breaks. It’s calming and good for your lungs! Mindfulness increases focus.

We’re all working together…apart

Remember, wherever you are working, you are not alone. Your efforts contribute to the big picture and move your organization forward toward its strategic goals. You are still making progress achieving your personal and professional goals.

There’s a learning curve for working remotely. Apps can be frustrating. Setting up a home office is a challenge. But you’re not the only one doing these things.

The coronavirus and Covid-19 are changing the world. When the crisis passes, workplaces will have changed right along with everything else. And so will we.
Stay healthy!

Paperless forms

Paperless forms streamlines many HR and Payroll processes. This is especially true if you are working remotely.  Whether you’re onboarding new hires, running payroll, or routing forms through the approval chain, keeping it paperless simplifies working from a home office. This is particularly important now, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic when everyone is avoiding non-essential trips to the office and contact with others.

We can help

Our Sage HRMS HR Actions (HR Actions) provides web-based forms, covering the entire employment lifecycle, for Sage HRMS. It electronically routes forms for approval and saves data directly into Sage HRMS.  There are many plugins available that improve the functionality of HR Actions. To learn more, visit our website, attend one of our webinars, or give us a call at 1.888.421.2004. You can also fill out the CONTACT PRODUCT SALES form on our website, and someone will get right back to you.

Sources:

1. Latest Work-at-Home/Telecommuting/Mobile Work/Remote Work Statistics Global Workforce Analytics