Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, companies all around the world have imposed the remote work system. All big companies of world Microsoft, Google, Hitachi, Amazon, Twitter, Spotify has asked employees to work online from home. The work-from-home policy had been rolled out from all big companies from Japan to South Korea and the UK to the USA.
After the official announcement of world Heath organization that Coronavirus has reached the status of the pandemic, many companies are having employees work-from-home. In a few days, working from home would become normal for many employees.
For some employees who would be experiencing work-from-home for the first time, it would be difficult to figure out about staying on a single task without a proper workplace environment that would surely impact their productivity. But there are certain ways, ranging from establishing good workplace to effective communication to the team, to avoid getting crazy and deliver a fruitful result that are discussed below:
Maintain Effective Communication
The key of work-from-home is to have direct and effective communication with your boss so that you’re exactly aware of what’s expected from you. Barbara Larson, professor of management in northeastern University in Boston said that employee should have a clear set if the expectation for day to day communication from their boss. The employee should ask managers for a call of 10 minutes to wrap up the routine of the whole day. In normal working days, employees are in close connection with their boss so that communication is effortless and easy. In work-from-home, there are more chances of communication breakdown if the workplace is not fit for remote working.
There could be chances that the manager might not be able to manage remote working operations. For instance, they can’t have ready to go dresses for employees working remotely on the video conferencing app like zoom or chat apps like slack. But also for those employees and workers who are accustomed to working from home might find it isolating and unstructured. According to a study conducted in 2019 om 2500 employees working remotely, reported that the second most reported challenge was loneliness. It was concluded by experience on 19% of respondents. Loneliness could cause less motivation and less productivity in workers. Being out of sight and out of mind in communication through video or chatting apps could be a real problem.
Treat it Like a Normal Work Day
According to Larson, it is important that working from should be taken as a real job. If you are working from home it never means that you could do a part of your job in pajamas. You need to take a shower and get dressed. If you lack a proper home office, you should at least create a space exclusively for work at home. Lacking a proper and well-equipped office for working remotely and from home could cause a temporary decrease in performance and productivity. There is a need to do something more calculated then lying in bed with a laptop. To avoid distraction, nightstand could be the move-in corner of the room, sit in an upright chair, plop down your computer and other such steps would help in giving office sort of environment. It doesn’t apply to the recent home working situation due to coronavirus but it is also for those who live with you and do work-from-home.
You need to have the boundaries that your housemates should understand. For instance, if the room door is closed then pretend that you are not there. When you have a well set and proper workspace, the benefits of remote working could be unlocked. According to a survey conducted by FlexJobs on 7000 workers, 65% of employees said that they are more comfortable in working-from-home as there is less office politics, fewer interruptions from colleagues, and less commuting stress. While remote working, the booking of the day is very important. Most common complaint while working-from-home is a lack of ability to unplug after work. If you are not able to enter or leave a physical office that is an obvious boundary, you need to have psychological segues that help in setting the mindset. For instance, 20 minutes of coffee in the morning and an exercise after work could be used as an indicator for the starting and closing of the office.
Stop Feeling Isolated
If all tools are available for accurate work-from-home, still there could be some struggle to get accustomed to the transition of office atmosphere to the home environment for working. According to Nicholas Bloom, coronavirus has pushed everyone into an extreme condition of working from home. There are some forms of work-from-home. It could be short term, occasional or permanent. Only 5% of united states employees are full-time remote workers. Due to coronavirus, it is not clear how long people are going to stay and work from home that causes additional problems. For instance, it is difficult for parents to work while their children at home as their schools are closed. Close communication with the manager would be effected.
It is suggested that your team should try to maintain normalcy in unconventional ways. For instance, sharing a drink or having virtual parties. It is effective to develop bonding with each other during work-from-home. It is weird but for everyone. That’s why it is fun as a whole. The mentality that we are all at the same level adds a little lightness to a difficult situation.
Keep Your Spirits High
The prevailing conditions are stressful and depressing but it directly impacts the working and in-time answering to emails. But these isolation and depressive thoughts could be overcome by being more in contact with a colleague. The only solution is to have more and more face-to-face communication. For those employees who live alone could have regular video calls without an agenda like for grabbing a drink or coffee. It is crucial for managers to keep morale high.
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