It’s a common misconception that working remotely is easier and less stressful than working in an office, due to reduced commute times, increased flexibility, and the ability to work in the comfort of your own home. However, just like working in a physical office, working remotely is accompanied by its own set of daily challenges and obstacles that must be tackled. This article will identify some of the most difficult parts of working in a remote team, as reported by real remote workers. It will also discuss useful techniques that employers and employees have found to be effective in dealing with these obstacles.
Problem #1: Balancing Personal and Professional Life
Solution: Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be difficult at the best of times. With remote work, the lines between personal and professional life can become increasingly blurred. One way to keep your worlds separate is to set up a designated office space in your home. This is a great way to create a divide and minimize distractions during your workday.
Problem #2: Difficulty Disconnecting
Solution: The inability to disconnect from your work devices will also interfere with maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Setting up a home office will help, in addition to only having your phone “on” during working hours. It’s also a good idea to keep your work phone and laptop in a separate space where you will not be tempted to check notifications outside of your workday.
Problem #3: Managing Workload and Deadlines
Solution: Fast-approaching deadlines can be a huge source of stress, both in and out of the office. If responsibilities and expectations are not clear, work tasks will become increasingly more daunting. As an employer, ensure that goals are clear and deadlines are reasonable. Hosting regular meetings to check-in with your remote workforce is an effective way to make sure that everyone is on track and clear on expectations.
Problem #4: Dealing with Feelings of Loneliness and Isolation
Solution: For many, working from home means working alone. Remote work comes without that physical office comradery, water fountain chat, and lunchroom banter. With that said, working from home can be extremely isolating and lonely at times. Schedule calls, both personal and professional, throughout the day. Stay in touch with loved ones and use your webcam whenever possible.
Problem #5: Addressing Time Zones
Solution: Working with team members in various time zones can be bothersome, especially if your workdays do not have much of an overlap. Be mindful of this when scheduling meeting times and calls. Request that all team members share their available hours so that other members in your organization know when it is appropriate to contact them and when it is not. If possible, determine a 2-4 hour window when everyone from your company is online at once.
Problem #6: Fostering Unity and Company Culture
Solution: The seemingly disconnected nature of a remote workforce can sometimes make it difficult to cultivate unity and team spirit. Even more challenging is fostering company culture and comradery amongst employees. A great way to combat this is by scheduling regular office activities that are not work-related. These could include virtual lunches or weekly Friday happy hours. Informal activities like this are important because they help to establish meaningful connections amongst your team and create a sense of belonging.
Problem #7: Keeping Your Workers Safe
Solution: Just because your workers aren’t commuting into the office, doesn’t mean safety should be brushed aside. In fact, many of your staff members may now be considered lone workers if they live (and now work) alone. Conducting frequent home hazard assessments is an effective way to identify and manage any safety risks that may be present in the home. We have put together a five-part home hazard assessment guide to help keep you and your remote workforce safe. Learn more about hazard identification, developing an emergency communication plan, setting in place an emergency response plan, implementing your home safety protocols, and paying mind to unique work-from-home COVID-19 considerations.