How we work has changed dramatically in recent years and a lot of people are now asking what does remote work mean? In this short guide we’ll explain what working remotely means and the different types of remote work that exist.
Over the past 3 years companies and people have changed how they work. Traditionally employees would commute to their workplace everyday and then work there until the workday had ended. However today many employees are allowed to work from home. According to recent research by McKinsey 58% of workers today have the opportunity to work from home 1 day a week while more than 30% have the option to work from home 5 days a week. This is an enormous shift in how the workforce operates.
Working remotely can mean different things depending on the arrangement you have with your employer and also the type of job you do. Most remote workers tend to have desk jobs that involve working on the phone or using a computer.
Working remotely full-time means that you will always work from either your home or from a co-working space, instead of needing to come to the office each day. This has a lot of benefits such as reduced commute time but can also have some drawbacks such as missing out on ‘office culture’ and team building.
Working remotely part-time means that you will work from the office only some of the time and will work from home or from a co-working space for the remainder of the time. Part-time remote work is currently the most popular type of remote work as it gives employees the chance to see colleagues in person for team building, office culture and meetings.
Working remotely can offer a lot of different benefits to employees that would otherwise be impossible. These benefits include:
Working remotely means that you will have less or no commuting time to your workplace (so you can get up later in the morning :)
Working remotely means that you may be able to spend more time at home and near your family. This can be a great benefi, although some people like a break from their family too once in a while.
When you work remotely it can offer the chance for a better work-life balance. This includes more time near family & friends, new opportunities to exercise and access to healthier foods.
When you work remotely it means that you will spend less on travel costs. These savings add up over time and can help pay for other important things in your life.
Working remotely means that less travel pollution is created which is great for the environment.
Working remotely means that you may miss out on opportunities to connect with your team and work colleagues
Not everybody has space available to set up an office at home, which can become a challenge quickly.
Sometimes you “just have to be there” to experience the random and wonderful moments that can happen between team members. Working from home can mean that you will miss out on these moments.
Working remotely can mean that it is hard to draw a line between your work-life and your home life.
The first thing to do when you start working remotely is to set up a dedicated workspace. If you have enough room try to set up a space with a comfortable desk and chair, as well as natural light.
It can be very helpful to set-up recurring daily meetings with your colleagues such as a morning stand-up. This is a great way to give structure to your remote working day.
Sometimes it can be difficult to know when to switch off. When working remotely the line between your work life and your home life can become blurred. Make sure that you set times when you will shut down your computer.
Set an alarm to make sure that you regularly go for short walks to break up your remote working day. This will help to keep you fit and will also provide you with short breaks from your desk.
We hope that this article has helped to answer the question “what does remote working mean?”
Here are some helpful resources to help you get the most from your remote working!
- Time management tips for remote working
- How to run a remote standup meeting
