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As the issue of work-life balance continues to grow in popularity, more employers are making the transition to remote work and alternative schedules. This is partly due to the fact that some employers see the same productivity from remote employees as in-office employees. Furthermore, allowing work from remote locations opens up the doors to a larger talent pool.
As for the employees themselves, transitioning to home-based employment presents a few challenges. Employers and employees must take a few basic steps in order to allow for success at home:
1. Coordination: Set the groundwork for teams to get started on their projects. This usually includes explanation of minute details and ensuring that everyone is on the same page prior to employees beginning remote work.
2. Timing: Different people are most productive at various times of the day. Figuring out this time slot allows for greater output.
3. Diversity: Recognize that various individuals think, learn, and create in very different ways. While working from home is more productive for some, it is less productive for others.
4. Consider the Team: When deciding whether to allow an employee to work from home, an employer must consider the team dynamics. With a large group of people, for example, in-person contact is needed in order to coordinate on projects. On the other hand, smaller teams might be able to correspond via Skype or FaceTime. Weigh these possibilities before making a decision.
5. Recognize Differing Opinions: While an employer might feel that in-office work is most productive, perhaps that is not true for some of their employees. Recognizing that individuals focus and create in various ways might help to understand why some employees are pushing for this option.
6. Consider the Time: While one employer might feel that the most productive hours of the day are eight to five, this is no longer true in many cases. Some employees might be most productive in the morning or at night, but they may struggle for energy during regular working hours.
7. Know Your Colleagues: When it comes down to it, an employer must know the employees well enough to determine whether they are responsible and trustworthy enough for this privilege. Perhaps some team members have shown integrity and work ethic; these employees might deserve more flexibility than questionable employees. The only way to determine this is to observe and stay in-tune to these variances.
Since it is likely that this topic will remain in the spotlight, both employees and employers must weigh the pros and cons of working from home. Home employment is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor; employees are very different from one another and have very different wants and needs.
Meanwhile, employees must have a plan of action for ensuring that this option works for them, as well as the integrity and responsibility to enact this plan.
