At the very beginning of 2020, the coronavirus outbreak has struck the entire world. Many countries have been forced to declare a state of emergency and introduce strict measures to keep the virus from spreading. The consequences of this rather unusual situation remain to be determined in the months to come. However, it has, without a doubt, taken a heavy toll on the industry. To ensure their firm’s survival from the crisis, many employers have asked their employees to work remotely. Some believe connecting all employees through the intranet dashboard is the future of work. For this reason, let’s see what remote working looks like in 2020.
Most Common Difficulties of Remote Working
Many employees aren’t used to working remotely. That is why the new working conditions might come as a shock. However, like with any other change, it takes time and effort to properly adjust to special circumstances. Before introducing this work arrangement, managers should familiarize themselves with the challenges they take on with this change. With proper preparation, it won’t affect their performance and engagement at the virtual workplace. Here are some of the most common challenges of telecommuting.
Distractions
Homes are usually places where people relax after a long and hard day at work. For this reason, they aren’t particularly designed for office spaces. Additionally, with most countries in lockdown, working parents have to divide their time among work tasks and parenting responsibilities. Unexpected transition to a flexible workplace can cause a lack of focus because of so many distractions at home.
Lack of Connection and Collaboration
Most remote workers complain about spending too much time trying to find work-related information. Asking questions and getting them answered sometimes seems like a mission impossible. Being kept in the dark can severely diminish their sense of connection and belonging. As a result, their performance and efficiency are reduced.
Lack of Face To Face Interaction
What concerns both employees and managers the most is the lack of face to face communication. While a virtual workplace may seem like a good idea, it lacks real interaction among employees. Managers are often worried about the efficiency of their employees. On the other hand, employees feel their access to communication and managerial support is rather limited.
Social Distancing
Remote workers, especially the new ones, miss the social aspect of the workplace. While social isolation and loneliness may not pose an issue for introverts, that isn’t the case with extroverts. Not being able to chat and socialize with their coworkers may negatively reflect on their productivity and mental health.
What Can Employers Do To Support Remote Workers
Although remote work comes with certain challenges, they are still effective ways for easing the transition. Some of them are the following:
On the whole, one good thing has come out of this whole mess caused by the coronavirus. That is an increase in remote workers. Although this work arrangement comes with many obstacles employers have to face, it surely pays off in the long run. Even more so, as people expect remote working to reshape the concept of work and become a regular norm in the future. Remote working has been a major buzzword for years now and it seems it is finally receiving all the attention it deserves.