Work-From-Home Jobs Offer Flexibility and Challenges

Work-from-home jobs offer flexibility, but they also pose a number of challenges. These can include distractions, a lack of social interaction and poor communication.

For employers, working from home can open up a bigger talent pool. However, it is important to communicate clear expectations and set boundaries for WFH employees.

Create a dedicated space

Having a dedicated space to work from at home can be a big benefit. It helps you mentally get into “work mode” and minimises distractions. Ideally it’s a separate room or, even better, a soundproofed room so you can close the door and focus on your work. Using a specific workspace also signals to family members that you’re working. This can be especially helpful for injured workers who may need to avoid family interruptions and stressors.

Creating a work-from-home environment that works for you is one of the great benefits of remote working, but it’s important to be able to shut off your work when it’s time to go home. It’s easy for your work life and home life to start overlapping, so set clear boundaries to keep these areas separate. For example, you could set “office hours” and only work during that time. You can also create a visual barrier by only working in your dedicated workspace and putting away your work things when you’re finished.

Aside from the flexible schedules, a huge benefit of remote and hybrid working is that employees don’t have to commute to work each day. This cuts down on energy usage, carbon emissions and other environmental impacts. It also means fewer cars on the road and less traffic overall, which can be good for local communities.

Injured workers who need to find a way to balance their physical and emotional needs often appreciate the flexibility of remote work. It’s easier to maintain a healthy diet, schedule doctor appointments and exercise. It’s also much easier to juggle household chores and childcare while working from home.

Employees who work from home also tend to feel more comfortable expressing their emotions, which can be a big advantage in some workplaces. This is particularly true of injured workers, who may be struggling to cope with a challenging workplace relationship or dealing with ongoing emotional stress. Having the freedom to work from home can also reduce workplace conflict and prevent isolation, which can be detrimental to recovery. In addition, remote and hybrid workers can save on travel expenses, which can be costly for a business.

Make it yours

Many people cite flexibility and work-life balance as major reasons for preferring remote or hybrid working. But it’s important to remember that this is not just a benefit for employees; businesses also stand to gain significant advantages from remote working arrangements.

One of the most obvious benefits is that workers can customise their workspace to suit their needs. Rather than being forced into a standard corporate office layout, home-based workers can decorate, remove distractions and otherwise set up their working environment to encourage productivity. This is particularly useful for injured workers, who may have specific requirements in terms of ergonomics or a desire to work in a space where they can easily incorporate rest and rehabilitation into their day (e.g., stretches, physio-prescribed exercises or meditation).

Another key advantage of remote work is that it can help reduce absenteeism by eliminating the daily commute. Whether it’s because of stress, fatigue or fear of spreading an illness, the daily trudge of travel can contribute to low motivation and poor performance, leading to missed deadlines and increased sick leave. Working from home can alleviate this problem, as well as reduce carbon footprints by reducing the number of cars on the road and lowering energy usage.

Set a realistic budget

Work from home (WFH) is a flexible working arrangement that allows employees to perform their job duties from where they live rather than in an office setting. It can be temporary, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, or permanent part-time or full-time, depending on role requirements and company policies. It can also be done remotely, where an employee may be expected to work outside of the company’s main office location, such as from their home or in a coworking space or cafe, or while travelling.

For employers, having a team that can complete their roles from home has many benefits. It can help to improve trust and loyalty in the workplace, and it can also open up a wider talent pool that may have been excluded because of location or childcare responsibilities. It can also reduce overhead costs, as the company doesn’t need to maintain a physical office.

Get the right equipment

If you’re going to ask your employees to work from home, it’s vital that you provide them with all of the tools they need to succeed. This can be a challenge, as not everyone’s home office is a dedicated space with quality furniture and ergonomic features. Instead, they might be working from a hard stool at the kitchen island or an overcrowded desk that’s surrounded by toys and laundry.

The good news is that there are many ways to make a remote work experience as productive and enjoyable as possible without breaking the bank. For example, providing a stipend for equipment is one option that allows your workers to purchase the items they need without having to wait for reimbursement from the company. However, this may lead to inconsistencies in hardware and software requirements, so it’s important to set clear guidelines and a minimum standard for what qualifies for reimbursement.

Another option is to hire a managed IT services provider to streamline the procurement, management and deployment of the necessary technology for each worker’s role. This can also reduce the risk of incompatibilities between hardware and software, saving both time and money for your business.

Finally, remember that WFH can also improve productivity by reducing absenteeism. It’s much easier to stay home and work from the comfort of your own couch than it is to travel into an office, spend all day there, and then risk spreading a sickness to coworkers. In fact, research suggests that the popularity of flexible work options is linked to a reduction in the rate of employee absences.

As the popularity of flexible and remote work continues to grow, HR leaders must prepare for the shift. This means creating comprehensive remote work policies and environments that promote productivity, health, and safety. By establishing guidelines for a productive work environment and ensuring that all workers have the right equipment to do their job, HR can help to make the work-from-home trend a success for both their employees and their businesses.