Thriving From a Distance: A Guide For Working Remotely
Thriving From a Distance: A Guide For Working Remotely
If there’s one thing we’ve learned during 2020, it’s that more jobs can be done remotely than we ever suspected was possible. As cities and states went into lockdown and enforced social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people found that working remotely was not only possible: it was actually profitable! In fact, some companies have even switched entirely to remote work!
Hiring Remote Workers
While it’s one thing to pivot an already-existing team into working from home (WFH), it’s another matter entirely to consider hiring remote workers for your ongoing projects. Given current trends, however, that’s precisely what you should consider doing.
Thanks to modern communication methods, finding and hiring remote workers is easier than ever; and in the long run, companies will find that remote workers can save them both time and money.
A typical employer can save about $11,000/year for every person who works remotely half of the time. Employees can save between $2,500 and $4,000 a year (working remotely half the time) and even more if they are able to move to a less expensive area and work remotely full time. (Global Workplace Analytics)
The real question, then, is not if you should hire remote workers but how you can help them connect to your company and thrive in their WFH environments.
How to Thrive While Working Remotely
When bringing remote workers on board, it’s incumbent on you to help them stay grounded. Here are three ways you can help your new remote workers thrive.
Establish boundaries.
When you work in an office, the boundaries of time and place are often set for you. You commute to the building, and when you enter, you clock in for the day. When you leave at the end of the day, your shift is over. While there are exceptions, this basic rule helps workers maintain a healthy work/life balance.
When you work from home, however, the divisions of time and place completely collapse. One way to overcome that hurdle is to set some boundaries.
- Establish a dedicated workspace.
- Keep set working hours.
- Take a hard break for meals.
- Turn off push alerts after your workday ends.
By establishing healthy boundaries like these, remote workers are better positioned to thrive.
Stay in touch.
Working remotely can feel isolating, and with isolation comes the potential for decreased satisfaction and productivity. Remote workers need regular communication, both with you and with one another. Be sure to encourage regular rhythms and open lines of communication via e-mail loops, open chat boxes, and face-to-face onscreen meetings.
This is about more than simply the project you’re working on, however. It’s about helping people maintain their overall health. Regular social connection helps lower anxiety, decreases depression, helps us regulate our emotions, and leads to higher levels of empathy.
We need each other! Let’s plan our workdays accordingly.
Manage stress levels.
While there are certain aspects of the WFH lifestyle that are less stressful, the overall experience can still prove overwhelming. This is especially true during times of transition. If an employee has just made the pivot to a WFH environment or has just recently come on board with your company, you’ll want to be especially sensitive to their potential stress levels and do what you can to help them cope.
- Listen.
- Ask questions.
- Offer practical tips.
- Practice empathy.
If we want our remote workers to be with us for the long haul, we’ll do what we can to help them adjust, cope, and thrive.
We Can Help
Here at DevReady, we know what we’re talking about. We’ve been doing remote work for years…and we’re good at it! We have the developers you’re looking for, and we know how to help them connect, integrate with your team, and flourish.
To hear more about what we have to offer, schedule a call today!
