Remote work issues have risen significantly, the reason being we were not used to it beforehand. However, the rapid spread of Covid-19 resulted in millions of people being stuck at home around the world. Companies were forced to introduce work from home to stay afloat while entire countries were locked down. Even though working from the comfort of their homes has been a welcome change to most people, it does come with various challenges. Being trapped inside while a pandemic rages outside is as good as any reason to be anxious and stressed. Add to that the regular stress of work and things start to seem daunting.
Also, people are not used to remote work, so it is understandable that mistakes will happen. We can learn from such mistakes and, as a result, navigate through the intricacies of remote work better in the future.
Here are some common remote work issues that people are committing while working from home:
Something Slips Through
People have a lot on their plates nowadays. With the spread of Covid-19, schools have also closed down and shifted to online learning. This means households are packed with kids as well. Parents are having to juggle taking care of their kids while subsequently dealing with office work. This can result in something like an appointment or a meeting slipping through the cracks. If that happens to you, apologize immediately. There is no need to go into details or explanations. Simply apologize and assure him/her that it won’t happen again.
Lack of a Proper Setup
While working from home, a proper work setup is essential. You must have a designated workspace in your house where you will be able to work without any distractions. If you don’t set up a workstation and try to work from a couch or a bed, you will face many issues. Your back and neck will begin to ache from the constant leaning down. This could also lead to bad headaches. Also, if you are just working anywhere in your house, you will be distracted by other people who are going about their day which leads to other remote work issues. Being organized is very important when you are working for a company, and laziness like this will get you in trouble.
Loss of Connection with Colleagues
Remote work issues can easily lead to frustration. It is the worst thing about working from home as socialization is a very important need for everybody. When you interact with your bosses only through a screen, it can create distance and a loss of connection. If there is a loss of connection, you and your work will be less valued at the company. This will be an issue when it is time for promotions as remote workers will not be in the front of the minds of the management.
But there are things you can do to combat this distance. Stay connected with your boss and colleagues through phone and social media. Ask for a meeting with your manager to work on the finer details of any ongoing project at the company. Work on your networking skills and build your online network. Reach out to people through emails, and video call your colleagues on the weekend.
Working Too Much
Another thing that works from home has caused is that people are actually working more than when they were working at the office. Since people are comfortable at home, the bosses don’t feel the guilt while piling up assignment after assignment. This has led to work hours bleeding into time which is supposed to be yours for leisure. It is essential to create boundaries and inform the management that you will not work past the office hours just because you happen to be working from home.
Even though remote work has many benefits, it also comes along with some pretty serious issues. Having a good work-life balance is essential for personal happiness and health. Which of the points listed above did you relate to the most? Let us know by leaving a comment below.