Working From Home, One Year Later
One year later, and what have we learned? For those lucky few who have not had to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from, it is a good opportunity to reflect on how a year of working remotely has forced us to change the way we do everything. 2021 is one year for our history books.
In early 2018, roughly 4% of the US workforce worked remotely at least half the time.1 During the height of COVID-19 restrictions, that percentage skyrocketed.2 As the world struggles to move forward with change as the new constant, what has happened the past 12 months?
Our “COVID realities” have forced most companies, big and small, to find a way to make it work, ready or not. And WFH may be here to stay. Mark Zuckerberg recently shared his plans for the future of remote work at Facebook. By 2030, he promised, at least half of Facebook’s 50,000 employees would be working from home. “We are going to be the most forward-leaning company on remote work at our scale….”3
The allure of working from home has always been clear. The nirvana of true work/life balance is as irresistible as it seems out of reach. But the reality of balancing work and your personal life has never been easy. The freedom and flexibility you gain from setting your own schedule are often outweighed by the constant pressure to be even more productive than you were before.
Some employers have resisted the idea of a fully remote workforce because of a perceived lack of accountability. Focusing on attendance and not productivity only ensures that someone comes to work, not that they actually get any work done.
Many people feel they have been more productive over these past few months, but not everyone feels the same. While there are many opinions, it seems clear that the biggest issues people experience are limited collaboration and communication, loneliness, and, most importantly, being unable to unplug while working from home. As employers, you must identify and address these symptoms proactively so you don’t risk employee burnout or worse.
Based on the recent MM&M Best Places to Work 2020 Survey, it is clear that what people want most is to be “seen” and “supported”:4
Employer Tips:
Assess the tools and resources you have been using over the past year. Were they stopgap measures, or can they be leveraged into a viable long-term solution? It may be better to outsource certain functions or tasks to ensure that your core team can focus on ways to drive new business rather than on extinguishing the latest client fire.
Banish monotony by spicing up your team’s daily routine. Switching up roles and responsibilities may help team members learn new skills, get a deeper understanding of different business initiatives or acquire new insights that may make operations more efficient.
Regular team check-ins ensure that everyone gets the chance to learn from each other and share their achievements. Making an effort to celebrate personal wins and losses helps create a true sense of community.
Employee Tips:
Focus on the small wins each day. Make a to-do list but make it 100% achievable. Go easy on yourself, because some days you won’t get it all (or anything) done. And that’s OK too.
Sometimes you need to feed your body and your soul. Make sure that you get enough sleep and stay hydrated, don’t skip meals, and take a few minutes to meditate or stretch throughout the course of the day. It will help you clear your mind and get back to the task at hand.
Burnout should not be your goal. For example, constantly checking email late into the evening does not allow for any time to disconnect and refresh for the next day. Set limits and stick to them, no matter what happens. Let people know when you are feeling overwhelmed. Odds are, you are not the only member of your team that might be having a rough day. Lean on and learn from one another.
There is no “one size fits all” approach to managing your business. Every situation is different and must be treated accordingly. But the one common denominator is that you can’t do it alone. You need talented and inspired people to help you bring your vision to life. Lead with respect, stay focused on your business goals and don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed. Contact us @ BMKD for more ways to help grow your brand.
References:
Five million employees (3.6% of the US employee workforce) currently work at home half-time or more [Global Workplace Analytics’ analysis of 2018 American Community Service (ACS) data].
https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/telecommuting-statisticshttps://news.gallup.com/poll/321800/covid-remote-work-update.aspx
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/mark-zuckerberg-half-facebook-may-work-remotely-2030-n1212081
MM&M, December 2020, Best Places to Work 2020
https://theconversation.com/how-remote-working-can-increase-stress-and-reduce-well-being-125021