10 common myths about telecommuting

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

More and more companies around the world are giving preference to remote work. But society is still full of misconceptions about this. Suzanne Zuppello, HR specialist and corporate blog author Trello, has tried to break the most popular teleworking myths.

1. Working at a distance is less productive

It is easy to assume that a remote employee is more likely to be distracted from tasks, since he does not work under the strict supervision of his boss. But research. The Harvard Business Review proves otherwise. The company that participated in it noted an increase in the productivity of workers by 13.5% after they were transferred to a remote mode.

An employee working from home does not experience typical office distractions such as the break room effect. We are talking about situations where colleagues break away from work to, for example, celebrate someone's birthday with a cup of coffee, a slice of cake and a festive conversation. Remote workers avoid these interruptions and do not spend extra time getting on the job.

2. Remote employees are not available when they are needed

If an employee is out of the office, this does not mean that he disappears somewhere on a picnic. His daily routine is most often tied to the company's schedule, as is the work of the office team members. According to Maren Donovan, CEO of Zirtual, a startup that provides remote assistants for business tasks, the success of a common cause depends on the deadlines and the needs of its participants.

According to research. at TINYpulse, 52% of surveyed telecommuters contact their superiors one to several times a day. Another 34% contact managers at least once a week.

It is unlikely that a remote employee will disappear in the middle of his working day if he does not want problems with management.

3. Remote work endangers company data

Many people worry that transferring sensitive data through third-party servers is bound to lead to leaks. But this can be avoided. Skilled IT professionals can minimize this chance.

There are many reliable solutions used by IT teams around the world. Cloud technologies allow you to maintain security using special programs and control data without physical access to computers. In addition, tools such as two-factor authentication and VPN provide additional protection against eavesdropping.

Of course, an employee who wants to steal data will achieve his goal, regardless of whether he is in the office or not. But this is already a problem of a person, and not of a mode of operation.

4. Telecommuting makes communication difficult

If someone works at a distance, this does not mean that it is more difficult to communicate with him. When there is a need for a face-to-face dialogue with a remote employee, telecommunications comes to the rescue. But for remote communication to be effective, managers must clearly instruct subordinates about the tools and norms of communication adopted in the company.

Remote companies are even finding new socialization methods for their teams. Periodic video conferencing for conversations on non-working topics, entertainment channels in Slack (animals, children and sports are always relevant) and offline meetups are all ways to foster a culture of distance communication and unite colleagues.

5. Distance rallies lose effectiveness

Skype, Zoom or other applications can improve the effectiveness of meetings in the same way as other forms of communication.

When people are engaged in a project in the same room every day, it can feel as if their time and ability to work on it are unlimited. However, according to Marena, remote rally participants are more productive. It's just that they perceive the volume of work and free time of colleagues differently, especially when they are in different time zones.

6. Remote workers feel lonely

You can work remotely not only from home, where there is no one else but you. For some it really suits. But there are other options like cafes, libraries and coworking spaces. These places are in high demand among teleworkers.

New services such as aggregate visitor reviews to determine the best public spaces for comfortable remote work. There are even startups that help to look for places with free places during business hours.

Thus, to work remotely, you do not have to move away from society.

7. Teleworking raises costs

Some people think telecommuting is spending more money on it due to the need for additional technology. But in general, this is not the case. Indeed, bosses can spend resources on equipment and delivering it to staff locations. Despite this, remote employees are still cheaper.

The fact is that the employer does not pay huge sums of money for the rent of office space and furniture, maintenance and additional benefits in the form of coffee, food and photocopiers. This is not to mention a reduction in the company's carbon footprint since workers do not need to travel to the office by transport. But in some countries, this indicator can affect taxes.

8. Remote work is killing company culture

Working at a distance affects the camaraderie within the team, you can't argue with that. But the company is made better not by idle chatter with employees (which can even harm), but by the attitude of the bosses towards them. To maintain a culture of communication, it is enough to correctly establish communication.

Managers should purposefully show by their attitude the importance of each employee, especially if he works remotely. If you cannot exchange a couple of phrases with an employee at a meeting, this is not a hindrance to a positive atmosphere in the company.

9. Remote employees work 24 hours, 7 days a week

An employee may not visit the office on schedule, but this does not mean that he has to work all day. Remote workers often adhere to the schedule of their office colleagues and the same work-play balance.

At the same time, you shouldn't think that your friend is ready to have a drink with you at any moment or go somewhere just because he works from home. He may have responsibilities to fulfill.

10. Remote workers watch TV shows all day long

People working from home can listen to the same background sounds as colleagues from the office. For example, radio or music streaming.

At the same time, in an attempt to compensate for the lack of control, remote workers independently bring order to their working day. For example, they put on work clothes every day and do not allow themselves to watch TV series at work in the same way as office colleagues. This is the only way to stay focused and be productive.