Challenges of Working Remotely
5 Challenges of Working Remotely
The emergence of the Covid -19 pandemic caused a sudden increase of remote workers. Even now that the number of new infections has significantly reduced, many companies have asserted that they will continue to allow their employees to work remotely.
Since there are no coworkers, managers, or supervisors at home or co-working spaces, there are plenty of challenges associated with working from home. Numerous remote employees have encountered challenges due to the drastic change in the environment. So, what are these challenges making it difficult for employees to maintain their productivity levels when working remotely?
Let’s have a look at them
1. Remote Collaboration
According to Jonathan Osler, one of the leading drawbacks of working remotely is limited team collaboration. In a conventional office setting, teams collaborate through documents, sharing items, and scheduling regular meetings. However, team collaboration among remote employees is limited to utilizing collaboration tools and software, which can’t match in-person conversation.
2. Time Management
Many remote workers have reported difficulties in time management. A great number of remote employees work from the comfort of their homes, which creates room for countless distractions. Talk of unwashed dishes in the sink, playing with children, or un-mowed lawn, there are so many things that distract remote workers.
Time tracking software helps remote workers avoid distractions. The software allows employees to set time aside for every task and monitor time spent in every activity. Time tracking software is also said to help remote workers avoid spending too much time on Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
3. Working from Different Time Zones
Telecommuting allows companies to hire top talents from different geographical locations. The downside of a diverse team is different working time zones. One worker might be struggling to complete a project, while on the other side, another worker might be deep in their sleep.
Additionally, one employee may concentrate better in the evening, while others may prefer working during normal working hours, hindering real-time collaboration.
4. Overworking
The greatest fear of telecommuting to managers is that some employees may slack off since no one supervises them. Surprisingly, the opposite is also true. Some employees may overwork themselves.
Remote workers rarely remember to take between breaks and wrap up their workday. Jonathan Osler, a renowned educator, has it that most workers find themselves in a constant working mood. They don’t know when to keep off their work desk and enjoy dinner with their families, when to mow the lawn, or when to take an evening walk. The remedy to this challenge is setting a clear start and finish time to avoid burnout.
5. Cuts on Social Life
Remote working breeds loneliness. While workers can share ideas or real-life stories during coffee breaks in a traditional office, remote workers are in their own lonely space. Isolation limits social interactions, which can take a toll on one’s mental health. To avoid boredom, remote workers should prioritize working from a co-working space and setting time aside for social activities.
Remote workers need to separate their personal lives from their work lives. They should have a well-designed schedule showing when to start and stop work. A well-laid time plan can help them increase productivity and achieve outstanding work-life balance.