There are plenty of misconceptions about remote work, such as ‘remote workers don’t get any work done’ or ‘they just sit in bed all day’. These are still prevalent even after a year when many of us have been forced to work from home for long periods of time.
It’s time to leave these myths behind as increasing numbers of businesses are adopting a more flexible remote working policy. These businesses have started to recognise the many benefits of remote work for both employer and employee. Not only can remote working save organisations money but it can also improve retention rates and give them access to a larger talent pool when it’s time to start recruiting. Employees can save time and money on the commute, develop their own working environment and enjoy a bit more flexibility to help fit work into a busy modern lifestyle.
Here are some of those myths about remote working and the truth behind them:
- Remote workers don’t get as much done
There is a common view that remote workers aren’t as productive as their office-based counterparts. There’s an idea that because you’re not sitting next to your manager or colleagues, there’s less pressure to get on with your work. Numerous studies have shown that this simply isn’t true. In fact, a CoSo Cloud survey showed that more than three-quarters of remote workers say they’re more productive working from home away from the distractions of the office. Many also reported that they work longer hours than they do when in the office.
2. Remote working gets in the way of effective communication
It’s true that for remote work to be a success, good communication needs to be made a priority and lots of recruiters have been placing more importance on this ‘soft’ skill over the last year. When done properly and with the right tools at your disposal, remote working shouldn’t get in the way of effective communication.
In 2021 we have plenty of tools at our disposal to help us communicate more efficiently. For quick questions and for keeping in touch with colleagues, there are various instant messaging services. Emails remain a favourite for more formal matters, team updates and client communication. Video calls are perfect for meetings and they allow you to communicate with your colleagues ‘face-to-face’ which can help with team bonding.
When it comes to working collaboratively, tools that allow us to work on the same document or presentation as our colleagues at the same time have been around for years. They work just the same wherever you’re working from, keeping you, quite literally, on the same page as the rest of your team.
3. Remote workers spend all day in bed and never get out of their PJs
Most remote workers will tell you straight away that this just isn’t true. While some remote workers might try this at first (and in fact, it might work for a handful of them), the novelty will wear off pretty quickly. Most will quickly discover that getting out of bed and getting dressed signals to your brain and body that it’s time for the working day to start and will set you up for being much more productive.
Many remote workers also likely to develop a clear line between ‘home-life’ and ‘work-life’ and this means having different physical spaces for each. Very few people will be able to focus properly in a space designed to help you relax. Conversely, they may then find it very difficult to switch off in a space that you’ve brought work into.
You’ll find that many top remote workers have a routine that is not dissimilar to someone heading out to the office. They may be able to get up a little later or fit in some exercise before work thanks to skipping the commute but schedules will usually have them at their desks at around the same time as an office worker. And fully dressed too.
4. Remote workers can’t be as ‘successful’ as office workers
There can be a misconception that remote jobs aren’t ‘real jobs’ in the same way that jobs based in offices are. There is an idea that you can’t become a manager when working remotely. This simply isn’t true and some remote workers are very senior in the organisations that they work for. As long as you have good digital communication skills, there’s no reason that remote working should hold you back when it comes to career progression.
5. Remote working is lonely
After the year we’ve had with Covid-19, it is very understandable that some might have found remote working a lonely experience. Those that live alone have had a particularly tough time of it in this respect. It’s important to remember that the working scenarios we’ve been forced to adopt in the last 12 months are not a true reflection of what remote working can be. With vaccines being rolled out around the world, our restricted lifestyles where we are working and spending the vast majority of our time at home will soon be able to get back to normal.
Many find that remote working actually makes them much more proactive about socialising and developing relationships inside and outside of work. They are also better able to choose when and where these interactions take place instead of being interrupted in the middle of a tricky task that requires focus.
6. You can’t create an effective working environment outside the office
Over the last year or so, creating an effective working space at home has been tricky for those of us who don’t have the luxury of a home office or a spare room that can be transformed into an office when needed.
In order to do their jobs comfortably, most remote workers will need a fast internet connection, a desk, a high-quality desk chair and a computer. In order to reach their potential in terms of efficiency, workers might need to think a little more about their surroundings. They might need to remove some distractions from their workspace or be able to physically leave their workspace at the end of the day to create some headspace for tomorrow.
When we finally get back to some sort of ‘normal’, there will be more opportunities for remote workers to find a working environment that suits them. After all, remote work doesn’t have to mean ‘working from home’. You might find that there is a local shared working space that is better kitted out for your needs than your kitchen table. Or that the background hum of the cafe on the corner helps you focus better. Remote working actually gives you the opportunity to create your ideal working environment rather than being restricted by an office.
7. There isn’t as much accountability when you’re working remotely
If your organisation has a successful system in place for measuring workers’ output, remote employees are just as accountable as those working from the office. There should be much more focus on the work itself, rather than the hours spent sitting at a desk. Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they’re not working.
8. Remote workers have an excellent or terrible work-life balance
On the one hand, some people think that remote workers don’t do any work at all, on the other, some people think that they don’t know how to switch off.
The truth is that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is tricky whether you work in an office or work remotely. Remote work gives you a wonderful opportunity to improve your work-life balance and maintain a happier, healthier lifestyle. You are free of the daily commute, giving you a bit more time to exercise or drop the kids off at school. However, it can be more difficult to separate out your working life and your home life, especially if you choose to work in your home.
Of course, everyone is unique and different people will find different working styles and environments better for them and we recognise that remote working isn’t for everyone. However, there are lots of remote workers out there who are just as productive and successful as their contemporaries working in offices and who have managed to significantly improve their work-life balance by ditching the commute. Remote working presents its own set of challenges but in 2021 we are well equipped to meet them. It’s about time we left these common remote working myths behind us and embraced a new, more flexible way of working.
Castle Hill House