Now that it is clear that telecommuting and working from home is the new business model going into the future, it behooves us to take responsibility for changes in the work environment and to address challenges rapidly as they become apparent.
For instance, remote workers do have a tendency to work longer hours (with or without compensation), they suffer from disconnectedness which leads to depression, and their face-to-face communication skills are dwindling as they get lost in isolation.
Employers who are using telecommuters need to take into consideration that this new workforce segment is in the process of developing special needs that need to be addressed before they become problematic, affecting work performance, and the organization’s bottom line.
And for those working from home, they need to be cognizant of their potential to develop these weaknesses and hopefully, be able to cut them off at the pass.
The emerging concern is that the mental health of telecommuters may be at risk.
Corporate or self-imposed teleworker evaluations must be made to ascertain any potential for being at risk in the work from home environment.
Are your employees adapting well and thriving as they are embracing all the benefits of remote work? Or are they experiencing increased stress levels from no longer working in the safety and security of the office environment they were once accustomed to?
Are they enjoying being able to flex their hours to accommodate personal needs, wants, and desires, and enjoying the freedom that comes from telework? Or are they feeling isolated from coworkers and the world, which may lead to dark psychological challenges?
Are your off-site workers upbeat and enthusiastic about their job performance and personal lives, or is their outlook on life, including professional and personal life, deteriorating?
Are your remote employees healthier since they have been telecommuting, or is their health on the decline since they have been working from home?
What does their diet look like when they are working at home? Are they sleeping soundly, or losing sleep? Do they have an exercise routine?
Do they feel enthusiastic and optimistic? Or are they spending more time focusing on fear of what the future may hold, or worrying more?
Employers, or the telecommuters themselves, must take a proactive approach to making sure that this world of turning a part of your living space into an effective workplace has an ultimately positive impact on one’s life in order to make this transition successful.
Some things you can do include:
Shake up your work at home routine for a better life
Decorate your home work-area to your heart’s content. Surround yourself with all the things that make you feel good.
Change your routine up. Take advantage of the flexibility of your work schedule. Take your breaks out of the house.
Get out and take a walk in nature.
Go to your favorite coffee shop and use their Internet to telecommute from occasionally.
Alternate between sitting and standing positions at your desk.
Make connections and communicate with coworkers that are not related to work.
Start an office pool competition, and whoever wins gets the pot or the prize.
Keep in mind that the worker is the backbone of telecommuting. If you are the teleworker, it just doesn’t work without you. Look after yourself, your wellbeing first, and all these other things will fall into place.