Virtual offices are here to stay. If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us is that most businesses can adapt to survive online. Companies that could safely move to a remote working environment have been vocal about the many advantages of a remote workplace.
Indeed, there’s no denying that when physical interactions were limited, being able to work from home has been a game-changer for professionals of all industry sectors. But beyond the health consideration, business owners have also noticed unexpected benefits. For a start, contrary to common belief, home-based employees are not less productive. They are not only more productive, but they also tend to work longer hours. The virtual office completely eliminates unnecessary office meetings and interruptions, which means that your team can stay focused on the job at hand.
Additionally, families also find it easier to juggle life and work requirements from home. Employees can more easily schedule errands and school runs during the day without needing to take time off. Combined with flexible working hours, it’s been a revelation for business owners. Finally, remote working contracts mean that employers can find the best talent for the job without letting location be a problem. Relocation costs and requirements are not relevant anymore when teams are allowed to work from the comfort of their home, anywhere in the country (or the world).
However, despite its many advantages, the remote workplace is not without risks. Ultimately, companies that established their processes around a specific location have experienced some challenges during the pandemic. As it makes no doubt that virtual work arrangements will remain relevant for a long time, it’s time for businesses to focus on the invisible problems of remote work.
It exposes you to security issues
During the pandemic, cybersecurity crime levels went literally through the roof. Top security experts reported no less than 4,000 cyberattacks a day at the peak of the pandemic. In March 2020, TechRepublic warned about an almost 670% increase in spear-phishing attacks, and one month later, the FBI stated a 400% increase in cybercrimes. If you are moving to a remote work environment, you can’t afford to ignore the cyber risks. Organizations need to establish a best practice strategy to keep their remote staff safe. Security can’t be a second thought. It has to be part of the organizational culture to help employees develop the right habits. Enforcing data policies across the workforce will ensure that data remains visible without affecting its safety or confidentiality. This will reduce the risk of password sharing and unsafe cloud environments.
You need someone to troubleshoot IT problems
In an office, employees know they can turn to an in-house expert or a co-worker to help with everyday IT considerations. From computer setup to struggling with network access, these are typical issues easily resolved during a normal workday. Yet, once employees begin working from home, they don’t have any support to tackle recurring IT issues. These could slow down productivity and lead to unnecessary data exposure as employees try to find an alternative to carry on with their work. Managed IT services expert, Eberly Systems, has helped teams deal with a variety of remote problems, ranging from new computer storage solutions to slow boot-up. Ultimately, they have made it their mission to act as an MSP for their clients during the pandemic, offering guidance, IT strategies, and hands-on solutions.
Your team feels isolated
Is working from home really the best solution for the team’s morale? A recent survey of the UK workforce seems to indicate that remote work can have a negative impact on mental health. Almost half of the workers admit to experiencing feelings of loneliness during self-isolation periods, affecting their sleeping habits, living arrangements, stress levels, self-esteem, and eating habits. While the survey is UK-focused, it wouldn’t be illogical to assume that many American employees have had a similar experience. In fact, the rise in therapy consultations and similar mental health alerts across the US reveals that workers worldwide struggle with the change of work environment.
You can’t control the work environment
The business has no control over the home office setup. Our homes are not designed to accommodate office requirements. Therefore, it is no surprise that some employees find their remote work environment distracting and damaging. In small households, disruptions are unavoidable as people share a reduced living space. Children and partners often remain close by, leading to involuntary disruptions. Parents of young children often need to schedule their day around their children, which can be tricky if little ones are sick or require a lot of attention. Unfortunately, parents who juggle both their professional and parental duties are worried about criticism or discrimination from their employers.
Additionally, not all neighborhoods are peaceful during the day. Loud neighbors can affect focus, productivity, and the overall quality of calls.
You need to rely on their broadband connection
Here’s an important question most businesses have forgotten to ask. How many employees have access to a fast, reliable, and safe internet connection? According to the Federal Communications Commission, 21 million Americans do not have high-speed Internet access. Yet, ew reports imply that the real number could be much higher. For employees who live without a suitable broadband connection, there is no possibility of maintaining their productivity or even securing their role within the company.
It affects work/life balances negatively
Working from home is often described as a dream come true for people who worry about their work/life balance. In reality, the pandemic has shown a different reality. Employees who worked from home found it difficult to stick to the usual working hours. The absence of commute and physical separation between the home and the office contributed to longer days. Additionally, many have complained about the desk-heavy work schedule that doesn’t allow for any break. As there is no need to walk through the office to attend meetings, people are more likely to organize meetings virtually one after the other. It’s not uncommon for someone to be on Zoom for the major part of the day without any toilet or lunch breaks.
It’s easier to quit
Typically, when someone was planning an interview for a new job, they would require a day off. But when you work from home, you can simply book the interview as another Zoom meeting in your calendar. Employers are none the wiser, and employees are quick to shop around for the best role. While it can be an advantage from an employee’s perspective, it can harm a business dramatically.
It reduces creativity
Creativity needs a change of environment, the introduction of new concepts, and time. Creativity isn’t something that employees can plug in on demand. Unfortunately, the home office environment can make it hard to bring new ideas to the day-to-day tasks. Remote workers tend to fall into a routine that can affect their imaginative potential and ability to question data. Additionally, the home office also destroys the brainstorming power of the workplace. With nobody else to share ideas with, employees naturally become less creative.
It’s disorganized
The typical workplace allows for a natural flow of information. Employees are quick to catch up on new projects or assignments, even if they were not invited to the initial meeting. However, when people are in different locations, they are unlikely to hear about other tasks and projects. The virtual office requires an office manager who can oversee all communication and work tasks to ensure that people are not accidentally duplicating work.
It makes no doubt that organizations can gain a lot from a remote work environment. However, moving forward, the remote workplace needs to address organizational, digital, and mental health issues that have arisen in recent months.
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