What is Remote Work?

Imagine rolling out of bed, skipping the commute, and starting your workday from your kitchen table. For many, this is the new normal. Remote work, also called WFH (Work from Home), is the practice of working from one’s home rather than from an office or workspace.

This practice has been around for centuries, but remote work for large employers began on a small scale in the 1970s, when technology was developed to link satellite offices to downtown mainframes using telephone lines as network bridges.

Fast forward to the 1990s and 2000s the rise of cloud computing and conference calls made remote collaboration more feasible.

Then in 2020, due to COVID-19, there was a huge shift into remote work around the world, and it continued to persist even after restrictions were lifted. And for many, this changed everything.

The Bright Side of Remote Work

• Better Work-Life Balance and Flexibility:

Working remotely helps employees strike a balance between their work and personal life, leading to a boost in healthy lifestyles and reducing stress, offering more freedom and control over work schedules and locations.

• Increased Productivity:

Fewer office distractions often mean more focus. That’s one of the reasons remote workers often report higher productivity since it’s just easier to get into the zone.

• Cost Savings:

Ditching the commute not only saves time but also money. The money spent on meals and business attires is redirected by remote work towards personal goals such as to further education, for childcare, or a much-needed holiday.

Remote work saves companies expenses on utilities and office space. The saved money can be used to support employee training and development. By reducing commutes, remote work can contribute to a smaller carbon footprint.

• Access to Global Talent:

Remote work providing work-life balance encourages employees to apply to diverse positions and job openings in different locations. The thing of not having to travel opens vast job opportunities, thereby increasing job satisfaction.

For employers, this means hiring from a broader, more diverse talent pool.

• Happy Employees, Higher Retention:

Many employees find that remote work provides greater job satisfaction due to increased autonomy, flexibility, and a better work-life balance. This improves employee satisfaction and retention rates.

• Enhanced Company Reputation:  

Companies embracing the WFH culture look attractive and forward-thinking, thereby appealing to employees.

The Challenges of Remote Work

• Lack of human interaction:

To be honest, video calls just aren’t the same as chatting over coffee or around the water cooler. Lack of face-to-face interactions with colleagues can lead to loneliness and detachment, which can impact mental health.

• Lack of Boundaries:

When you work from home, it can feel like you are always working, always available. When you don’t wrap up work at 5 or 6pm and there’s no commute to break up the day, it’s hard to tell when work ends. This can flow into the evenings or weekends leading to burnout.

• Distractions at home:

Another common issue with WFH is distractions at home i.e., household chores, noisy neighbours, family members, and lack of a dedicated workplace can all reduce productivity.

• Limited career advancement opportunities:

Remote workers may feel less visible to management and miss out on opportunities for promotions or professional development.  

• Technical Issues:

Being dependent on a stable internet connection and working technology can lead to productivity loss and frustration when technical issues rise.

How to make Remote work Work

• Clear boundaries:

Decide specific working hours and stick to them. Avoid checking emails or working after hours.

• Create a dedicated workspace:

Designate a specific area in your home for work to separate your home life from your work life to minimize distractions. This helps create healthy boundaries, increasing focus, and avoiding burnout.

• Stay Connected:

Regular video calls, virtual team hangouts, and check-ins help maintain essential social bonds. Make a conscious effort to connect with your colleagues.

• Prioritize your well-being:

Make time for exercise, hobbies, and maintaining a healthy diet will help improve mental and physical well-being.

• Establish Clear Communication Boundaries:

Set clear expectations for communication with colleagues and managers, including preferred methods of contact and response times.

• Maintain a Structured Routine:

Establish a daily schedule that includes work hours, breaks, and personal time to create a sense of structure and control.

• Stay Tech-Ready:

Ensure your technology and internet connection are reliable and secure to minimize disruptions and ensure smooth communication.

How Remote Work Impacts Women

Pros

For many women, working remotely isn’t just convenient, it’s empowering.  Remote work gives women the flexibility they need to thrive both personally and professionally. They can escape and save on the morning rush-hour commute reclaiming precious hours and make work fit into their personal lives.

Like in my own journey, I found remote work opened doors I didn’t know existed, opportunities across borders, across time zones, without ever having to relocate.

Cons

But this freedom comes with a price. For many women, especially mothers, remote work can blur the already thin line between professional and personal life. Domestic responsibilities will dim the line between work and home.

In this case, women might have to respond to more family and household demands during their work hours when they are at home compared to when they are at work, making them feel the pressure to be available 24/7 leading to burnout, having an effect on their mental health, creating an unhealthy cycle of working all the time, and feeling like they constantly need to catch up.

Some companies view this flexible arrangement opted by women as trying to prioritise family over work, whereas it's seen as the opposite when men opt for this option. WFH also reduces social interactions with colleagues, which means not being able to build personal connection outside work, which might impact their career in many ways, down the line.

How Can We Help Women?

Women:

• Set clear boundaries and prioritise your well-being.

• Utilise time management tools.

• Create a designated workspace at home and communicate clearly with family and co-workers.

• Make use of co-working spaces and communities to combat isolation and loneliness.

Companies:

• Companies and organisations should build and prioritise policies that support shared caregiving and flexible work for all genders.

• For mothers, dedicated childcare facilities within co-working spaces can be a game-changer, allowing them to focus on their work while knowing their children are safe and well cared for.

Personal Experience

Up until now, my professional experience has been entirely remote, I’ve never had to commute to work. This arrangement came with both perks and challenges. One major benefit was saving on commuting time and costs. The money I saved was invested in upskilling, and the flexibility during peak hours allowed me to be more productive.

Working remotely also opened opportunities to apply for roles globally without the need to relocate. This enabled me to collaborate with diverse individuals and teams, helping me better understand different cultures and perspectives.

However, remote work also blurred the lines between my personal and professional life. The lack of separation eventually led to immense pressure and burnout, and for a time, I struggled to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

It took time and reflection, but I eventually learned to set clear boundaries by openly communicating with my team. This shift helped me regain balance and restore a healthier, more sustainable routine.

Remote work is more than a trend...

Remote work is more than a trend, it’s a transformation. And if we use it wisely, it can be a powerful tool for gender equality, productivity, and well-being.

While remote work offers work-life balance and flexibility for women, there are challenges to be acknowledged, and potential steps to be taken to alleviate them such as promoting shared responsibilities in the family home and ensuring equal access to career advancement opportunities.

By doing so, we can make sure this new era of work empowers women, not trap them. The future of work is still being written. Let’s make sure that it is one where women are not just surviving but thriving.

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