Work From Home
Ditch your commute! Working from home has become much more common - and for good reason. It’s better for you and the planet! Research shows that employees who work remotely are happier with their jobs, feel less work stress, and show improved performance. If you work in an office or do other types of work that can be done from home, this is a great way to reduce stress from a long commute and free up some extra time. It also makes a big impact, saving a lot of money on travel and reducing a significant amount of climate and air pollution!
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
Telecommuting is a popular option for some employees who live far away from work or want to avoid rush hour traffic commutes. By working from home and making use of the telephone, email, and internet, many employees are able to communicate with the main office and work effectively without making the trip to work. Telecommuting is a great way to reduce stress and free up some extra time!
It also helps reduce energy use and climate emissions. In fact, a study by the Consumer Electronics Association found that using electronics to telecommute can save up to 14 billion kilowatt-hours of energy each year. This is equal to the energy needed to power 1 million US households annually.
Telecommuting is not an option for everyone, it depends on the type of work you do and your company’s policies. However, it’s becoming more popular. In 2015, approximately 60% of companies had some form of telecommuting program. Read on to learn more about telecommuting and see if it’s right for you.
11. Check out your company’s work from home policy
Working from home is a great option for many types of work, however, it doesn’t work for all companies and positions. It would be hard to work from home if you were an air traffic controller!
Many companies are readjusting work from home policies since the pandemic, so this is a great time to learn more about your company policies and provide your input on how continuing this option can be a benefit to you, the company and the planet. If your company has started reducing work from home options, a hybrid schedule might be a good compromise.
Here are some talking points and things to look for:
Benefits of working from home:
- Improved Employee retention
- Improved employee morale and health
- Increased productivity
- Reduced company expenses on office space
- More hiring options on where employees are located
- Reduced climate pollution from employee commutes
Components of a good work from home policy:
- Clear company policies and guidelines for working from home
- Company-provided laptop or other equipment needed for effectively working at home
- Training on how to communicate and manage time effectively working at home
- Good structure for regular communications and check-ins with managers and team
- IT support to ensure security for all data and work performed at home
22. Get set up & start working from home!
Check out the tips below on getting set up or adding some new routines to be effective and make your day go more smoothly.
Get set up:
- Choose the days. Work with your manager to set a schedule and choose which days you can work from home. This could be one or two days a week or full time. A hybrid schedule provides time to work from home as well as the benefits of being on site.
- Set up your home space. Find a good location at home where you can work effectively. Set up your desk, laptop, wifi and everything you need to communicate with the office. Create a separate space, dedicated to work.
- Check security. Work with the IT department to set up your home network, such as using a VPN, to meet all security requirements for your company.
- Schedule communications. Work with your manager on a schedule for communications, check-ins, and deadlines for your work.
Tips for working at home:
- Set communications guidelines with your team. Decide on how often and what types of communications to use. For example, when to use email or chat and when to set up a brief call or regular meeting.
- Be productive. Use a time or task management system to help stay focused. Create a to-do list and plan out your day. Plan uninterrupted work blocks around your most productive time of day like the morning or whenever works best for you.
- Limit distractions. If you don’t need your phone for work, set it to silent. Disable app notifications and use noise canceling headphones if you are in a location with background noise.
- Create a routine. Even if you are not commuting, create a morning routine to help you transition into “work mode”. Stick to a regular schedule for your work day.
- Create a great work space. Get that standing desk you have always wanted, or play your music without distracting anyone else. Declutter your space and stay organized. The goal is to create a space where you can be comfortable and focused.
- Support your team. Provide opportunities for team engagement and recognize successes. This is even more important in a remote team as team members do not have a chance to interact daily.
- Take care of yourself. Take time away from the computer screen during work hours. Set work boundaries with clear work hours and a healthy work-life balance. When you are off work, leave the office behind!
Use your extra time & savings! Without a daily commute, you now have extra time for your family, friends, workouts or errands. Enjoy the extra time, and all the money you'll save on commuting!
Thank your boss. Let your manager know how much you appreciate the flexibility, savings, and other benefits of working from home. Positive feedback may encourage your employer to keep or expand their work from home program.