The pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way individuals work.

The Government’s ‘work from home if you can’ mantra has made many employees preferring to regularly work this way. Even pre-COVID, there was a 159% increase in remote work between 2005 and 2017 (Global Workplace Analytics). There are many positives, such as less time commuting and the ability to get the job done while maintaining a better work/life balance. However, what are the pitfalls of working remotely and what should business owners, line managers and HR take into account:

• Communication issues and being out of the loop;
• Working too much and feeling that others don’t think you are working;
• Inability to prioritise work and following a schedule;
• Interruptions from family, pets, television and the doorbell;
• Loneliness and lack of human interaction;
• Technology hiccups; and
• Bad health habits.

However, one comment from a home-worker in the USA does resonate with me:

“I’ve worked from home for nine years – and I’ve saved $30,500 on lunches, petrol, business attire and coffee.”

Contact Paul at Coppice HR (paul@coppicehr.com or 07814 008478) for a view on homeworking. How do you avoid being interrupted by children, the dog, the sports channel on TV and the doorbell!

Inspired by: Remote Work Challenges (Zapier.com) and It May Be Hard To Find A Healthy Work/Life Balance (Business Insider, 2019)