Tag: Flexible working

1. Home working and how to keep motivated

   May 6, 2020 10:26 am

   Millions of people across the UK and the rest of the world have swapped their office desk for their kitchen table in order to work from home during the lockdown.

   Even after stay at home restrictions are eased its likely that many people will continue home working in the future. Now that so many people have realised the obvious benefits (including no travelling time and no travel costs for staff and lower overheads for organisations) we predict a much bigger trend for more home-based roles going forward.

   However, despite the obvious financial and logistical advantages there are certain challenges to overcome when homeworking. Some people genuinely miss the regimented schedule and social interaction of going into work every day. It’s important for staff at all levels to keep motivated and stay productive, which can be especially challenging for those sharing their new ‘workplace’ with small children and noisy pets!

   Here are our top tips to help you get the best out of your home working experience (and advice if you are trying to manage a team of staff remotely):

   Set goals
   Struggling to stick to the same hours and level of output now you’re on your own at home? Set yourself (or your team) goals to reach in a certain amount of time. This will give you a purpose and provide you with something tangible to aim for.

   Have a daily schedule
   Sketch out a daily schedule including time slots for working, eating, exercising and relaxing. It’s unrealistic to sit at your laptop from breakfast until dinner; breaking up your day will help to keep you focused and motivated. You will be much more productive and feel engaged if you put energy into working at specific times. It’s essential to take time out for coffee and snack breaks and to enjoy fresh air and physical activity. Exercising is not only essential for your mental wellbeing but will help to fire your brain and give you boosts of energy to improve your motivation and discipline. So, follow an online home workout programme to get moving or simply run up and down the stairs or in the garden to help improve your fitness and your work levels.

   Keep professional
   Resist the temptation to lounge around in your pyjamas all day, looking smart will help you feel ready for work (and won’t leave you in an embarrassing situation if you receive a unexpected video call from your boss). Set out an area of your home where you can work and receive video calls in peace and ask the rest of your household to respect that space.

   Continuous Professional Development
   If you have any down time during your work slots why not look at ways to further your skills, knowledge and development? There are lots of free tutorials and training resources online that will help with your professional development during this period of lockdown. Talk to your employer about options for further development, and if you’re a team leader encourage your staff to discuss their training needs with you to help them achieve their goals.

   Stay in contact
   Keep morale up by staying in contact with colleagues. We’re all in the same boat at the moment and others will be struggling to balance home working and family life as well. Just because you can’t chat with colleagues face to face in the office, it doesn’t mean you have to deal with work related queries or issues on your own. Keeping in contact with others is essential for mental wellbeing so take the time to call or video chat with colleagues on a regular basis.

   For more details about how we help our clients to adapt to ways of working from home, or if you’re looking for a new role please contact us at Ocean Edge by calling 023 8000 1153 or email info@oceanedge.biz

2. Is an ‘Office Job’ a thing of the past

   November 11, 2018 9:48 am

   Before the days of the internet, going to work meant sitting in an office 9-5 to use a computer and a telephone that couldn’t be moved from the desk. Nowadays, thanks to the power of online communications, staff have the freedom and flexibility to work just as effectively away from the office.

   With increasing numbers of people working productively each day from home or in coffee shops, is a traditional office working a thing of the past? Richard Branson has said that offices are out-of-date environments and many would agree with him. But is an internet connection all that is needed to produce successful individuals and give them satisfying and rewarding careers?

   The benefits of non-office working are definitely apparent. Removing a daily commute to the office saves time and money, enabling employees to spend more time with their families and leads to a much healthier work-life balance. Plus fewer commuters on the roads and trains has obvious environmental benefits too.

   Recent research also suggests that home working is more productive. Without co-workers to chat to or a lengthy commute, employees actually work more productively and for longer hours from home. And with less sick days, all these factors contribute to a greater sense of employee satisfaction and could increase the output of any business.

   However, it’s worth noting the concerns about home working. With no fellow workers to talk to and socialise with, home working can be lonely and may in time, affect face to face communication skills. Also, with performance judged on results instead of merely turning up at the office each day, it could ultimately place more stress on workers and lead to staff feeling they must work longer hours.

   Our professional view is that, whilst there are clear advantages to home working, an equal split between being based at home and in the office would be the ideal solution for a business considering the idea. This approach combines the flexibility and work-life balance of home with the day to day social interaction in an office that is so important to the happiness and satisfaction of a working individual.