Remote work has become one of the defining business trends for 2021. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, people were forced to leave their offices and start working from home. While it was a dream come true for many, it is crucial to research how remote working can impact employees’ well-being, especially after this long period. Some employees are starting to feel discouraged, and it is vital to understand if remote work has anything to do with it.
Positive aspects of remote work. Remote work has many positive aspects. It gives people security, optimism, resolve, and the ability to adapt to this new work environment. Employees can establish a workspace at home by making use of the space in the garage or a spare room, and enjoy many benefits of working remotely:
- staying safe from Covid-19;
- eliminating commute time;
- employees can spend more time with their families;
- flexible working hours and better time management;
However, are there any downsides to this?
The line between work and home is gone. One of the reasons why remote working can impact employee’s mental well-being is that there is no line between working and living. Since you can work flexible hours, your private life slowly mixes with your shifts. For some, this poses no problems. However, there are those who do not want to bring work to their homes.
As a manager, one way to battle this issue is to help create a cozy space for your workers. Share design ideas on how they can separate work from home even when working remotely, and understand that they need off time once their shift is ended.
This is also important for all recruiters during Covid-19. Explain to the potential new employees how your company is doing everything for its employees so that they still have private space even during remote work.
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Working from bed is not as efficient or productive. When employees wake up and start working while still in their beds, productivity and efficiency drop. It might seem like something attractive, but only at the beginning. Over time, employees will start to feel lazy, and that will affect their work ethics. Companies are returning to mid- to long-term strategic planning while still working from home, so it is crucial to have this problem in mind. If you don’t take it seriously, it will affect the business in the long run.
Constant pressure. Remote working can impact employee’s mental well-being because it creates a feeling that work comes first. The pressure is always on, and it can create a setting where you work and go to sleep, just to wake up tomorrow and work again. Slowly, everything becomes work-oriented.
Increased isolation. Remote working can impact employee’s mental well-being because of the isolation. When you go to the office, you need to dress up, socialize with people, and always be energized. For some, that becomes a measure of success. Remote working is slowly isolating employees, and some may be losing their sharpness. People may feel as if they are in a state of stagnation, where nothing new happens.
There needs to be a balance. It is crucial to remember that we need balance in everything. Working remotely has an array of benefits, and it is definitely something that employees need. However, too long periods of remote working can impact employee’s mental well-being. When the opportunity allows it, consider creating a schedule that will help your employees get back to the office, but also leave a few days every week for remote work.