Since the pandemic, you've probably heard more about remote work and its benefits. It's a flexible way of organizing professional work without having to go to the company in person. So, on the Winfor Consulting blog, we're going to talk about the opportunity to work remotely and how it impacts work-life balance and productivity. In short, we're going to look at the pros and cons of this online work modality.

Teleworking isn't a new way of working; it already existed before COVID-19, but most people probably only discovered it during lockdown. And it's certainly here to stay for some companies.

But… What is teleworking really?

Teleworking is a form of remote work, allowing workers to operate from home or away using technology. It is characterized by:

• Location
• Use of technologies
• Flexible working hours

The conditions for teleworking are: having a space to place the computer, an internet connection, and a team to complete the tasks.

For example, working as web designer It's one of the options available to work around the world, either online or from home. There are many options in this professional field, both online and in-person, and the demand for these professionals is very high. Of course, you must have both technical skills to create web portals, as well as artistic ability and sensitivity to design websites that users will love.

Regarding working hours, employees have a defined work schedule, with established hours, which they must adhere to. However, they can move them around as they wish, as long as they work the hours agreed upon by the end of the year.

Teleworking has its limitations, and not all companies can take advantage of it. Only professionals involved in ICT, communications, etc. can telework.

Advantages

• Greater flexibility in your schedule: Remote work allows you greater freedom to work as you please. It's more flexible.
• Easy family balance: allows for better management of childcare, since you can work and have the child at home.
• Reduction in sick leave: By not going to the office, someone with a cold or virus doesn't spread it to other colleagues.
• Minimize unnecessary expenses: The worker can save on gas, food, and elegant work clothes.
• Cost reduction for the company: by minimizing office space and logistics.
• Reducing pollution: by not driving to work and by staying home.
• Less traffic and accidents: reduction of traffic on public roads.

Disadvantages of telecommuting

• Sedentary lifestyle: An increase in workers who don't move or exercise, which leads to more physical problems.
• It's hard to stop working, to not disconnect: to achieve this, you must carefully plan your schedule to avoid working extra work. In many cases, it's difficult to separate your personal and professional life. You must find a balance by separating work from household chores.
• Performance monitoring: They feel more comfortable at home, and to demonstrate the workload completed, the employee should have access to the assignments, along with the objectives achieved.
• Distractions: Being at home is comfortable and sometimes means there are things to do. So, in some cases, there are distractions from workers who stop to perform whatever task or function the house needs: doing laundry, watching TV, etc.
• Lack of response time: Working in a company has the advantage of being able to ask your colleagues anything. However, when you work remotely, responses often take a little longer because you depend on your colleague being online or having time to respond.

In short, we've seen that teleworking has advantages and disadvantages, but to address them, we must take several aspects into account. Maintain a routine with well-defined schedules and habits, maintain an organized space, and avoid a sedentary lifestyle by getting up early, walking a bit, etc. Anything that helps us improve our health and well-being at work is good to implement. We've implemented it ourselves, and we find it very convenient. If you're hesitant to implement it in your company, you can do so at any time. contact us We have the best solutions to help with teleworking.