Chuck LEAN Business Consultant
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Millions of people need a home office for the first time. Some have perched at kitchen tables or made do with a laptop on the sofa for months.
But even if a vaccine comes soon, many people may never go back to the office full time. And the early signs of how the pandemic has affected the UK's mental health are not good.
Levels of [removed] , while in a [removed] by the Royal Institute of British Architects many people said working from home had made them more stressed.
So what can we do to keep us happier at home?
Any ideas?
Working from home (or WFH) is not a new business concept. Business enterprises usually have a standard policy for this type of work. However, in light of the coronavirus, working from home operations have never been necessary on such a large scale. It's all very well having policies for how you should sit in your chair and how much lighting you should have, at home - which is fine if you are taking the odd day working there. But the effects of the coronavirus - and isolation - have had (and will continue to have) a profound effect on the way workforce behaves operates and delivers. Business policies and rules need to reflect the massive impact this has on all of the workforce - especially when your entire workforce is working from home. Individuals need the right tools - and more fluid rules regarding workflows in place. For the individual it also presents issues with their day-to-day tasks. If we take a look at these elements in isolation;
Working from home tools and policies need to encompass the fact that an entire workforce may be working from home. Therefore, it should include methods of communication which are commensurate with that type of working environment. Does the workforce have the means to effectively communicate externally, internally, publicly - and privately? Do they have the means to instantly message others, to raise and answer questions in a timely manner - or to escalate and monitor issues they may have in the course of carrying out their duties? Do they have remote access to all of the information, data and tools they need to conduct their work/role? How is a working from home workforce monitored - and what methods are employed to ensure working hours are being adhered to, by that workforce?
Work from home rules should cater for the individual in carrying out their tasks, at home. It is very easy to slip into bad habits such as piecemeal working on tasks across an entire day rather than allocating working hours at home. An individual must employ a more stringent work ethic - at home. A predefined workday should include all of those elements which the individual would observe within the workplace. Periods of activity - and periods of rest - should be predefined and adhered to. When possible, individuals should create a working office atmosphere in their chosen work area, which should also contain the least amount of distractions. These types of personal rules are more a mindset than a working ethic. It may take some time to settle into a routine - but it is necessary for prolonged periods of “at home” work activity.