Teleworking has become an integral part of the daily life. Firstly, telework corresponds to a work organization that allows employees to work outside business premises. With new technological and digital tools, this type of work has been made possible. Additionally, it offers many benefits to employees. Below, teleworking and its effects are explained.
Also, teleworking offers a possible solution to some current societal issues. For instance, the excessive use of the car and the difficulty of combining private and professional life. Furthermore, stress related to restrictive working hours.
No more home-work travel:
Generally, teleworking allows for better management of daily life. It allows teleworkers to put time spent on work travel, to the benefit of family life and leisure. Therefore, teleworking is an effective way to reduce the impact of lateness and absenteeism in general. Moreover, stress and fatigue associated with daily travel are considerably reduced.
Flexibility:
Flexibility of working hours and the diversification of tasks are also very valuable in the context of teleworking. Breaks can more easily be used for other activities. For example, working out, siestas, or doing household chores. Teleworking makes it possible to better combine professional and personal life. Thus, worker satisfaction increases. Consequently, motivation at work limits the risk of burnout.
Freedom and autonomy:
Working from home inspires a real sense of freedom. Additionally, it’s often a sign of trust and esteem between employer and employee. Concretely, the employee demonstrates the ability to be productive and autonomous at the same time. So, this new way of working creates a real feeling of freedom. Still, there is no overload of activity. The employee is free to determine their working hours and establish their own work plan.
Nevertheless, it requires adaptability and autonomy. Moreover, organizational effort is needed. This does not necessarily correspond to everyone. For instance, isolation, lack of confidence, and loss of interest can invade the daily lives of teleworkers.
Solitude and isolation:
So, loneliness and isolation can occur. Humans are social beings. However, being alone at home encourages withdrawal and increases the risk of depression. People can no longer feel part of a social group. Therefore, for many people, interactions with colleagues are a source of dynamism and motivation.
Lack of support:
Due to their remote work, employees are less present in the workplace. Therefore, workers may feel less supported. They may feel like their manager or team is not as easily available for feedback. The organization of meetings, communication, and collaboration within the team are more complicated. Thus, teleworking requires special attention to the reorganization of professional exchanges. Telecommunication tools can be used for this, like emails, zoom meetings, and calls.
Over-connection:
Another common risk of working from home is over-connection. If home is also your office, it can become difficult to differentiate work and personal life. The risk can occur that you always find something to do or to finish. So, teleworkers can be tempted to check emails in their spare time, like on the weekend. As a result, working from home involves a certain rigor and organization. Above all, it requires someone to stay focused on the professional objective.
Effectively teleworking
So, to conclude, it’s all about balance. It’s important to find the middle ground. for this reason, some companies offer alternatives between remote and office work. Then, social ties and supervision are preserved. Additionally, autonomy and freedom are promoted. However, you have to be rigorous and disciplined to stay focused. Also, know when to make use of the advantages that telework offers.
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Author: Pauline Denoo
Date of publication: 23/3/2022