written by Lindsay Dyment-Trevaskis - Career Transition and Development - Student and Graduate Employment
Working remote from home might sound fun and exciting at the beginning, but there is a lot you need to know. Way back in 2020 when remote work took off, we had a lot to learn quickly as individuals, companies and in the work culture.
Over the years here is what we have learned.
Home office set up. Your home office should have the same health and safety requirements as if you were in the office, this could be a separate home office or a corner in a room. (Try to avoid setting up your home office in your bedroom where possible)
- Keep the area clean and tidy. Just remember every time you have a virtual meeting with your camera on you are inviting your co-workers, managers, clients into your home.
- Good lighting, especially if you are in lots of meetings with cameras on.
- Controlled noise levels or using noise-cancelling headphones
- Comfortable working temperature
- Good internet connection
- Safety is important! Make sure the location is safe, are extension cords in good condition and positioned properly, working fire alarms, etc
Set a before and afterwork routine. If you had to go to the office every day you would not just roll out of bed and be at work. Or finish work and be at home. You would have your morning routine to get ready for work and provide commuting time. At the end of the day, you would have your end of day routine; saying goodbye to co-workers, commuting back home, etc.
It is just as important to have a morning routine to get ready for the day. If you are working hybrid, you might have two different morning routines depending on if it is a work from home day or office day. When I have work from home days, I use my commuting time to walk my dog longer those days.
When I started working from home, I quickly realized that when my workday finished, I needed time to mentally wrap up my day after I shut my computer down. I realized I would naturally do this while I drove home. On my work from home days, I like to finish my day by take the dog for a walk (he's a really spoiled dog) or go for a run to replace my commute home time. When I get back home my head is clear of work.
Understand the company's remote/hybrid policy. Read all the policies around working from home, IT policies and understanding cyber security information. Keeping work information secure is very important!
Keeping work and personal life separate. By setting a workday routine this will help keep work and personal life separate, such as starting and finishing work at the same time each day. Once you have your home office/workspace set up make sure you only do work in that area of the home. At the end of your workday shut down the computer and stop for the day. Just because work is at home does not mean you are expected to be on call all the time.
Movement and exercise. Make sure you schedule breaks and a lunch break! And get up and move around, this could include setting a stretch alarm to get you away from the computer for a few minutes each hour.
Connect with the organization. It is important to maintain regular contact with co-workers and manager. Establish a routine for connecting with your manager. Send good morning greetings to co-workers, check in after a weekend or holiday, set up virtual ‘coffee’ chats to stay connected. I always found its easier to connect with people when the cameras are on. This also helps with the feeling of being disconnected from the organization.
Remote and hybrid work is not for everyone and that is okay! It took me a while to get used to it back in 2020! Fast forward to 2024 and I enjoy a good balance of working on campus and working at home. For me, it is the best of both worlds. And my dog still gets extra walks on my work from home days.
Do not forget as human beings we crave human connection (even us introverts). So, while it is nice to work remotely do not forget to leave your home office and interact with real humans outside of the screen. Go for coffee (or tea) or walk with a friend or family member or volunteer in the community are some ideas to get you out of the house.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety - https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/telework.html#section-4-hdr
