Remote work

Remote working means that a job or project is performed on a regular basis at a work station outside the traditional workplace, for example at an employee’s home. This does not refer to when employees work incidentally in a café or other similar place. Remote work is not dependent on time or location and therefore has increased flexibility in many jobs.

Advantages of Remote Work

• Increased productivity as staff are less likely to be disturbed at home than in the office.

• Easier to reconcile work and private life with flexible working hours. Offers, for example, the opportunity to be present when children come home from school and less time is spent traveling between work and home

• Increased job satisfaction when the opportunity to work at home or in another defined place where it is a change from office work is available

• Flexible workplaces attract more qualified staff and the residence of staff is less important

• Positive impact on the environment due to reduced car and air traffic which reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions

• Employer savings due to housing costs

Remote working also poses challenges for both staff and management. That is why it is very important for workplaces to set standards in a remote work policy and to pay close attention to how the remote working of employees should be handled.

Challenges Related to Remote Work

• It is complicated to conduct a risk assessment at a workstation at the employee’s home or in another defined place

• Poorer work facilities

• The line between work and private life is more blurred

• Increased risk of a longer working day and employees failing to take appropriate breaks from work

• Harder to ask for help or get feedback

• Increased tension in the communication between management and staff when communication habits have not been defined

• It is more difficult to monitor the progress of projects

• It is more difficult to promote strong teamwork, build relationships within teams and have effective communication

• Negative impact on workplace culture since coworkers stop meeting

• Social isolation and loneliness

• Maintenance services for devices and equipment, such as computers, desks and chairs

• Issues that may arise regarding equipment, responsibilities and costs for the employee’s remote working