An insightful new study has revealed the top concerns for remote workers. There are five in total that were the most prominent in the poll, which included not being able to unplug (27%), loneliness (16%), distractions at home (15%) and staying motivated (12%).
As a remote worker myself, I can completely relate to most of these issues and like many have spent hours wide awake at night flicking through emails wondering why I’ve not yet drifted off to sleep like the rest of the world. It’s all part of modern living, this being so readily available via multiple channels.
Added to that, ‘Coronasomnia’ hasn’t help the sleeping patterns of most of us over the past 18 months. In fact, the number of Brits struggling with sleep problems has risen from one in six to one in four, research suggests.
But reading on, there was one concern among remote workers in the study by Instant Offices that I was surprised to see – difficulties with communication (16%).
We all have different ways of communicating with colleagues, whether via video call, messages or email. However, with so many fantastic new collaboration tools on offer for remote workers, hybrid agents or on-prem employees this problem can be easily resolved. Perhaps the issues with communication could be down to lack of training, a common issue that creeps up under the topic of workforce management. If this is the case, it’s of course up to management to provide training for staff using solutions they may find complicated.
What’s certain however, is that wherever the issue falls, businesses should be taking more steps to help remote workers reduce these concerns causing stress and anxiety as well as other mental health problems.
Instant Offices provided some top tips to help remote workers. These include:
- Break the Culture of Silence: There is still a stigma around mental illness that makes employees more likely to suffer in silence than share information with their managers or bosses. Now is an ideal time for leaders within businesses to talk more openly about mental health and create a culture that encourages conversations around these issues. Taking a mental health day or asking for support should never impact an employee’s reputation or how they are perceived
- Keep Socialising with Your Teams: Remote working has its perks, but a lot of people are feeling isolated right now. British workers are missing the days of office banter and face-to-face meetings
- Lead By Example: With many employees working remotely, managers need to be more conscious of the challenges different households face. Encouraging flexibility, self-care and regular check-ins is key to reducing presenteeism and stress, and ensuring employees facing any issues can be identified and supported. Encourage transparent conversations and put action plans in place for team members who need help
- Introduce Team Activity and Training Sessions: With employees using tools like Zoom to connect with the office remotely, now is a great time for businesses to encourage morning catch-ups, remote Friday drinks, yoga sessions or even company training sessions. Encourage team members to take a class they’ve always wanted to try or to attend industry-related Webinars. This is a great way to support employees looking to upskill themselves and stay busy
The truth is remote working isn’t for everybody, and there are many who prefer the hustle and bustle of the office set up. But with so many businesses having adopted the hybrid working model now, remote working is an aspect of daily life for many agents.