Dealing With An Employee’s Work From Home Request

This may lead to employees finding it difficult to know how to switch off from work leading to longer hours, increased stress and inevitable burnout. Employers should encourage their staff to take regular breaks and remind them of the importance to take their leave. One of the biggest challenges of home working has been maintaining network security. Over half the businesses we asked said they https://remotemode.net/blog/12-tips-for-succeeding-in-working-remotely/ now feel more vulnerable to security threats due to the increased use of personal devices for work during lockdown. Built-in security measures can go a long way to protecting your network and devices, but staff also need to be trained in security best practices and policies need to be enforced. Microsoft Endpoint Manager is a great solution for securing and managing user devices remotely.

• It can be tricky to literally “switch off” from a day’s work if your desk is in the same room as your personal space.
• The separation between work and home life has been eroded, with work/life balance becoming increasingly unequal as we log on earlier and log off later.
• We’re experts in finding you the perfect office space at the best price.
• As well as offering the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives, a career with the Home Office comes with a range of amazing benefits.
• Eating healthily and taking regular exercise can also help improve mental health especially when woven into a regular routine.
• Here’s your rundown of how to make working from home work for you – and avoid going stir-crazy.
• It’s important to set the expectation that being at home doesn’t mean you are available all the time.

Information security problems could be more likely to occur when staff are working from home. There is increase risk with laptops being taken home and the need for staff to access servers remotely. Employers should ensure they put measures in place to protect company data by installing encryption software and remote-wipe apps if mobile devices provided by you go missing.

Medical Epidemiologist & Real World Data Specialist

Ditching the commute helps to support employees’ mental and physical health and allows them to use the saved time to prioritise life outside of work. Whether this is getting extra sleep in the morning, fitting in a quick workout or spending more time with family. Should a member of your team let you know that they are sick and unable to work, agree with them how you will keep in touch. For example, asking them to check in with you through a daily phone call, email or MS Teams chat may be appropriate. If their symptoms worsen, it may be that they need to agree that a family member/next of kin will keep you up to date and a weekly update in such circumstances may be more appropriate. In the event that your team member lives alone, check whether they have access to support networks.

For some of us, the idea of working remotely within the comfort of our own home is the perfect embodiment of a work/life balance. However, if you find it difficult to focus and get things done outside of the office (insert ‘easily-distracted’ here), working from home can be easier said than done. We’re experts in finding you the perfect office space at the best price. You’ll be tempted to set your alarm for five to nine, lift your laptop onto your duvet and start your day from a throne of pillows, but you’ll feel the effects of cabin fever a lot quicker if you do. Finally, where the employer is not local to you, your job interview may be carried out remotely by telephone or, more likely, by a video conferencing call.

Shaping The Future of Remote & Hybrid Working

Read, socialize with friends, exercise, take your partner to dinner, spend time with your kids, etc. All these activities keep you sane and improve the quality of your work. In the traditional office setting, you are forced to concentrate on your work because you have no other option.

Virtual private networks also encrypt your data and provide secure access to a remote computer over the internet. This helps keep your files and data secure yet accessible by to your staff. Where an office provides a clear physical distinction between work and home life, working at home can lead to staff struggling to differentiate between work-life and home-life.

Looking after your employee(s) remotely

If it is not possible for staff to use such call functionality, they should discuss this with their line manager and request permission in advance to claim itemised phone costs through expenses. It can be tricky to literally “switch off” from a day’s work if your desk is in the same room as your personal space. Try setting up https://remotemode.net/ a routine of “leaving work” at the end of the day, either by closing the door on your delegated office room or by packing away your laptop so it can’t be used outside of working hours. With no colleagues around to peep over your shoulder, how easy is it to let yourself wander to social media or gossip sites on your browser?

Many media, marketing and advertising agencies rely on freelance graphic designers, so it can be a good avenue for remote workers with the relevant skills. Most will have a degree or similar in graphic design or another art and design-based subject. Technology and our ever-increasing connectivity have played a big part in this shift to remote working. Smartphones, tablets and laptops allow us to check in with the office 24/7, while cloud systems and collaboration tools such as Slack give us the ability to connect and work with colleagues and clients around the world. Working from home eliminates the need for a commute to work that can be stressful to your employees. Time savings such as this also enables staff to get extra health benefits such as additional sleep, spending more time with family, exercising, or preparing healthier meals.

Don’t try to do more

Information that’s easy to access in the office can be much harder to access at home. Working on a shared Google Drive is great for helping to store information all in one place and having it accessible for all colleagues. Before June 2014, employees could only insist on flexible working if their purpose to do so was to care for a child or an adult. The request can now be made for any reason so, yes, technically an employee can insist on flexible working. But, employees can only make one formal request in any 12-month period and it has to be in writing — although further informal requests that aren’t in writing can be made. If a request to work from home is denied, the employee might be able to come to an agreement with the employer for a different kind of flexible work.

Be aware that you may be asked to plug your broadband in as WiFi connections can’t always be trusted. You may also need to provide customer service via a chat facility or email. You will need to have strong communication skills and be able to talk about technical jargon in simple terms.

Data protection and information security

Being allowed to work from home, staff will also feel increased levels of trust from their employer, which can contribute greatly to staff loyalty. Home working enables more agility and flexibility in working arrangements. With employees no longer tied to an office, they may be better placed and more willing to work flexible hours such as earlier or later in the day or even at weekends. This may help you meet certain business needs eg if you are trading with customers residing in a different time zone.

• If you line-manage employees who work from home, this guidance will help you to manage and support your team.
• Non-native English speakers are looking for people to help practice their conversational skills, so it would be good to have plans for each of the “lessons” and a way to test and record results to provide feedback.
• Humans are social creatures – we need to feel connected to a wider group.
• Virtual private networks also encrypt your data and provide secure access to a remote computer over the internet.
• If you want to work remotely but your current employer has turned down your flexible working request or you want to change employer, then the next step is to look for a work-at-home job elsewhere.
• But there are also some less obvious productivity tips you need to know that are rooted in ancient philosophies and lesser-known logic.
• Get everything you need in one place, before you start work – chargers, pens, paper and anything else – and shut the door if you can.