What is remote work?
Remote work consists of carrying out a professional activity remotely. An employee-employer relationship and the same responsibilities obtained in an office job are maintained. In the same way, remote employees usually comply with a work schedule just as they would in any other job.
It should be noted that this type of work is not limited to professionals who perform internet-related activities; it has been extended to almost any position.
The difference between being a freelancer and being a remote team member
There is a slight distinction between remote work and freelance work.
In the case of freelancers, they usually, work on projects that have a concise duration. Furthermore, a freelancer has no direct contact with companies, their values, or their culture. It is a person who completes a specific task on a predetermined date.
As previously mentioned, remote workers immerse themselves in the company culture until they become a part of it because they play a specific role and spend more time in contact with the organization.
Pros of being a Remote Team Member
- Comfortability
Because work activities can be carried out from home, a coffee shop, or wherever your favorite place is and where you feel comfortable, this is the main advantage we will always hear when it comes to remote work. Plus, you can concentrate more effectively.
Some remote workers visit coworking spaces or other places with internet access. The flexibility provided by this type of work is always an advantage that everyone wishes to have. Goodbye, traffic and inclement weather.
- You get more time for yourself!
Because it is a remote job, the company’s collaborators will be able to manage their time independently. This allows you to gain more autonomy and balance your professional and personal life.
- Improved Health
Remote workers are less stressed and more enthusiastic about their jobs than their colleagues in the office. This work style allows people to work in more comfortable environments, reducing the chaos and time spent commuting in the morning and evening. Working outside the office also promotes healthy eating and physical activity. Employees who are happier and healthier perform better and are more committed to their jobs.
- Flexible lifestyle
The most common reason people look for remote jobs is the added flexibility it provides to their lives. Full-time remote workers frequently set their own hours based on work hours, whereas freelancers can work whenever they want. Remote jobs provide a better work-life balance for those who have children, run other businesses, or are in higher education, allowing them to focus their extra time on other important tasks in their lives.
Challenges remote workers might face
- Lack of concentration
Remote workers, like those who work in an office, might have difficulty concentrating on their tasks. These are more likely to be distracted simply by being at home and not having enough space for work. Other factors that disrupt daily work, such as attending to household duties, can also interfere.
- Not knowing how to separate professional life from personal life
This is typically a significant challenge for remote workers to overcome because if the proper rules are not established, work and life outside of the workplace can become entwined. Without knowing how to tell when it is time to attend to household responsibilities and when it is time to work.
At this point, it is critical to establish a work schedule and do everything possible to adhere to it. Similarly, everyone around us needs to understand that even though we are in different workplaces, we still play an important role and have a work obligation.
Furthermore, when working from home, it is necessary to adapt a space to create a “personal office” that is distinct from the rest. Lighting and comfort are critical considerations.
- Feeling of isolation
Because not being physical with other coworkers does not develop a sense of belonging, remote work can sometimes cause feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Many people may lose their way and lose motivation to continue working as remote employees if companies do not take the necessary steps to address this issue.
We understand that remote work can be difficult and that communication can become more difficult as teams grow. That is why, both formally and informally, we recommend maintaining active communication in which there is always something to say. It is critical for this startup to create spaces that do not naturally occur in the remote world, as well as to work to keep a team united and never stop being connected.
- Slow communication with the team
People you need to communicate with may not always be available because remote work has flexible hours. You may have an important question, but the person to whom you should be asking is already offline and unavailable. In these situations, there is usually a second person to turn to, and planning ahead of time can help reduce unexpected needs.
So, is it worth it?
Totally! While there are some clear benefits and drawbacks to remote work, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Furthermore, you can easily avoid all of the disadvantages by implementing the proper remote working strategies and organizing yourself with remote work tools that will allow you to remain productive and efficient even when working from home.