We've spoken about this before but it does seem that Home working is now a permanent fixture in the working world. We all have different opinions about this but whatever that opinion, none of us can ignore the big increase in home working for a number of employees across a whole spectrum of industries.
Working from home, here to stay?
The benefits of working from home for some of us are enormous. The first most obvious saving is the cost of commuting. Whether you use the plane, train or automobile, there is a cost involved that you save when you work from home. There's also the cost of lunch, coffee's, drinks in the pub after work, etc, it all adds up. Then there's intangible benefits of an extra hour or more in bed every day and not having to wear a suit/make up/regular clothes when you are working from home. People on Zoom calls can only see as much of you as you want them to, so for all they know, you could still be wearing pyjamas when you are present in a very, very important Zoom call (and let's be honest, who hasn't attended a Zoom meeting whilst still wearing pyjamas...). It might also be the case, that some of us actually like being away from our co-workers. We don't all like all of our colleagues, all of the time and some of us have a boss that's a monster who we are quite happy to be separated from. And the companies we all work for can benefit enormously from more home working. Commercial office space is expensive, especially in urban centres and the more people that choose to work from home, then the smaller office that is required by the company.
What are the downsides of working from home?
Working from home, all sounds great huh? Well, like everything, there are pros and cons to everything. What works for one, doesn't always work for the other. One of the biggest problems facing home workers is the potential isolation that some people can experience. If you live alone and work alone, that's a big amount of me time and not everyone is happy with that much time on their own. Some of us genuinely like the friendships we make at work. Meeting friends for lunch, drinks after work, even chatting by the water cooler, these are all social interactions that we can't recreate at home It's easy to start to feel isolated and lonely, especially if you already have underlying mental health conditions that have meant that you've struggled in the past. Going to work and socialising may have been the lifeline you relied on to help you,
How can we manage working from home
There are some really simple things we can do. Make sure you take regular breaks and get out of the house. Go for a walk, go and buy a coffee, go for a run, whatever it is, just get out and get some fresh air and more importantly, leave the screen. Give your eyes a break, they'll thank you for it. Make sure you stick to regular start and finish times. It's tempting to work longer hours when you're at home but it's really important to stick to boundaries and have a start and finish time, like you would if you went to a physical office. One of the other areas to be aware of is, how well is your employer looking after you and your wellness when you're working from home? If you're an employee you are legally entitled to the same working conditions, whether you work from home or in an office. You should still have access to your HR department and all of the services they provide. If you are struggling working from home, then speak to your employer and ask if they provide any Corporate Wellbeing Services
Corporate Wellbeing programmes
Corporate Wellbeing is a relatively new area for businesses. It's a growth market and with the increase in home working, it could soon become the norm. If your company doesn't have a Wellbeing programme then maybe suggest it to them. Programmes can be a way for employers to check in with Employees and check that all is ok with them. Wellbeing programmes can be used to check in on employees, check their] Mental Health and hopefully spot any signs of distress early on. One in four people in the UK will experience mental health issues at some point in our lives, that's a quarter of the population. Working from home can exacerbate existing mental health conditions, so it's important to be aware and look after yourself. as you start your working from home journey. Take care