Staying Prepared And Productive As A Remote Employee

As businesses evolve and grow, it’s common to hire outside of your primary location or headquarters. When allowing applicants from outside of your location, it is important to make sure you’ve hired the most qualified and dedicated employee to get the job done. With expanding your hiring radius comes the option for a flexible/remote work schedule.

A study done by office provider IWG reported that 70 percent of professionals work remotely at least one day a week. 53 percent of professionals work remotely for at least half of the week. With these numbers steadily increasing each year, it’s imperative that remote employees stay educated on how they can remain prepared and productive while working outside of the office.

1. Designated Workspace

When you’re in an office, you will most likely have your own space, your own chair, and your own electronic devices already set up for you. It’s easy to just walk into the office, sit down, and start working.

If you’re a remote employee, unpacking your laptop and setting up your workstation might be an everyday chore or something that you dislike having to do every single morning. Instead of feeling like you’re wasting too much time detangling cords and pulling out devices, find a space in your home where you can go in the morning to begin work. Keep your devices hooked up for your workday. Not only will this keep you productive with work, but will keep your mornings stress-free moving forward.

Invest in a table or desk that suits your body type and provides positive ergonomics for you during your workday. Same goes for the chair or piece of furniture you sit in. Make sure it’s comfortable and adjusted properly to prevent neck or back pain. Finding a space in your home that is designated for you and your work will motivate you to feel more invested in what you do. It’s important to give your career the space it deserves to move in a positive direction without any negative distractions.

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2. Protected Company Devices

When employees get hired, company devices usually get handed over to them as they move forward with their new job. This includes laptops, cell phones, tablets, pagers, etc. But do you know how to keep those devices protected from cybercriminals? Start by following these steps to ensure you’re keeping you and your company’s private information safe while working online and in public places:

• With being a remote employee comes the ability to work anywhere you choose. Coffee shops, libraries, public parks, or shared workspaces can become your daily office. While working on your mobile device or laptop, it’s crucial that you have a secure internet connection. A virtual private network gives you the ability to safeguard your private information/browsing habits while working in a public shared space. Choosing a VPN service that’s right for you is the first step. This provider should be in your price range, remain transparent with data limits/bandwidth, run the most current protocol, and most of all, respect your privacy (no-log policy, etc.)
• If your job requires you to deal with private or sensitive business information, it will be smart to invest in a privacy filter for your laptop. This filter shows your screen as black to anyone who’s looking at it, while you’re able to see the screen normally. When working remote in public places where people could be snooping on your screen, this might be a beneficial tool to keep your privacy. Using a filter like this also shows your employer that you’re being smart and prepared when it comes to handling sensitive information.
• Treat your company devices as if you bought them with your own money. There’s nothing more an employer wants from you than respect — and that respect should also be shown to your devices. Buy protective cases for cell phones, laptops, or any other devices that were provided for you. Take the time to perform all updates as requested and always keep your device free of any personal or inappropriate information that employers shouldn’t be seeing. Never leave your devices unattended or in a spot where they could be vulnerable to theft. Since these devices are being used on a daily basis, it’s your responsibility to take good care of them.

3. Consistent Morning Schedule

Most full-time jobs have consistent working hours. Whether it be 9–5 p.m. or 8–4 p.m., most companies follow this with all employees no matter what. Some companies focus on a more flexible work schedule (this includes remote employees as well) where your hours can be completed at whatever time you choose as long as you work your 40-hour week (or however many hours you are hired to work).

For remote employees, it’s easier to get up and start working early in the morning — there’s no commute or the usual “getting ready” involved in your morning. But it is important to establish the hours that work best for you, especially if you have hobbies or daily activities you enjoy doing (exercising, reading, visiting family, other hobbies, etc.) Establishing your own working hours will give you the flexibility you need to get your job done efficiently.

If you prefer to have a slower, more relaxed morning, then maybe push your hours to around 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. as long as you are comfortable working into the evening hours. Working at home might provide you with more distractions so make sure you’re able to navigate those while still keeping the working hours that work best for you.

For example, working while your kids are in school or your spouse is working will give you the alone time you need to focus and finish your work. Keep all of those factors in mind when choosing your perfect working hours. A recent report in the New York Times showed that our bodies have an internal clock which provides optimal times for sleeping and working. More businesses are becoming aware of this and choosing to allow employees to find the working hours that best fit their internal clock because they know ultimately the work will be better and done to the best of the employees’ ability. If someone has been working a night shift for a large portion of their life, their internal clock might be very different from someone else who is used to a 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. lifestyle.

4. Organized Proof of Work

As remote work becomes more prevalent in the working world, it’s imperative that employees keep track of what they are doing on a daily basis, and for how long. With working from home (or in a separate location from the office) comes responsibility for yourself, your career, and your everyday work.

Using a time tracking app is one of the best ways to hold yourself accountable for the tasks and projects you’re working on every day. Not only does this keep you productive and on track but shows your dedication and willingness to be the best employee you can be.

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While keeping track of your everyday work, time tracking will give you a better idea of how long certain tasks normally take, which can, in turn, help your employer improve their business model moving forward. If something takes you longer than it used to, it might be worth bringing up to a supervisor or whoever is in charge of the task. There might be ways you and your team can streamline certain projects, but without time tracking, you wouldn’t recognize the issue and be able to address and act upon it.

Use the information generated in the app to keep logs of all the work you’re doing and for how long. This can provide a level of job security that might help you if your remote work was ever doubted or in questioning. Keep track of all accomplished projects under your belt and make sure to have copies for your own personal resume and portfolio. Every job provides valuable learning experiences and opportunities, so remember to write down everything you’ve done.

Take it upon yourself to show others how to use time tracking apps and explain what some of the benefits are. They might find it beneficial to their own work-life and even want to implement it company-wide for others to learn from. Employers recognize those who teach others how to further improve their work ethic; it keeps you productive and positive moving forward in your career. Your hard work and dedication to your job will not go unnoticed.

5. Constant Line of Communication

Communication plays a big role in working remotely. Employers want to see that you’re still engaged in the work you do and you still care about certain projects and tasks. Since you can’t be in the office, take it upon yourself to maintain any relationships you have at the company, whether that be a friend, a supervisor, or even a hiring manager who helped you become a remote worker. Checking in with fellow employees not only gives you someone to talk to, but establishes the passion you have for the company, the mission, and the people surrounding it. Make a point to visit the office for big corporate meetings or other important gatherings to show face and express your interest in the success and people behind the company. The more people who see your face, the more they will remember who you are.

Instead of texting or calling people during their work hours, utilize whatever form of instant messaging your company uses. Keep your conversation casual, supportive, and informative. Don’t be afraid to plan meetings, Skype in, and make sure your voice is heard even though you aren’t physically around like everyone else.

Hold training sessions, brainstorms, and any other meetings that could provide overall value to the company and its employees. Attend every meeting and be as involved as you would be if you were in the office. Be supportive towards other remote employees as well and even discuss your remote life, what works, what doesn’t, etc. They can be a built-in support system for you, so make sure to utilize them.

Wrapping Up

These tips will help you stay prepared and productive as you continue to work remotely. Through consistent communication, organized proof of work, set work hours, secure devices, and a functional workspace, nothing can stop you from being the best employee. With more and more companies shifting to a flexible mindset, it’s up to you to keep your work ethic in line with what you’re trying to achieve — no matter what time of day it is.