10 common myths about remote work

1. Work at a distance of less productive

It is easy to assume that the remote staff member often distracted from the task because they do not work under strict supervision of the Chief. but the study To Raise Productivity, Let More Employees Work from Home. Harvard Business Review proves the opposite. Participate in it, the company celebrated the growth productivity workers at 13.5% after translation into a remote mode.

Working from home is not an employee is faced with the typical office distractions like the rest of the room effect. We are talking about situations where colleagues come off from work to, for example, to note someone's birthday with a cup of coffee, a slice of cake and public speaking. Remote employees avoid such interruptions and do not spend the extra time to be included in the work.

2. Remote employees are not available when they are needed

If an employee is out of office, it does not mean that he is lost somewhere on a picnic. His daily routine, most often tied to the company's schedule, as well as the work of the members of the office team. According to Marin Donovan (Maren Donovan), a startup manager Zirtual, providing remote assistant for business tasks, general business success depends on

deadlines and the needs of its participants.

according to a study What leaders need to know about remote workers. Company TINYpulse, 52% of respondents remote workers to get in touch with the authorities of one to several times a day. More 34% are in contact with the managers at least once a week.

Hardly a remote employee will disappear among their working day, if he does not want problems with the management.

3. Remote work endangers the company's data

Many are concerned that the transfer of confidential data through third-party servers necessarily lead to leaks. But this can be avoided. Qualified IT-specialists may be reduced this probability to a minimum.

There are many reliable solutions that are IT-teams around the world. Cloud technology allows to maintain security with the help of special programs and control data without physical access to the computers. Moreover such means as two-factor authentication and VPN, provide additional protection against eavesdropping.

Of course, who wants to steal the employee will achieve its goal regardless of whether it is in the office or not. But this is the problem of man, rather than the operating mode.

4. Telecommuting makes it difficult to communicate

If someone works at a distance, it does not mean that the more difficult to communicate with him. When there is a need for face-to-face dialogue with the remote employee, have the support of telecommunications. But to remote communication to be effective, managers need to clearly instruct subordinates on the tools and rules of communication adopted by the company.

Companies operating in remote mode even find new ways of socialization for their teams. Periodic videoconferencing to talk to the outside threads entertainment channels in Slack (animals, children and Sports are always in fashion) and offline mitapy - all are ways to bring the culture of remote communication and unite colleagues.

5. Meetings at a distance lose their effectiveness

Skype, Zoom, or other applications can improve the efficiency of meetings in the same way as is the case with other forms of communication.

When people are daily engaged in some project in the same room, there may be a feeling that their time and the opportunity to work on it in no way limited. However, observations Madder, remote participants behave more productive meeting. Simply, they perceive different amounts of work and leisure time colleagues, especially when they are in different time zones.

6. Remote employees feel lonely

Teleworking is possible not only from home, where no one but you. Someone really appropriate. But there are other options such as a cafe, library and coworking. These places are in high demand among remote workers.

New services like Workfrom aggregate customer reviews to determine the best public space for comfortable work remotely. There are even startups that help look for places with space available in office hours.

Thus, to work remotely, necessarily detached from society.

7. Telecommuting increases costs

Some people believe that remote employees out more money because of the additional technology needs. But in general, it is not. Indeed, the authorities can spend resources on equipment and its delivery to the place of employment of staff. Despite this remote employees still cheaper.

The fact that the employer does not pay a lot of money for the lease of office space and furniture, service and additional benefits in the form of coffee, food and copiers. This is not to mention the reduction of the carbon footprint of the company on the grounds that the workers do not need to get to the office on transport. But in some countries this figure may influence taxes.

8. Remote work is killing the company's culture

Distance Work affects the team spirit within the team, not argue with that. But the company is doing better is not idle chatter with the staff (which may even harm), and the ratio of them superiors. To preserve the culture of communication, it is sufficient to establish the communication correctly.

Managers need to deliberately show his attitude the importance of each employee, especially if he is working remotely. If the employee can not exchange a few words at a meeting, it is not an obstacle to a positive atmosphere in the company.

9. Remote employees work 24 hours, 7 days a week

The employee can not attend office on schedule, but that does not mean that he has to work all day. Remote workers often adhere to the schedule of their office colleagues, and the same balance between work and leisure.

At the same time we should not think that your friend is at any moment ready to drink with you, or go somewhere just because he works from home. He may have a duty to perform.

10. Remote workers are watching soap operas day long

People working from home, can listen to the same background sounds that your office colleagues. For example, radio or music streaming.

At the same time, trying to compensate for the lack of control, remote employees on their own bring order to the working day. For example, every day they put on work clothes and do not allow yourself to watch TV shows at work as well as office colleagues. After all, the only way to maintain focus and be productive.