Hidden Downside To Remote Work

Sonatafy Technology | Nearshore Software Development — Steve Taplin, CEO and Forbes & Entrepreneur Author

Although COVID is well behind us, not all employers are in a rush to have employees return to working in the office. In a joint study conducted by Stanford University, Harvard University, and several other esteemed institutions, researchers revealed that an estimated 12% of employers are actively hiring for positions that call for employees to work remotely, a fourfold increase since COVID. Another study from Forbes found that 3 out of 4 employers are open to hiring hybrid workers to fill vacant positions within their organizations. However, many large employers require workers whose jobs were not remote before the pandemic now returns to the office.

The Downsides of Remote Work

While there are perks to working remotely, such as spending less on lunch, clothes, and gas to commute to and from work, there are also a few downsides individuals should consider before applying for a remote work job, some of which include

Isolation and Loneliness

Engaging with others helps the workday go by faster and contributes to better mental health. According to a study published in the Journal of American College Health, a bi-monthly peer-reviewed public health journal, remote workers are more likely to suffer from isolation and loneliness due to their inability to socialize and interact with the co-workers they often view as friends. Some also develop the following:

· Anxiety

· Depression

· Substance use disorder

· Suicidal ideations

In addition to mental illness, many remote workers struggle with sedentary behavior, which worsens symptoms synonymous with most mental illnesses and opens the door to numerous physical health problems, including weight gain and diabetes.

The Fix

There are multiple things remote workers can do to combat the isolation and loneliness brought on by not being able to engage face-to-face with co-workers during the workday. Some of the more notable ones include the following:

· Frequently changing your environment

· Going outside periodically to get fresh air

· Joining a community of fellow remote workers

· Making sure to enjoy social activities outside of work

· Taking regular breaks

Separating Work From Personal Life

According to an article published by the business and employment-focused social media platform LinkedIn, some remote workers find it difficult to separate work from their personal lives. Many often need to remember when to punch out for the day and, as a result, spend more time working than they should. And this is backed by a separate study published in Inc. Magazine, which found that remote workers are 43% more likely to work overtime than their onsite counterparts. In turn, this leads to them feeling burned out.

The Fix

Some of the things that can make separating work from personal life as a remote worker easier include the following:

· Not checking work emails when on a break or off the clock

· Setting clear boundaries between the office and home

· Turning off notifications on work devices when you clock out for the day

· Using a separate phone and laptop, if possible, for work purposes

Communication Challenges

Available data shows that around 16% of remote employees in 2021 and 17% in 2022 found communicating with co-workers and management teams challenging. Most of those challenges stem from the following:

· Distrust and lack of transparency

· Failing to establish open lines of communication

· Lack of feedback

· Technological issues

· The inability to have face-to-face interactions

The Fix

Common ways to combat communication challenges as a remote worker include the following:

· Being open to feedback

· Establishing rapport with co-workers and managers

· Using consistent communication channels, including video conferencing platforms

· Employing project management tools as needed

Limited Access to Resources

When working remotely, employees sometimes need access to the resources in-office employees have access to. In such cases, those employees should inform their manager or supervisor immediately. Not having access to needed software, hardware, and other resources can negatively affect productivity. It can also lead to frustration and employee disengagement.

The Fix

Resolving a resource shortage is something that supervisors or managers will have to do. Often, that entails the following:

· Reviewing the technology needs and resources of employees working remotely

· Deciding whether employees can use their personal laptops, smartphones, and similar devices to connect to company servers

· Determining whether employees can be reimbursed if they purchase the resources, they need to do their job themselves

Distractions and Difficulty With Career Advancement

When working from home, you are more likely to encounter distractions that you otherwise would not when working at the office. That includes family members potentially vying for your attention, curious pets, and the nagging compulsion to tend to household chores when you should be working. That said, the onus is on you to do whatever it takes to avoid giving in to those distractions. That means closing the door to your home office to drown out outside noise, turning off your smartphone, etc. The more productive you are while on the clock, the more likely you are to stand out when the time comes for a raise or a promotion.

In summary, while remote jobs are less plentiful at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a few still need to find their way onto job boards and professional social networking platforms. That said, there are many pros and cons when it comes to such jobs, and individuals should carefully examine both before applying for and accepting a job offer.