The Work From Home (WFH) Movement Is Growing.
Better work/life balance, increased productivity and generally happier teams are just some of the reasons that #WorkFromHome is becoming “a thing”.
Let’s fan the “work from home” flames.
More and more companies are establishing a workplace culture that embraces the “Work From Home Movement”. Businesses know that employees are happier, more productive and more loyal when they are afforded the opportunity to work from home, work remotely or have flexible work hours. Businesses also have come to realize that they can hire the best and most highly qualified people regardless of where they live. Technology enables distributed teams to collaborate effortlessly. Simple to use video conferencing, team messaging and document sharing/editing tools make it easy to stay connected, engaged and collaborative no matter where and when you work.
As an employee, you need...
… the insights to convince your boss and your leadership team that working from home is better for you and the company.
- It reduces the distractions and office interruption during the day.
- It reduces my commute time, which means more time on the projects I am working on.
- I have less stress from balancing my family responsibilities with work. Less stress leads to better employees.
- It creates a stronger sense of loyalty knowing that I have the support of the company and that the company is as concerned with my well-being as my productivity.
Approaching your manager to inquire about offering a full or part-time work from home option can be hard, but its more common than ever before. Try leading with the option to have the flexibility to do it a couple of days per week. Don’t lead with an ultimatum. Approach it from a sense of partnership and productivity.
As a manager, you need...
… to know the benefits and outcomes that typically emerge from enabling a culture that permits part or full-time work from home options.
- Your team can be connected through video (and video is a must).
- You can hire the right people no matter where they are.
- You may be able to save money on office space by managing a smaller space and paying less rent.
- Empowering your team can result in happier, more productive employees.
You should also keep in mind that flexible work environments mean your teams will likely be more responsive and more productive. As personal and work lives bleed into one another, and as more people exhibit a sense of pride and identity with what they do, they will want to be engaged when possible.
The 3 things you need to work from home.
To be successful in a work from home environment, you need three pieces of technology.
- Video conferencing software.
- Team-oriented messaging software.
- Document sharing and editing software.
These 3 tools are the core of a good work from home solution, and most of these are free in one form or another. Leveraging the basic versions of these tools, you can enable your teams to be productive and avoid incurring additional costs. You can also upgrade if you need more features or need to expand further. Start with the free options and monitor your needs as you grow.
Don’t take our word for it.
Here are some resources we found lately that are excellent at helping to provide you with the info you need to be successful in your work from home efforts.
20 Reasons to Let Your Employees Work From Home
The 7 best reasons to work from home
How to Ask to Work From Home (With Exact Scripts & Email Templates to Aid Your Negotiation)
The Future of Remote Work Is Happening Now. Here's How to Make It Work for You
Let’s push the movement forward, together.
