By Sally Whittle
Today, almost one in eight Europeans works from home at least part of the time – with workers in the UK and Germany most likely to work from home regularly.
Home working is fast becoming a global phenomenon. About 14% of the US workforce gets its job done at a home office more than two days per week, according to US consulting firm Work Design Collaborative. That’s up from 11% in 2004, and is set to grow to 17% by 2009.
However, getting home working right isn’t easy. According to Henley Management College, three quarters of managers aren’t sure how to supervise home workers, and two thirds of those workers feel their companies suspect them of being ‘skivers’. So how can you make the most of home working?
Employ smart technologies: If home workers don’t have access to the same systems as office-based colleagues, they can become isolated. Technology can also replace the informal social contact that helps people work as a team. Using virtual workspaces, videoconferencing and instant messaging can help home workers be more involved.
But remember to switch them off sometimes: Agree in advance how ‘in touch’ you are expected to be. Should you answer the phone in the evenings, or check email? How promptly should you respond? If your boss expects you to check email and messages outside office hours, will they provide a BlackBerry or similar device to make it less intrusive? The key to success is setting clear expectations.
Try and have a structure: It’s easier to maintain concentration if you work regular hours, and build in plenty of time for breaks. This doesn’t mean working 9am to 5pm – if logging on at 7am before taking the kids to school, or working late at night to free up time in the day is more convenient, that’s fine. But you should have a clear start and finish time.
Separate home and work: In an ideal world, your home office should be in a separate room, with a door you can close at the end of the day. However, this isn’t always possible and many workers use the dining table, or a corner of the lounge. In this case, consider investing in a cabinet with lockable doors for your computer.
Have a professional working environment: Even in the conservatory, you can be professional. Make sure friends and neighbours know you’re not available for outings when you’re working and don’t allow your children to answer the phone. Try and work out of range of noises such as traffic and DIY.
Keep in touch: Consider spending one day a week in the office to keep up with the office gossip, and remember to attend office socials and contribute to birthday and leaving present funds. Ask to be informed of training opportunities so that your skills remain up to date.
Tags: communications, enterprise, HiPath, homeoffice, openscape, OSUC, siemens, videoconferencing, work remotely
