Home Working Survival Guide

When the country went into lockdown due to COVID-19 in March, none of us knew how long this would last. It may have started with a civilised coffee in the kitchen checking emails or perhaps you were one of the home workers who checked their first emails of the day from bed or simply wherever you could escape the sounds of husbands, wives, partners, children or dogs.


However, with no guarantee of when we will be returning to the office or getting “back to normal”, we have put together a guide to assist with effective home working.


1. EQUIPMENT


Remember, we are still spending the same amount of time working as we would have done in the office. This means ensuring you have a good chair, at eye level with your workstation. Although sitting on the grass outside or laid up on the sofa may sound like a luxury, it is not suitable for a long-term solution to home working.


2. WORKING SPACE


Perhaps, if you are lucky enough to be able to, you may want to think about converting a spare room or even a space to “go to work”. This can provide an opportunity to focus on work and allows you to end the day by closing your laptop and leaving this space.

3. BREAKS


Remember to take a break and have some lunch. Again, take a break from the area in which you work in and go into a different room, go out for some fresh air or talk to family members, the dog or call a friend to talk about something non work related.


4. ROUTINE


Yes it may sound boring but getting up at the normal time, having breakfast and getting changed can be crucial. You still need to get in the mindset of work and these things can help that. Rolling out of bed at the last second isn’t the best way to start the day.


5. TEAM SPIRIT AND HAVING FUN!


You may want to discuss with your team or a small group of colleagues about having a virtual meeting at the same time each day or every Thursday morning (whatever works for you). It is a good way to touch base with colleagues. It can be about work or not this is your choice. Some clients are having lunchtime quizzes and tea time socials as a way to make it fun!


These are just a few small points to help you settle in as the weeks blend into months of home working. It can be tough sometimes and for some, quite a lonely experience and it is important to remember that you are not alone. If you have concerns about any direct reports or colleagues who may be struggling whilst working from home, then do talk to your dedicated Carers HR advisor who will advise further and offer support.


The recent drastic rise in the unemployment rate, despite the CJRS being available, provides a sign of what is to come. The crunch time will be from August to October, where employers are expected to contribute to employee salaries.


Take action


We don’t just have to wait to see what happens next. Business owners and leaders can take action now – we can assist with business strategy and any employee matters, including furlough and redundancy processes if required; therefore, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

Cover photo courtesy Freddie Marriage via Unsplash