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Teleworking & Remote Work

Many people are looking at the concept of teleworking for the first time, between recommendations to disperse large gatherings of people, as well as event and school closures. If you have not teleworked before, or haven’t managed someone who is teleworking, Smart Commute is here to help with a few resources and best practices.

Teleworking is the completion of work in a remote setting, most often home. Technology allows a teleworker access to all files, software, and email that is at their work desk in an office – most often through a “Remote Desktop” to a personal computer at home. Many companies already have remote desktop software access for workers, and can simply “turn access on” with manager approval. However, even if an organization does not have any current remote access resources at their disposal, wonderful and free resources exist, including Google’s Remote Desktop service.

For Remote Workers:

Working from home means doing just that: working from home. Smart Commute strongly recommends that anyone who is teleworking set up a regular check-in schedule with their manager. We recommend that all teleworking employees check in at the very least: first thing in the morning, with an overview of their planned tasks and remote meetings, around lunchtime, with an update on what they have accomplished so far, and what has changed in their plans, and at the end of the day with a summary of all work, and with information about their plans for remote work the next day. Smart Commute also strongly encourages all teleworking employees to renew permission to work from home every day with managers, and understand that working from home is not a “right,” even in times when it is a solution to a bigger problem, such as diffusing large workplaces. Teleworking relationships break down when managers aren’t given adequate information, and when communication breaks down. Teleworking is also social, and benefits from extra social niceties.

For Managers:

If you are managing remote workers for the first time, Smart Commute strongly recommends higher communication levels, at least to start. A phone call to a remote worker may help managers to feel they are keeping up with the work that needs to be completed.

Additionally, if managers themselves are working remotely, Smart Commute encourages them to follow the same check-in routines as we recommended for teleworking employees above. Remember: you are the manager, and you should set check-ins that make you feel comfortable that work is moving forward. Do not hesitate to ask employees to check in as often as needed to feel like you are supporting the work they are doing.

Final Tips and Advice:

Teleworking is not “on-call” time at home (unless specified by a manager); work should be completed to the same standards as in an office environment. Additionally, if a manager feels that an employee is not completing work, or communicating adequately, they can terminate this arrangement and require an employee to return to the office (or, terminate the employee). Studies have shown that teleworkers can often be more productive than their in-office counterparts due to the less-distracting environment at home.

Teleworking is also not “childcare” time, and teleworkers should be cognizant to make up for any time that the care for others takes away from work during the day (and perfect transparency to managers will help ease concerns in this area). That being said, many people will be able to benefit from the opportunity to keep family members at home during this time of crisis and closures – just remember to give the work you “owe” to your organization, and maintain continuity as best as you are able.

If you have questions about teleworking, how it works, concerns for your current situation, please reply to Smart Commute and have a conversation with us. Many people are facing very difficult choices in the coming few weeks as recommendations to stay home turn into requirements. We hope that business continuity can be maintained utilizing the many great technologies available, including Google’s Remote Desktop service and other services. If you are interested in a teleworking policy for your office, please let us know, and we can provide model policy language.

-The Smart Commute Team

Karen, Carson, Tammy, Catherine

Copyright © 2020 Smart Commute Metro North, All rights reserved.

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