As any native of Northeast Ohio can tell you, lakeshore winters are no joke. Snowstorms, biting cold, rushing winds, and frozen roads all contribute to schools, public buildings, and businesses closing for the day. Not to mention sick days, power outages, water main breaks, heating/air conditioning malfunctions, and any other conceivable (or inconceivable) reason your office might shut down. So, what happens when you must work from home?
Be Prepared
Sometimes work-closing events happen with no warning and therefore no preparation. However, if you suspect something may be going down, prepare accordingly. Make sure you have remote access to your company’s files and print out the ones you have no access to. Charge your computer and cell phone overnight in case of an outage, and double check you have a copy of your company’s directory. It’s even more important when you work from home that everyone can communicate efficiently since no one is (usually) in the same location.
Make Sure You Do At least Your Minimum
While you are working at home, you are still working. It’s important that you get your daily tasks done while you are out. Now of course if you are sick your productivity will be affected, but if you are well then do at least the minimum work required of you. A good boss will understand that working from home presents certain limitations (especially if you’re not used to it). But a work from home day is not a vacation day and it shouldn’t be treated as such.
Limit Distractions
This is hard for a lot of people to do, but it is important so you can do your job. Since you’re at home, you can get some chores done in your downtime, or spend a bit of time with your family if you don’t live alone. But these activities shouldn’t interfere with completing your daily assignments. Realistically, if you throw a load of laundry in or help your kid with math homework no one’s going to know unless you tell someone. But eyebrows will start to rise if your work is no longer getting done. So, it’s important that you remain mindful of your time.
Keep in Touch with Your Coworkers
If you’re working on a team, it’s important that you keep in contact with your team members so work continues to go smoothly. Email and phone calls are a tried-and-true method, but if you have something like a Monday or a Slack server it’s important you have those logins with you. It’s also important for accountability. If you’re someone who works better around other people, checking in with your boss or your coworkers may keep you on track. Just don’t be excessive with your communication. After all, your coworkers have work to do.
Prepare to Go Back in Person
When the offices open back up, make sure you’re prepared to make the move back. Gather all the documents you brought home with you and make sure any files you created or edited on your home computer are saved in the cloud or properly transferred. Also make sure to log out of your work accounts (if you’re using your personal computer). However, be prepared to stay at home if conditions don’t improve. What’s most important is you’re prepared to work regardless of the situation.
Many of us gained a lot of experience working from home during the pandemic. But as businesses have opened and people have returned to the office, opinions on work from home have been split. However, working from home is still a valuable resource that should be taken advantage of when it can be. Although another massive lockdown is highly unlikely, occasional work from home is here to stay. Therefore, it’s always good to stay up on procedure.
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