Working Remotely – Reflections from a Remote Worker

In 2019, CARICAD formally developed and implemented a remote working policy. This policy is still being developed as new circumstances arise and lessons learned along the way are incorporated. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has thrust most organisations across multiple sectors into remote working mode. This blog is intended to share some of the considerations to be taken into account, for effective and efficient remote working arrangements.

• ICT – Having the appropriate ICT arrangements is critical for effective remote working arrangements. This involves ensuring that remote employees have the relevant hardware and software to support their work. This includes secure remote access to servers, tools for support collaborative team work (eg. Collaborate 365), email access, adequate internet access, and remote ICT support, should technical challenges arise. It is also important for organisations to determine which of the associated ICT costs are to be covered; for example will the employee be required to use their own computer or will the organisation provide same. Another issue also relates to coverage or subsidy for costs associated with internet charges and electricity when an employee routinely works from home.
• ICT Skills – It is easy to make the assumption that employees today have the relevant ICT skills to work remotely. However, an analysis of ICT skills need to be done, and gaps closed, prior to embarking on remote work arrangements. At the very least, remote employees need to au fait with the relevant ICT tools that they will have to utilize, which may be different from those used in office.
• Deliverables – Whether an employee works remotely or in an office setting, having clear performance targets or deliverables should be a must. However, for the remote worker, these should be clearly defined, with appropriate monitoring mechanisms, such as weekly logs, reports etc. In addition, business processes, standard operating procedures or work flows have to be tailored for the remote working environment. This is even more critical for team work, to ensure effective collaboration, and seamless work transactions.
• Communication – Clear lines of communication, and communication channels need to be identified and routinized. Frequency of check-ins, team meetings and methods of communication, and with whom, need to established. In the remote work environment, particularly when some team members are located in office, it can be very easy to omit remote employees from discussions. So extra efforts have to be made to ensure that all relevant parties are included in the relevant exchanges. Again, using the available ICT can greatly assist. However, for meetings, it is essential to have the best possible audio quality, as poor audio connections can lead to poor meeting outcomes.
• Work Routine – Commuting to and from work automatically creates a work routine for employees. With remote working, the employee has to create their own work routine relatively independently. For some, this can be a challenge, and they find it difficult to focus on getting work done. In such cases, strategies will have to be devised to increase work motivation. These can vary among individuals, but some common tips are creating a dedicated work space, starting your work day routinely with a check-in with a team member or supervisor, and deliberately getting dressed for the work day. Conversely, some remote employees can find themselves working extended hours, where there is no clear boundaries between work and personal life. To combat this, remote workers should have clear working hours, deliberate take breaks for lunch, or just to rest their eyes from the computer screen. Having a team member who is your accountability partner to support you in maintaining an appropriate routine can also be helpful.

We invite you to please share your experiences and questions around remote working in your organisation.