Home-working can be stressful but is something many of us are having to get used to.
For some it will be a walk in the park (not literally though) but for others it may be much more stressful. There may be many more distractions for one thing, including partners, children, pets and, of course, the tv.
This may mean that, in practical terms, it is difficult to focus and concentrate at home. You may also need to share space or be working from the kitchen table, with all the distractions in the fridge too.
It can be very stressful if you feel that you are not able to get things done, particularly if your boss is already sceptical as to whether or not you are working, or down-right distrustful.
There may also be new technology to grapple with and you may not have all of the resources that you need at your fingertips as you would in the office.
Then there’s the social side. People like an office or factory environment; they like getting out to see people, meeting them over coffee or lunch.
Friends and colleagues are a part of our working lives in ‘normal’ times and we maybe underestimate the role they play. You can begin to feel cut off at home, no matter how many distractions there are, and if you are not careful it won’t be long before businesses find teams and teamwork disintegrating.
Team meetings over the internet can play a major role in maintaining a sense of belonging, participation and support. This in turn makes people feel more ‘normal’ in a world that is seriously abnormal at present.
We need to let our work colleagues know that we are still there for them, day to day, wherever we are working. Giving home-workers clear guidelines and open channels of communication can and will make a huge difference to their overall wellbeing in these challenging times.
I am a qualified employment law solicitor with over 25 years' experience working for the most part with employers. All businesses are vulnerable to tribunal claims from employees. My firm…
