The latest on all kinds of information, news, and resources that help you make working remotely better.
Four to refresh the office for hybrid working | Louis Molinini, Us.jll.com
Balancing employee experience needs in the office is a critical challenge for employers seeing demand for focused and quiet spaces to support individual working. However, if your organization is not ready to commit to broad design changes, you could consider lower-cost “low-hanging fruit” investments that will enhance the employee experience without a large budget or a long timeframe.
1.Improve the furniture. Furniture can transform and complement your workspaces, and an investment in the right furniture is also an investment in your workforce. Thoughtfully integrating furniture in the space is integral to creating harmonious places that help people thrive. Investing in high-quality modular furniture solutions will enable you to refresh and reimagine your workspaces to support collaboration, heads-down work and wellbeing in a single strategy.
2. Upgrade workplace technologies. Technology tools are essential for optimizing the hybrid workplace. Technology that supports seamless collaboration and immersive meeting experiences is high on fit-out wish lists. According to JLL’s latest Design Trends and Cost Guide, organizations are spending more on technology improvements, including larger high-definition screens, improved audio and videoconference cameras that track speakers to support seamless collaboration, and immersive meeting experiences.
3. Undertake limited “pocket” renovations. When widespread renovations aren’t feasible, focus on key areas that will most benefit employees’ experience in the office. Mental and physical wellbeing is very important for today’s employees, according to JLL’s Regenerative Workplace research report, so consider prioritizing investments that improve comfort and self-care. Simply updating the color on the walls can improve the look and feel of a space and enhance mood.
4. Invest in amenity spaces. Focusing on amenity spaces can be a smart way to focus renovation budgets. It can mean transforming an underutilized conference room into a technology-free zone with plants and comfortable seating where employees can recharge or expanding kitchen spaces with fresh-food vending machines and self-service espresso makers. Or, if a particular workspace area is underutilized, consider adding acoustic panels and modular furniture, and transforming it into a multi-purpose space for socializing, training or casual meetings.
Know what matters in your workplace
While no “one-size-fits-all” solution applies for a successful hybrid workplace, successful programs will use occupancy and utilization data, as well as employee surveys and conversations with other stakeholders, to better understand what investments will be most worthwhile. Understanding employee workplace needs and preferences is the key to maximizing the impact of improvements for hybrid workplace.
8 Lesser-Known Advantages of Working From Home in 2024 | Boss Editorial, Thebossmagazine.com
This working model is attractive to employees because it removes their commute, but what are the lesser-known advantages? Here are the underrated aspects of remote work in 2024.
1.Increased Productivity
Why are employees more productive when working from home? While activity depends on the employee, there are a few factors involved. One of the significant contributors is enhanced focus, as Future Forum research found 53% of workers with flexible schedules could concentrate better. Employees spend less time commuting and more time on their essential daily tasks.
2. Individualized Work Environments
Shared spaces might not allow employees to hang artwork or plants, but a work-from-home setup lets them add personal touches. People can light scented candles, hang portraits and add other decorative elements to make their work setup more conducive to productivity. Giving workers more autonomy can lead to better results for each day’s work.
3. Personalized Indoor Temperatures
Remote work benefits employees when they need a specific environment due to health issues. People with asthma may prefer cooler and drier air because humidity fosters mold and dust mites that aggravate symptoms. Conversely, workers with dry skin may prefer humid conditions and dislike using dehumidifiers in the office. A work-from-home setup lets the employees adjust as needed.
4. Helping Employees with Family Care
Some remote employees live alone, meaning they only need to care for themselves in the morning. However, others may live with family members who require attention if they have health issues. Working from home lets employees be close to these relatives and care for them as necessary. Paying a caregiver can be expensive for employees, so removing this cost can increase job satisfaction.
5. Better Work-Life Balance
When employees work from home, they can achieve a better balance between their personal and professional lives. More time at home means more time with family, pets, friends and other important people in their lives. The money saved with remote work provides employees with more opportunities for financial stability. They could achieve goals like purchasing a home, thus boosting their mental health and life satisfaction.
6. Tax Deductions
How is an employee eligible for the home office deduction? The IRS says Form 8829 is available to homeowners and renters, and these taxpayers must meet certain requirements. If eligible, remote workers can deduct insurance, depreciation, mortgage interest and other critical costs. Meeting the tax deduction’s requirements means the worker doesn’t use the property as a hotel or another business.
7. Reduced Turnover
Research has demonstrated remote work increases job satisfaction and leads to less turnover. A 2022 National Bureau of Economic Research study examined hybrid work models for engineering, marketing and finance employees. The researchers found a 33% reduction in attrition for non-management staff, underscoring the value of remote work. When workers are happy, they’re more likely to stay.
8. Exercise Breaks
When working from home, people have more flexibility to exercise as desired. Pushups and situps by the desk are a great starting point, as they provide quick fitness during breaks. Other employees may find outdoor activities with their dogs to make exercise more fun on workdays. If a remote worker has a membership, they could take a midday break at the gym and return with more energy.
Remote work has remained steady since 2020, with numerous companies retaining telework policies in the last four years. Whether fully remote or hybrid, the advantages have become difficult for companies to ignore. Working from home can make employees more productive because they have more control over their lives.
How To Take A Satisfying Remote-Work Vacay | Virginia Hogan, Forbes.com
For tips on how to make sure your remote-work trip is both productive and relaxing, read on.
Choose Your Spot Wisely
Choosing a place that has a desk where you can work, a time zone that’s not too inconvenient for the people you’re working with, and good connectivity is key for staying plugged in when you’re remote.
Pack Well
One big bummer is you do need to bring everything you need for work. For example, if you’re a podcaster, you might be lugging around microphones and headphones. Then again, in my experience as a podcaster, it’s really easy to take time off since no one pays you. But I guess other podcasts really are successful. Make sure to have all your supplies and gear with you for maximum productivity.
Set Boundaries
One of the biggest challenges of working remotely is maintaining a clear boundary between work and relaxation. You don’t want to spend your whole vacay working. You also don’t want to spend your whole work-week relaxing, although, to be fair, this is definitely a better outcome. But to make sure you stay happy and productive, I highly recommend making a schedule, getting yourself a good workspace, and telling the people you’re collab-ing with what’s going on.
Don’t Multi-task Too Much
You need to acknowledge that a week of remote work that’s also half-vacation is simply not as productive as a week in the office. That’s okay, but to squeeze the most productivity out of the time you have, I highly recommend avoiding multi-tasking. Instead, prioritize your tasks wisely so you can move through them efficiently.
Communicate Well
I’ll be honest, any time I’ve ever done a “remote-work week,” all my coworkers assume I’m not working. And sometimes, they’re right. To avoid this, keep them appraised of what’s going on. If possible, even set your away/available status on whatever communications app you use, to let them know exactly what you’re up to. This helps with productivity, but it also helps manage expectations so you don’t get pulled into a task you don’t have time for.
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Enjoy the Locale
The whole point of a summer workcation is to enjoy the best of both worlds. So go out and see your surroundings! Take as many walking breaks as you can, and plan fun activities for your off-hours. Summer only comes once a year! At least, until climate change ruins that.
To build more collaboration, encouragement and positivity into your work culture, consider the following advice from the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council.
Let Employees Have Accountability
Accountability equals empowerment. It is the act of taking responsibility for one’s actions. It empowers employees to take pride in their work and ask what they can do to support the team. By nurturing this culture, you entrust employees to take action. Leadership and employees must be willing to self-reflect and assess how they view and respond to situations to support a culture of accountability. – Rowshan Reordan, Green Leaf Lab
Foster More Human-to-Human Interaction
I’m reminded of Steve Jobs’ wisdom in the early days of Apple. He deliberately created open conference rooms in the hallways so employees would see each other, interact and connect. This human-to-human interaction, rather than being locked away in a cubicle, led to more than just great employee interaction — it led to a feeling of community, common purpose and, in some cases, new innovative ideas. – Larry Dvoskin, Miracle Music Inc.
Trust Your Employees to Do Their Jobs
The number one thing you can do to create a culture of empowerment is to let your employees do the job you hired them to do. If you are constantly correcting, changing or looking over everything your employees do, they will never feel empowered. Trust is a key component to feeling empowered, and it allows your employees to react to situations as they see fit and also feel safe to make a mistake! – Nathan Green, New Level Radio
Create Opportunities for Employees to Succeed
Empowerment becomes culture through observed success. Create an experiment where each team member takes on an achievable new initiative or project that can be completed in one week. Build momentum by accomplishing small goals and have a reward system in place for those who succeed. – Tim Jack, Rise
Be Their Cheerleader and Mentor
Be their megaphone. Everyone needs autonomy and trust, but remember to lend a helping hand. Amplify their accomplishments on your platforms and networks. Implement practical steps to open doors for them to walk through, such as conferences, training courses or by simply offering your time as a mentor. Providing those types of opportunities can help create a powerful culture of employee empowerment. – Andy Hale, Hale & Monico
Eliminate Their Fear to Unleash Their Creativity
I tell all our employees that no one at our company has ever been fired for making a mistake. Making it clear that messing up will not end someone’s career makes it much easier for that person to think for themself, step out of their comfort zone and take risks. When fear is eliminated, creativity is unleashed — and innovation flourishes. – Vanessa Nornberg, Metal Mafia
Support Their Personal and Professional Life
Give employees the resources they need to feel empowered in and out of the workplace. There’s a lot of overlap between personal and professional life, and your employees will feel the most empowered at work when they have the benefits, flexibility and other resources to feel confident and secure outside of the workplace, too. – Evan Nison, NisonCo
Encourage Open Dialogue
Employees who feel safe sharing ideas, concerns and feedback are more engaged and productive. Regular one-on-one meetings and anonymous feedback channels create a space for open communication, empowering employees to be active contributors to the company’s success. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
Put Greater Emphasis on Communication
Increase communication: weekly emails, weekly virtual meetings, quarterly in-person meetings. To truly build empowerment, you need to communicate. Once you establish a strong communication cadence, reinforce actions such as pushing decision-making down, offering learning programs and, most importantly, letting people fail without any fear, uncertainty or doubt. – Brendan Keegan, bFEARLESS Racing
Allow Employees to Spearhead Initiatives
Businesses have challenges and opportunities. Often, our own employees understand these better than anyone — sometimes even more than the C-suite crew! It’s powerful and smart to assign employees to spearhead initiatives. And I mean really run them — not just be a figurehead on a committee. Get that employee to zero in on the opportunity, develop a plan and execute it. You might be quite surprised! – Scott Cowperthwaite, AfterFiveMedia
Implement Regular Feedback Sessions
A business can create a culture of employee empowerment by fostering open communication and supportive feedback. One step to take is implementing regular feedback sessions, such as monthly meetings or anonymous surveys, where employees can share their ideas and concerns directly with upper-level management. This makes employees feel valued and involved in the decision-making that drives success. – Sonia Singh, Center of Inner Transformations
Decentralize Decisions
Decentralizing decisions empowers employees and boosts efficiency through faster action, better use of information, reduced management load, improved problem-solving, adaptability, motivation and productivity. Employees can act fast, address issues and adapt. Ownership and initiative rise. Frameworks, guidelines and training are key. – Dylan Fusco, Kamoti
Focus on Good HR Practices
Double down on core employee engagement and performance management practices that foster safety, consistency and clear communication. Too many organizations try to get fancy and do so at the expense of basic good HR practices like mid-year and year-end reviews and specific conversations about performance (positive, negative or just checking in). These go far and further than almost anything else. – Scott Curran, Beyond Advisers
Be Confident and Secure in Your Own Work
My team and I confront this daily working on film and TV productions. Success seems to be linked to the leadership listening to employees, allowing them to take ownership of their work and having their backs. This means leaders need to be confident and secure in their own work, and that will show through in the work of others. – Zena Harris, Green Spark Group
Ensure Everyone Is Heard and Valued
Empower employees by fostering a culture of inclusive listening. Ensure everyone’s voice is heard and valued, regardless of experience level or specific expertise, in addition to respecting divergent opinions. You must create dedicated spaces for those who might be hesitant to speak up and actively solicit their perspective on various projects or initiatives. – Jason Peterson, GoDigital Media Group
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