Colman Collins is the author of HOW TO SUCCEED IN YOUR FIRST JOB. Colman wrote this book to help recently qualified graduates to navigate their way successfully from the world of college to the world of work. The book is based on his forty years experience, initially as a HR Director with two blue chip multinationals including Nortel Networks here in Galway and more recently as the owner and CEO of Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group, which also has an office in Galway.
This book is available in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Kenny’s Bookshop, University College Galway Bookshop and online through buythebook.ie and amazon.
This is the sixth in a series of eight articles based on Colman’s book.
This week’s topic is: Work effectively from home
Note: In addressing this topic I will be less defi nitive than in previous articles as this is very much an emerging situation and one that is likely to be subject to much fluctuation until some kind of consensus is arrived at regarding best practice. That said it would be remiss of me not to address the situation as this is the single biggest change in the employment market in the past 50 years. Adopt to working from home if your job allows for this. Its hard to believe the way the world of work has been changed by the Covid 19 pandemic and that working from home arrangements of various kinds have become the norm for so many people in the workforce. Although I think it is far from ideal for a recently qualifi ed graduate, especially in the fi rst 6 months in a new job, it is a situation you will have to learn to adapt to.
Co-operate with your new employer and adapt to the agreed working from home arrangements.
Some employers were highly consultative in arriving at their working from home policies while others decided on these policies without involving themselves in any consultation with their employees. Either way it is essential that you adapt to your working from home environment as quickly and as effectively as possible. Some very profi table businesses have been willing to pay for a certain amount of remedial work in employees homes whereas others will only be able to give guidance as to how you should organise your working from home arrangements.
Co-operate with your employer as they deal with the insurance implications of home working.
Some insurance companies have been proactive in issuing checklists of best practice in formulating working from home arrangements and you should comply with these as much as possible.
Ensure that the lines between your working life and your personal are clear.
For several years many employees have been effectively being operating in an ‘always on’ situation. In the current working from home environment it is very easy for the lines between your working life and your home life to become very blurred. While your employer has a responsibility to ensure that its employees have a life outside of work you must also be proactive in ensuring that your personal life is not taken over by your working life. This is critical to preserve your mental health. Evidence is emerging that this ‘always on’ generation of employees is even more ‘on’ since working from home has become established over the past two and a half years. This is neither healthy nor sustainable in the longer term. My clear recommendation is that employers do not contact their employees after hours other than in very exceptional circumstances. If you employer doesn’t propose such a policy you should request it and explain clearly your reasons for doing so. It is likely that legislation will be enacted to address this issue after consultation with the vested interest groups but in the meantime you need to address it if your employer doesn’t.
Take positive steps to create a clear differentiation between your working life and your home life.
For example, by putting your PC away or your files at the end of the working day you are less likely to be tempted to go back to them later on. You could also consider wearing some work clothes during office hours but changing to civvies after that. I know some people who find this helpful to bring their working day to a close.
Co-operate with efforts by your employer to keep employees informed and involved.
Many companies and employees are struggling to find ways of addressing the sense of isolation that some employees feel where the novelty of working from home has worn off for them. Companies are having to work harder than ever to establish two way forms of communications to ensure employees still feel part of a team while they are working from home. Many are introducing fun events as well as novel forms of communications to address this issue. Be proactive in addressing your own needs by initiating contact with your employer and with your colleagues.
Pay particular attention to all aspects of your mental health.
In my book I address the importance of physical, mental, psychological and spiritual health in the office environment but I suspect these are also going to require particular attentive in this working from home world especially as this becomes the new normal for many employees. I can see this becoming a particular challenge for recent graduates who may experience this sense of isolation more acutely than employees who know their colleagues well from years of working together on a five day week basis.
Summary: On balance I think a hybrid model of working from home on a part-time basis is a good thing as it gives employees a chance to address their work/life balance particularly those who had long commutes. Well managed companies have proven that productivity can be maintained and even enhanced in some situations where employees can work without the normal interruptions of working in an office. However, the issue of ensuring clear boundaries between home and personal life is a red fl ag issue which needs to be addressed by employers and employees and in my opinion is of particular importance for new graduates.
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