Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ll probably be aware that remote working is officially a ‘thing’. The HSO estimate that by 2020, half of the UK workforce will be working within some kind of remote arrangement, and that’s a huge change to what we’ve known to be the ‘norm’ for so long. Here at Calibre, we’re great champions of flexible working and allowing staff to try different working patterns.
Remote working certainly saves a business cash on office furniture, but what about the employee? If you’re thinking of trying out remote working, you might be worried about the change. There are many benefits to remote working, but nothing is for everyone.
Are you able to try it for a short amount of time? This might be possible after speaking to your manager. You could also find out if freelancing is for you by trying it in your spare time for a short while, alongside your regular job.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I want to work within a home office or do I want to work without ties, e.g. travelling, using co-working spaces?
- Do I want to work half and half, e.g. half in the office and half at home?
- How will I handle distractions?
- Am I able to motivate myself every day?
- How will I handle possible loneliness of not working in a regular office?
These are things to consider before making the leap. Of course, co-working spaces are ideal for networking and take away the loneliness – they don’t just give you an office chair to sit on!
Before making any decision, it’s important to explore your options. Despite that, the freedom of remote working is certainly tempting!