Remote working is certainly on the rise. The ability to work from anywhere in the world is a true blessing, but it does come with a few drawbacks.
For most remote workers, it’s a case of ‘don’t work, don’t get paid’. This isn’t always the case, but most remote workers don’t have the same sick pay entitlements as regular office workers. That means, if you’re sick or you have a family problem and you can’t work, you lose cash.
Similarly, what happens if your laptop dies and you can’t get it fixed for a few days? Sure, you could head to a co-working space and make use of their office furniture, but what if there isn’t one nearby?
These are all very real possibilities for a remote worker. So, how can you handle the risk and deal with situations when they arise?
By having a back-up plan.
Check co-working spaces in the region you’re visiting, just in case you need to head to one of their desks and work. Have insurance on your devices, to cover any costs that might be incurred from theft or breakage. Have a small nest-egg of savings, which could give you a buffer in case you can’t work for a few days or even weeks, due to illness or another problem.
Remote working sounds idyllic, but the pitfalls of working remotely are very real. By anticipating possible issues and working out how to get around them, you can minimise the impact if the worst was to occur.
How do you handle difficult times as a remote worker?