If your boss has told you and your co-workers to work from home rather than coming into the office, it will be part of a strategy to reduce risks of contracting and spreading the coronavirus (COVID-19). Below are tips to help you transition from working in an office to at home to maintain productivity and be emergency ready.
Know Communication Channels
In any work environment, communication is essential for workers. That’s especially true in an emergency.
Make sure you know how the company will send you messages of any updates. If there is a message you must receive, will it be by an internal computer system? If that goes down, is there a secondary method, such as text messages?
Keep in mind that if everyone is working from home and uses an online communication channel, it can get overloaded and not function properly. So, make sure there are a secondary means of sending messages within the company, just in case, and that you know what it is.
Just as you would at the office, your home office needs to be ergonomic. Otherwise, you risk getting a bad back, sore wrists and neck, and developing other problems over time. An injury could compromise your work performance and even result in having to take time off work.
While you might think that the at-home scenario is only short-term, the reality is that the future is unknown. Hopefully, there will be a vaccine soon, and it will be safe to go back to the office soon, but until then, set up the ergonomic placement of your keyboard, monitor, computer mouse, and chair for your best health.
Know Your Limits
It can be tempting to want to work longer days and take on more projects when you work from home to impress the boss and show that you are trustworthy. But doing so can lead to burnout.
While you’re working out of the house, no one expects you to skip breaks or put in extra hours at night. Instead, stick to the same schedule as you would at the office and try to stay on task when not on break time playing https://www.bingosites.uk/.
Separate Yourself from the Rest of the House
You might not have a dedicated room for an office. Thus, when your supervisor suggests working from home, you might dread the experience ahead.
But with a little creativity, a workplace environment within even the smallest residence is possible. Perhaps you put a screen at the side of the living room to separate yourself from the family while you work.
Another option is to convert the basement into a temporary office. If you don’t have a desk, try using a TV tray or another type of folding table.
Try to position yourself away from sounds, such as the television and the washing machine. Those noises can distract you from work, which means you’ll end up doing less within the average workday than usual.
Final Words on Working during Coronavirus
When you’re not at work, ensure you have an emergency plan in place if you’re not able to leave the house due to concerns related to COVID-19. Also talk with your boss about emergency preparedness, if they haven’t already provided you with a plan.
While anxiety about coronavirus can be paralysing, do your best to stay on track with work and be safe when leaving home for the best interests of everyone.
