Telework is remote work but for a limited distance. Usually, you are not allowed to go to a different time zone than your employer. So, what is a good practice for telework?
Working from a location outside of the traditional office has been popular. This is because of the advancements in technology that allows teleworker to do their jobs at home.
Still, it is work and proper behavior and good practice are necessary and expected, so in this article, we will talk about a few things you could do to be a successful teleworker.
Which of the following is a Good Practice for Telework?
Good practice for telework includes maintaining clear and frequent communication with your team, using collaboration apps such as Google Docs and Zoom, establishing a dedicated workspace at home, adhering to regular work hours, taking periodic breaks, ensuring a secure internet connection, following company guidelines for software and tools, and prioritizing health through regular exercise and a balanced diet.
Good Practice for Telework
There are a lot of practices that must be thought to a beginner, this is because there are differences in-between working in a natural work office setting and working from your home or somewhere outside of your office.
Let’s dive in with the first one.
1. Talk clearly and often with your team.
Just because you don’t see your team doesn’t mean that you don’t belong to one.
More often than not, you will be assigned to a team, and all of you must communicate clearly with each other to do your part successfully and in harmony with the team.
2. Use apps that help you work together.
There are a lot of apps that help teleworkers to work together, and some of them are even a must-have in your home setting.
Examples of these apps are:
3. Be clear about what needs to be done.
Since your team or managers won’t be around while you are working. You need to ask clearly what needs to be done.
This helps to avoid wasting time and to efficiently finish your job within the time allotted by your employers.
4. Have a special place for work at home.
Working from home doesn’t mean you can work anywhere at home, it means you can have an office-like setting at your home.
You need a desk with proper lighting and a computer with good and stable internet connectivity. Mobile devices are also allowed in some cases.
5. Stick to regular work hours.
Some people might find it hard to separate their personal lives from regular work hours especially if they are working from home.
Be sure to know when to stop working, even if you have not finished your job yet. Since you will most likely be paid by the hour.
6. Take breaks like you would in an office.
Working 8 hours straight or even more is never recommended.
Even if you work from home you will need some breaks to go to the washroom or to eat and replenish yourself.
7. Make sure your internet connection is safe.
Using an internet connection at home means you don’t have the security that your office will provide.
So, make sure all your internet connection or even a VPN is protecting personally identifiable information.
8. Use the software and tools your company suggests
To access classified data, most companies will suggest their employees use specific software.
This is for protecting classified data that contains information about the company and yourself so be sure to follow their suggested tools.
9. Keep your work updated and saved.
Always save your work.
There are a lot of things that could go wrong while working at home, such as loss of electricity or even fire.
By saving your work, you can proceed to take the most important actions when an accident happens, and that’s saving yourself or your family.
10. Take time for exercise and healthy food.
Working without proper exercise and eating healthy food will lead to low productivity. Be sure to take care of yourself so you can take care of your work.
Bad Practice for Telework
While there are things you could do to successfully be a teleworker, there are also several practices that could harm yourself and your company if not done correctly.
1. Inadequate Home Ergonomics
One of the bad practices for teleworkers is ignoring proper ergonomics.
Sitting for 8 hours a day without a good and properly positioned chair will lead to some back problems.
If you are working full time for a long period be sure to invest in adequate home ergonomics.
2. Not Taking Care of Cybersecurity
A significant misstep in telework is neglecting cybersecurity, especially when using government-furnished equipment and government-issued mobile devices.
This can range from not updating security software to ignoring the use of a government virtual private network (VPN). Misuse or neglect of such equipment can compromise the security of sensitive data.
3. Over-sharing On Social Media
A unique problem in the era of remote work is the over-sharing of work-related information on social media platforms.
This could mean inadvertently sharing images or information from government systems or even revealing aspects of the critical and essential functions you are responsible for, which could lead to breaches in security protocols.
You could get in trouble with this malpractice even if it is by accident.
4. Lack of Boundaries Between Personal and Work Time
Some teleworkers struggle with the differentiation of their personal time and work time. Some forget the time and continue to work even if they are not being paid for those hours already.
Also, this might include using government-furnished equipment for personal tasks or inquiries or dealing with personal or payroll information during dedicated work hours.
This practice can lead to burnout and can also compromise the security of work equipment and data.
5. Not Acknowledging Time Zone Differences
During international company hours, it’s crucial to be aware of and respect the different time zones in which your colleagues may be located.
Not doing so can lead to unnecessary communication issues, such as sending requests to retrieve classified documents promptly without considering whether it’s an appropriate time for the recipient, causing confusion and potential delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is teleworking the same as remote working?
Teleworking is remote working but with some limits. It refers to being able to work at home or at a distance that is not different from your employers.
To know more about telework vs remote work, visit this in-depth article.
Does teleworking mean literally doing work at a distance?
Yes, teleworking literally means doing work at a distance, which is most likely gonna be your home or a coffee shop in the area, because you will not be allowed to go overseas or in a different time zone than your employer.
What are the downsides of telework?
The downsides of telework are the upsides of working in an office setting. This includes having a more secure connection, a team that you can talk to at any time, and the absence of distraction from work.
Final Thoughts
Remember that telework is still work.
You might not be in an environment that is specially created for you to do your job.
But, the employer and you come to an agreement that you can and will be able to do your work at the choice of your workplace.
The advancements in technology might have given us the ability to work anywhere but the ethics and success of using it still falls into our hand.
As a professional web and software developer, the author possesses a strong foundational background in Computer Science. This equips him with both academic rigor and practical insights into the world of web-based entrepreneurship. As the founder of this platform, webpreneurships.com, he stands at the intersection of technology and business.
