With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging across the globe, many employers are allowing their employees to work from home. Whether you’re a teacher or a medical professional at The Bunion Cure, there are plenty of benefits to working from home, including greater flexibility and fewer distractions. Here are three more reasons why you should consider working from home, even after the pandemic ends.
Working from home has been gaining popularity in recent years due to technological advances and a growing number of digital startups. For businesses and entrepreneurs just starting out, this could be an excellent way to save costs on office space and equipment. By investing in a laptop or desktop computer, a reliable internet connection, and other important hardware, you can create your own office environment wherever you are. This not only saves on costs associated with renting property but it also eliminates pesky overhead fees for electricity, lighting, and water consumption which could quickly add up over time. Working remotely also enables businesses to access talent from all over the world, further expanding their reach while still remaining cost-effective.
More Control Over Your Environment
Creating an environment that you find both functional and pleasing to the eye is an important part of anyone’s lifestyle. Whether it’s arranging your desk space in a way that makes working in your home office more efficient, or simply rearranging certain pieces of furniture to make a room brighter and easier to move around in, you can use some simple adjustments to greatly impact the atmosphere around you. Taking control of the arrangement of our environments not only improves how we function within them but also has tremendous psychological benefits, as studies show that organization encourages productivity and reduced stress levels. So don’t limit yourself – take charge of your environment and enjoy the rewards!
Eliminate Commuting Time and Costs
Commuting is a time-consuming and costly part of almost everyone’s life. Between the long drives, traffic, parking fees, and the ever-rising cost of gasoline, it seems almost impossible to avoid the additional costs associated with getting to work every day. But there are ways to cut commuting costs and save valuable time – telecommuting is one of these solutions. With technologies such as video conferencing and messaging available, it’s simple to stay connected while eliminating commuting costs. Not only can you take advantage of reduced transportation outlays but you may also enjoy increased productivity without the distractions associated with daily commutes. So why not ditch the congestion and high gas prices? Make the switch to telecommuting today!
Working from home has become increasingly popular over the past decade for a number of reasons. As noted above, you can save money on office space and equipment, have more control over your environment, and eliminate commuting time and costs. If you are considering making the switch to working from home, weigh the pros and cons carefully to see if it is the right decision for you.
Truth be told, before Covid-19 many people want to stay back in their homes and relax after a long day at the office. One of the things you are afraid of is waking up early to evade looking unkempt and the need to rush on the train. Part of your budget is clothing because you must look your best, presentable, and decent every time.
Unexpectedly, the pandemic broke out, and graciously you did not lose your job. Nonetheless, you are expected to work from home. I believe you find this idea very exciting because all the inconvenience of rushing a train to get to work among many other people are no longer required.
Now, to the main question, Is this how you imagined it?
You need to bear in mind that working from home has disadvantages that may not be glaring to you. The idea of working from home in your pyjamas and working at your pace might be interesting, but endeavor to avoid the following financial issues.
First Problem: Excessive spending on Food Deliveries
We can’t deny the fact that we need to help food vendors and drivers earn a living. Likewise, we need to support small businesses at this trying time. Nonetheless, it would help if you were careful while spending. It would be best if you did not rely on food deliveries all the time.
It’s quite convenient, but you need to know that the delivery fees will accumulate in the long run, and you would be surprised to know how much you have spent on deliveries.
While you are working from home, you can prepare your food, be self-sufficient, and are on your way to saving more at the end.
Second Problem: Lack of Budget
Keep the excitement about working from home, although it gives you the chance to save more because you don’t have to spend on transportation fare, new clothes, and lunch-outs, which does not mean you can afford to spend more money on things you want.
You presently need a budget to work on more than ever. You have to save your salary and spread it accordingly on rent, grocery, bills, and amortization. Don’t forget savings and investment when you have a budget you work with it gives you room to be frugal.
Third Problem: Lack of Savings
Many people don’t have the habit of saving, especially during this pandemic period. We can also say your chance of survival is dependent on savings.
Do not allow the pandemic to make you neglect saving habits; always try to place aside part of your salary as savings.
In case an emergency need arises, and you need the money more than anything. Nobody knows how long the pandemic will last, this is when the saying “saving for the rainy day” becomes essential, and it shows having savings is paramount.
Fourth Problem: Terrific Shopping Habits.
Many people are terrified because of the pandemic. You will always meet a lot of people at the grocery store, no matter the time. When it’s your turn to shop, endeavor to go easy on spending and cut out what you don’t need.
Always make sure you buy essential things, so you don’t run out of groceries and have to go back to get more often. Do not spend on snacks and sweets, it will only make you have more bills to pay. Also, they are not nourishing, and it could be harmful to your health. Remember to pay with cash and avoid paying with credit; it will save you the stress of paying outside.
Fifth Problem: Becoming Too Complacent
Working from the comfort of your home has its benefits, and at the same time, has its disadvantages, which include being complacent. You might feel too lazy and want to be in bed and watch movies all day.
This may sound like having the fun you have ever waited for long to have; you must never forget your responsibilities. You can plan your day by having a schedule for work and relaxation. Do not attempt to work in the bedroom to avoid the temptation of falling asleep on your bed. Mute your notifications on your phone to avoid checking your phone each time the phone chimes.
Urgent financial assistance if you are out of the budget
In case you have not been able to work with a budget during the pandemic and need money for emergency needs, do not worry, you have online lending company. Robocash gives 24 hour payday loan to people who need a money to meet urgent needs. Once you are ready, log on to their website robocash.ph to fill the form.
You may be wondering what you have to do to qualify for the loan. Here are the requirements:
Generate personal space on the Robocash website. The first thing you need to do is fill a form with personal data.
To do this, you need a valid ID and phone number. It takes a few minutes to do this.
Fill in how you want the loan transferred. Robocash works with significant partners in the Philippines for you to receive and pay back the loan in a convenient way.
You need to sign a contract with Robocash. You must consent to apply for a loan. You will receive confirmation code on your phone through a text message. You will receive the Robocash loan without any delay.
Here are some of the benefits of getting a loan from Robocash:
– You can request the loan amount from 1000 to 25000 pesos and its duration from 7 to 30 days.
– You can request a loan by filling out the form at any time of day, on holidays and weekends.
– You can apply for a loan without co-borrowers, collateral and references from work.
While working at home, do not forget to search for other means of earning money. Remember to be grateful for what you have as this time is challenging.
We’re still in the early stages of going back out into the world. There’s no certainty when this will all be over and we are being propelled to the new normal. Some are already back at it while some are still being very vigilant and would prefer working from home.
Well, if they have the means and luxury to make a living in the comforts of their home, why not? In this era of Zoom birthday celebrations, we’ve become more creative in gift-giving. And these ones are perfect for your friends you haven’t seen in a while and are grinding in their home offices during this time.
Caffeine is a staple in the office and Starbucks is, well it doesn’t need an introduction. This gift basket holds all the Starbucks essentials like chocolate truffles, cookies, shortbread, and a signature tumbler.
It’s a practical gift that can fuel them for work, gaming, or if they just want to kick back and recharge.
2. Smart Neck and Shoulder Massager
This is a gift anyone needing some pain relief will love and not just people who work from home. The neck and shoulders are usually the most strained during long hours in front of the screen, so a little massager that they can wear and use during breaks will be a lifesaver.
This is for all of the coffee-lovers on your list. Gift them a stylish and functional Sok-It™ that keeps their iced coffee cold and their hands protected from extreme heat on the go. For cold beverages, JavaSok™ prevents puddles so you can avoid a mess on your desk. And for hot drinks, HotSok™ is insulated to prevent you from burning your hands and stays put unlike wasteful cardboard wraps that tend to fall down on the job. Sok-It is reusable coffee sleeves are easily packable, and come in a variety of different colors and patterns. All designed to give you or someone you care about, a better to-go experience. Drinking coffee never looked so good!
4. Exercise Mat
The rise of Youtube at-home workouts urged a lot of people to finally get on the fitness bandwagon. Although it’s seen as a fad, any fad that’s eventually good for you, is always a good thing.
Whether your friend is just starting out or you want them to start out so you can have a workout buddy, this is a nice gift that they can use not only for exercise but also for yoga and stretching as well.
5. Headspace Subscription
Allow their minds to breathe in this guided meditation app. We know how sometimes it can be confusing for the mind to set a boundary between the office and home.
And even if we’ve created a separate workspace, an office inside the house can be an overwhelming change for someone used to going out for work.
So, even if they can’t physically go out. Their minds can momentarily leave the thousand thoughts inside the head and relax.
6.Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard
Some work from a laptop, others in PC, some in a huge desktop, while others mix and match according to their mood. If your recipient is like the latter, they will appreciate a Bluetooth keyboard they can carry around the house and connect with any of their devices.
7.Scented Candle
Help them feel more relaxed after a day’s work with scented candles that can transport the mind to whatever scent it’s infused with; the woods, the mountains, or the beach.
It can also be an instant booster or a manifestation tool much like when you make a wish and blow out a candle on your birthday.
8. Sleep Mask
This isn’t a typical sleep mask. It has a memory foam that totally blocks out ambient light. You know what this means? Your giftee can take power naps during the day and have a full night’s rest.
There’s both beauty and challenge in working from home. What you can do to show your care aside from checking up on them is to treat them with these gifts that will keep them balanced and on top of their game.
A lot of us are working from home amid the worldwide pandemic currently happening. This is nothing new to some. Maybe you have a nice, comfortable office space complete with a supporting chair. However, to others, this is anything but normal, and maybe your office is a kid’s art table and chair.
Whatever your situation is, a lot of us are finding ourselves sitting and working more often than not. This can mean experiencing more and new aches and pains that weren’t noticed while working in the office. This is because most offices furnish their desks with ergonomic furniture and most employees get up and walk around the office for various reasons throughout the day. There is no water cooler at home.
These weeks have turned to months for working at home, and they have strained our bodies not only mentally, but physically. These new aches and pains may lead us down a road to debilitating muscle injuries such as bad backs, sore necks, and achy shoulders.
To avoid going down this path, make sure you are spending as much time as you are able working in a neutral position where no body part is awkwardly bent or twisted. Also, try to move around every 30 minutes. You want to walk around and get yourself a cup of coffee or water. If you can, try to stretch. There are a plethora of apps and online sites that will help you figure out what back exercises to do to stay limber. There are even health sites that will help withlumbar disc bulge exercises.
If you work at a computer, try to view your screen with a straight neck. This means putting your screen at a comfortable viewing height. We tend to look down at laptop screens, so you may want to evaluate your computer to combat this habit.
After you have found the best height for your screen, make sure it is sideways to a bright window. This will minimize eye strain from a glare and you don’t want your back to your screen because the incoming light will cause a glare on it. Also, you won’t be straining your neck and back to look away from a screen if it is too bright. If you have blue light glasses, make sure you wear those as well.
Also, don’t read from an iPad or papers that are flat on your desk or table to where you are constantly moving your head up and down. If you go back from a screen to reading material, use a vertical document holder or iPad stand to relieve this strain.
Since your computer is at a comfortable height in front of you, so should your keyboard. Your keyboard and mouse should be used with your forearms and hands level and straight. Also, your arm should be close to the side of your body when you use a mouse. You have nerves that leave your neck and run down your shoulder, elbow and wrist, so when your arm is at your side, the nerves aren’t compromised. The more you have to stretch, the greater chance there will be to strain your back, neck, or shoulder.
Other small tips are to make sure you sit back in your chair and limit the time you spend working in bed. Also try to limit the time you spend standing. Just following some of these tips at your home work environment can help you lessen your chance of injury.
Whether you’ve recently started working from home or you’re thinking about a home office revamp, there are some areas of efficiency you should be aware of. Piles of papers, tangled cords, and a faulty Internet connection are a few annoyances that could affect your work. Although working in your pajamas is luxurious, there are vital steps to take so your productivity is maintained. Here are several ways you can guarantee an efficient workspace.
There’s no need for filing cabinets anymore. With electronic organization you can scan your documents and upload them systematically so that it’ll take seconds to find a specific file. Make sure to invest in a high-powered shredder too. Once a document is digital, immediately run it through the shredder, to avoid messy paper stacks.
Some additional tips:
Encrypt all precious documents
Use Google Docs for anything you’ll share
Back-up all of your docs to a separate hard-drive every few months
2. Multiple Cord Streamlining
Kicking around tangled cords under your desk is irritating but trying to locate a specific cord is an absolute pain. Save yourself time and purchase some nifty cord devices.
USB hubs instantly wind up cords for orderly keeping.
Cordlets also keep cables in order by directing them exactly where you need them on your desk.
WAshi Tape allows you to label cords for quick identifying.
Quatro devices go into your wall and have four holes specifically designed for USB-charged gadgets. No need for electric adapters because you can now power up all of your USB devices directly to the wall.
Although you want a well-lit room, it’s important to keep blinds or shades closed to prevent distraction. Nothing is worse than neighbors constantly walking by your window or losing your train of thought by something going on outside. Consider purchasing window or roller shades so that you may remain focused on your work.
Outside noise can be disruptive, too. Solve this issue with some soothing music, earplugs, or sound proofing materials.
4. Multi-Tasking Communication
Clients and co-workers need your attention throughout the day. Though e-mail, G-Chat, and Skype are universal ways to communicate, some will want to reach you by phone or text. Here are a few cool products that’ll allow you to multitask with your phone.
Good Call IG1 Bluetooth Wireless Handset/Docking Station allows for all of the functionality of an iPhone while receiving a call through it.
Jawbone Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is excellent for its convenient size and phenomenal sound/volume.
Omnio WOW Keys let you type on your phone via a more standard keyboard. You can combine it with other apps and you can control your desktop by using it with your phone.
If you work from home you need a high-speed Internet connection. With options of DSL, cable, satellite, and wireless, you’ll want to choose a connection that best suits your needs. Typically, you should look for speeds of at least 384kbps/128kbps. To keep your Internet running quickly, you’ll want to regularly clear your history, perform malware tests, update your browsers, and shut down unnecessary programs.
Staying focused on your work can be far more difficult at home. From organizational systems to multi-tasking devices, it’s important to make sure your office is setting you up for success.
Author Bio:
Carly Wright is an activist for fun! From technology and entertainment to travel and leisure she can write about it all. She encourages you to see her tweets @MostlyImWrite.
Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer reportedly made the decision to ban telecommuting at the company after checking up on how many times remote workers were logging into the company’s network and discovering it wasn’t enough.
A recently released documentary shows Marissa Mayer criticizing feminism and explaining her own approach to women’s equality. Makers is a PBS/AOL documentary about the “women who make America”.
In the film Marissa Mayer says: “I don’t think that I would consider myself a feminist. I think that, I certainly believe in equal rights. I believe that women are just as capable, if not more so, in a lot of different dimensions.
“But I don’t, I think, have sort of the militant drive and sort of the chip on the shoulder that sometimes comes with that. And I think it’s too bad, but I do think feminism has become, in many ways, a more negative word.
“There are amazing opportunities all over the world for women, and I think that there’s more good that comes out of positive energy around that than negative energy.”
As Business Insider points out, women still earn less than men at every level of education, and women hold just 17% of senior management roles in the U.S.
It has also been revealed that Marissa Mayer banned working from home as she believed employees had being taking advantage of the benefit.
In a business meeting last week Marissa Mayer noted that workers had not been logging on enough, as reported by AllThingsD.
Marissa Mayer, who places huge emphasis on the analysis of metrics and data, had studied the records of Yahoo’s Virtual Private Network (or VPN) which remote workers use and found employees hadn’t been using it as frequently as expected.
This reportedly made up her mind on the telecommuting ban.
Marissa Mayer imposed Yahoo ban on working from home after spying on employee log-ins
Last week Michael Bloomberg weighed in on the debate over working from home, as the opinionated mayor came out in support of Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer.
The billionaire businessman-turned-politician said that Marissa Mayer’s decision to ban telecommuting at her company was a smart one even though she came under a firestorm following the revelation that the new mom had a nursery built for her new son just prior to announcing the rule.
“I’ve always said, telecommuting is one of the dumber ideas I’ve ever heard,” Michael Bloomberg said during a radio interview on Friday.
“Yes, there are some things you can do at home. But having a chat line is not the same thing as standing at the water cooler. And standing at the water cooler is where you get a lot of ideas and information and it’s a euphemism for a lot of interpersonal dialogue,” Michael Bloomberg said according to NBC.
Marissa Mayer’s decision sparked an outcry from working mothers and other companies in Silicon Valley who blasted the hypocrisy of her banning the action but allowing herself an in-office space for her child.
Another big-name opponent was Virgin CEO Richard Branson who called the ban on working from home a “perplexing” decision.
“This seems a backwards step in an age when remote working is easier and more effective than ever,” he wrote in a post on his blog.
“If you provide the right technology to keep in touch, maintain regular communication and get the right balance between remote and office working, people will be motivated to work responsibly, quickly and with high quality.
“Working life isn’t 9-5 any more. The world is connected. Companies that do not embrace this are missing a trick.”
The Yahoo decision will only impact a small percentage of the company’s workforce, primarily customer service representatives or staffers who work in cities where Yahoo does not have an office.
But the internal announcement on Friday has ruffled feathers as many employees say the flexible work arrangement is a key part of their job and will have a significant impact on their personal lives.
Though Yahoo will not publicly comment on the internal matter, employees disclosed the new HR policy to AllThingsD co-executive editor Kara Swisher.
The move is described as harsh since it requires employees to “either comply without exception or presumably quit”.
“Many such staffers who wrote me today are angry, because they felt they were initially hired with the assumption that they could work more flexibly. Not so, as it turns out,” Kara Swisher wrote in a blog posting about the change expected to impact several hundred workers.
Yahoo! headquarters is located in Sunnyvale, California, near San Jose. The public corporation employs 11,500 people in more than 20 countries across the globe.
Marissa Mayer, a 37-year-old Silicon Valley whiz kid who was previously a big deal at Google before switching to the competition, was appointed the head of Yahoo in July 2012.
She instituted free lunches at the company headquarters and started giving out smartphones to employees.
“I want Yahoo to be the absolute best place to work, to have a fantastic culture. We’re working really hard right now to remind people about all the opportunities that are there,” Marissa Mayer said shortly after she was hired at a Fortune magazine event in November.
Yahoo has decided to ban its staff from “remote” working.
After years of many predicting working from home as the future for everybody, why is it not the norm?
When a memo from human resources dropped into the inbox of Yahoo staff banning them from working from home it prompted anger from many of its recipients.
“Some of the best decisions and insights come from hallway and cafeteria discussions, meeting new people, and impromptu team meetings,” the memo said.
“Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home.”
The move to get staff back into the office from June this year is thought to have been driven by new chief executive Marissa Mayer, who herself returned to work weeks after giving birth.
Virgin entrepreneur Richard Branson, who spends much of his time working on Necker Island in the Caribbean, was quick to respond, calling it a “backwards step in an age when remote working is easier and more effective than ever”.
People in the West are constantly bombarded by news about technology that makes it easier to communicate with the office. Many have fast broadband and webcams that allow their faces to appear through the ether at any important meetings. They are surrounded by smartphones, laptops and tablets.
Everything is surely there to free them from the daily commute. Those in manufacturing or retail might always have to be present, but in an age when so many work in offices, why can’t they have their office space at home?
In the US, 24% of employed people report working from home at least some hours each week, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics.
But only 2.5% of the workforce (3.1 million people, not including the self employed or unpaid volunteers) consider home their primary place of work, says the Telework Research Network.
The myth of working from home
Yahoo is not a lone voice in espousing the virtues of physically being in the office.
Only last week Google’s chief financial officer Patrick Pichette said when the company is asked how many people telecommute, their answer is “as few as possible”.
“There is something magical about sharing meals,” Patrick Pichette explained.
“There is something magical about spending the time together, about noodling on ideas, about asking at the computer <<What do you think of this?>>”
Google workers are provided with a free Wi-Fi-enabled bus in to the HQ.
Marissa Mayer, of course, is a former Google executive.
There are obvious reasons why working from home has not proliferated in the way people thought it might. There is still ingrained cultural antipathy.
Not “being seen in the office” may affect a person’s chances of promotion, result in a smaller pay rise than office-based peers and lower performance evaluations, according to research by the London Business School and the University of California.
They stress the continuing importance of so-called “passive face time” that is being in the office, regardless of what someone is doing.
The additional pressure not to be perceived as “skiving” may drive those who do work from home to exceed their hours.
Prof. Jennifer Glass, co-author of a report on the US workforce published by the University of Texas at Austin, says for many people, especially those in their 30s and 40s, teleworking is part of their work after they have already done 40 hours in the office.
Jennifer Glass was “flabbergasted” by the Yahoo memo.
“This seems to be trying to bring Yahoo in line with corporate America, not high-tech industries,” she says.
“The idea that this is going to promote more innovation seems bizarre.”
Promoting the value of interactions in hallways and canteen seems strange at a time when face-to-face contact within the office is decreasing.
“I frequently email someone without getting up to see if they are there,” Jennifer Glass notes.
Managers can be biased in favor of those they can actually see working.
“There is this attitude that managers need to see people are close by and that those workers are more productive,” says Jennifer Glass.
“It is a natural tendency to want to control things.”
For Alan Denbigh, co-author of The Teleworking Handbook and former executive director of the Telework Association, there are proven benefits of home working.
“It gives you the opportunity to get on with a particular project and for those who are bringing up small families where it is imperative to have a degree of flexibility it works.”
Having done both he does not recommend working from home exclusively, recognizing the benefits of interacting with people in the office and the pitfalls of working long hours at home to keep up.
But he says it is “equally ridiculous” to feel you have to be at the office every day. He recommends a bit of both.
“A large corporation saying you can’t work at home, especially an IT based company, seems counter-productive. You have to treat people as grown-ups.”
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