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Apr 5, 2023
5 mins read
Employee Experience
Many professionals have been working remotely at home or in coworking spaces long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the number of remote work employees has increased, and is rising rapidly.
However, little has been written about the distinction between “working at home” and “remote working,” which is surprising, because, as many remote employees will tell you, it’s a very important one.
While remote employees might work at home some or all of the time, clarifying the difference between the two is important for both employee job satisfaction and company success.
Let’s look at these 5 key differences, and understand why it’s so important to distinguish between the two when we refer to them.
READ MORE: How to empower your remote work employees
First, we need to understand that remote workers should possess certain skills that in-office employees may not have just by the nature of their location. In a recent Inc. article, Jason Aten wrote:
“[Remote work] requires a different set of abilities, resources, and skills. It requires a self-starting attitude and insane levels of time management skills. It also requires proactive communication and an almost hyperfocus on what’s happening with team members since you don’t have the regular face time with them.”
We also need to understand that remote work is truly like working in a physical office which just so happens to be in your home (or a coworking space).
As Aten noted, “In general, [working from home] represents a significant change from your normal routine and your normal pace of work–which can be a very good thing once in a while.”
Remote work is an intentional decision that requires specific tools, equipment, and an environment that is conducive to productivity.
As more companies move to fully remote environments, it’s imperative for their success and the success of their employees to thoughtfully communicate what it means to remote first, and create a supportive environment.