The cloud enables workers to access their files from home easier than ever before. With this advancement in facilities, it is estimated that 1.3 billion people (over a third of the world’s population) are now mobile workers.
With the ability to choose where you work, employees will no longer be affected negatively by train strikes, delayed buses or closed roads. Instead, they can take these opportunities as a reason to work from home avoiding a decline in productivity.
So, why aren’t all office-based businesses making the transition? Despite the many benefits of mobile working, it also has a common misconception between co-workers that it is really just a fancy term from “slacking”. This is most definitely not the case – here’s 3 common working from home myths:
1. POPULAR FEARS SURROUNDING DATA SECURITY
These fears misrepresent the cloud as vulnerable and hackable. In reality, a reliable cloud platform can be far more secure than using onsite servers or paper files. Data and apps are separated from hardware and outsourced in online-bank grade data centres. By using a secure cloud provider and an effective log on, such as two-factor authentications (using both a password and a login code on another device such as your smartphone), businesses can, in fact, eliminate concerns of data loss, theft or vulnerability.
2. “WHEN STAFF ARE AT HOME, YOU CAN’T WATCH HOW MANY HOURS THEY’RE ACTUALLY WORKING”
The employer’s nightmare is that by allowing employees free rein of their home whilst they should be working – they won’t actually work. However, evidence suggests that this is not the case with working at home proven to boost efficiency, productivity and staff motivation.
By remaining in the comfort of your own home, you can cut out the daily commute – whether this is a crowded train or heavy road traffic. This allows employees to start their day off in the right direction. By removing the stress of commuting, employees can start off their work day feeling refreshed and motivated.
3. CUT OFF FROM WORKPLACE INTERACTIONS
By allowing employees to ‘hide away’ in their own home it is feared that you may remove crucial social interactions that would typically take place in the office. Whether this is friendly discussions of whose turn it is to make the brews or crucial project planning.
However, mobile working is all about agility and connectivity. Colleagues are able to message and share content from wherever they are but within a secure business environment.
A massive hurdle in evolving working culture is therefore how employers assess productivity. To truly utilise at-home and remote working, employers have to stop measuring the presence and instead rely on performance.
Technology is providing an opportunity for businesses to become more productive and efficient. The key here is adjusting business culture and mentalities so companies can benefit from the new standard work lifestyle.
