There are so many different opinions and viewpoints in the business world today about letting employees work remotely. There are the obvious questions from executives like, “How can you really tell if someone is actually working?” or “Don’t employees get distracted easily when in their home? How will this affect their work?”. These questions have left some companies hesitant to allow employees to work remote, which is quite understandable.
However, we here at Omnivore make remote work…..actually work. Over a traditional office setting, working remotely can offer fewer distractions, make employees comfortable in their own space, and we do save some dollars here and there. Sure, there are some challenges that need to be overcome. But once your team has those challenges figured out, it is smooth sailing. Here’s how we make magic happen.
Communicate, People!
The most important part of working remotely is to communicate with each other. Easier said than done, but our team has it down to a science. Omnivore has employees all over the United States — Virginia, Indiana, Chicago, Texas, Arizona, Florida and of course, our home base in California. We rely on tools like Slack for daily messaging, Zoom for video chats with co workers, and Basecamp for project to-dos. Many employees have not yet met in person (including me and my director)! But, through the time zones, and we mean all the time zones, we manage it rather well.
Company Culture
Even though most of us haven’t physically met, the culture of the company allows every employee to become a part of the team. With a small startup like Omnivore, we have built team goals and each member gets the opportunity to contribute to the company’s success. Understanding these goals on a daily basis allows each employee to focus their work on achieving these objectives. Staying organized and creating clear deadlines is how our team stays away from distractions at home.
Flexibility
One of the best parts of working remotely is the flexibility that comes along with it. Working remotely means that work can happen anywhere (there is wifi). Whether it’s a home office setup, a nearby coffee shop, or working right from your couch, making sure you have a regular schedule is important. And stick to it! Taking breaks is crucial for your brain (for me, that’s getting stuff done around the house). The ability to adjust your schedule if need-be is a great advantage and benefits the infamous work-life balance.
Working remotely…actually works! We here at Omnivore have been able to maintain an organized, detailed, but flexible work schedule and are able to stay motivated to achieve the goals that we set for the company’s success.
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