Remote working offers a range of benefits – no more traffic jams on your morning commute, no distractions from talkative co-workers and no one stealing your lunch from the office fridge. But remote work also comes with a number of challenges.
A report from the United Nations International Labour Organisation found that employees are more productive when they work outside of a conventional office but they’re also more likely to face work-home interferences, they tend to work longer hours at a more intense pace and some even experience greater stress.
We chatted to a few Nebulites to find out how they’re handling remote work and to gain some insights around our virtual culture.
Q1: Remote work can be challenging if you have to manage personal and professional roles. Is this something you have experienced and if so do you have any advice for coping with it?
A: On a personal level, being stuck in a house with other family members can become challenging because you want/need space. On a professional level, this kind of thing comes with technical difficulties. I’ve also had to manage the noise in and around the house while having a meeting.
Chevon Nell, junior HR Consultant
A: Initially it was difficult to adjust, I’m an employee but I’m also a mother and a wife and balancing all of that was a challenge. Having a daily routine (a rhythm) was my saving grace. And I also learnt very quickly that its ok to be human. Taking a break in between work and home routines also helped.
Cherzaan Perumal, Nebula HR manager
A: Keeping your routine is very important to maintain balance and discipline. I get up early and set aside time to work on passion projects to fuel my creativity. Then I continue my day by planning what tasks I need to complete. When my energy is low, I take a break by exercising, stepping away from my desk or I visit my garden to get some fresh air.
Kim Kirby, Nebula multimedia design lead
A: I found it tough to switch off at the end of the day. I challenged myself to exercise at the end of every day and actually put that as a calendar event in my diary so I had a cut off time. This really helps me switch off and process the day. I also struggled with taking regular breaks but I resolved this by blocking out time in my calendar to take breaks and step away from my desk. I found it very useful to maintain a proper routine as if I were still going to work.
Shelley Lessing, Nebula senior analyst developer in ITD
Q2: With all interactions now virtual, what has helped you maintain good connections with employees and clients?
A: Having virtual meetings has been a big adjustment. You can’t just ask the whole team a question at once. You need to be deliberate in who you’re talking to so that there isn’t any confusion.
Servaas Fick, Nebula’s finance manager
A: Still keeping it human. Show your face as much as you can. Lots of us are guilty of keeping the video off when we’re on a video conference call. I’m an expressive person so you can see how I’m feeling when you look at my face. In these situations small talk is lost but it’s still important. We need to find ways to keep connections with each other.
Cherzaan Perumal, Nebula HR manager
Q3: How have you kept the company culture alive for yourself and your team?
A: Our team recently had a “virtual team building event” where we all participated in an online game and dressed up. At our morning stand ups, each person gets a chance to lead and share their insights. This makes it feel more inclusive because we each get a change to have our say.
Kim Kirby, Nebula multimedia design lead
A: Daily check-ins are important. We also celebrate instances where a team member has lived the company values. This is a little more challenging remotely, as you can’t as easily “catch them” living out the Nebula values, but the practice remains effective and brings us all together.
Servaas Fick, Nebula’s finance manager
A: The developer team at 48 regularly hosts interactive games on a Friday afternoon. This really helps us communicate and collaborate with each other outside of the workday and we have fun together even though we’re not actually together. We have a strict “no work chat” policy during those times. In terms of meetings, we have introduced themes in terms of “dress up” or “show and tell” in our daily stand-ups, which has helped to keep the culture alive.
Shelley Lessing, Nebula senior analyst developer in ITD
Q4: What is your key take away from this experience?
A: That all off this is only temporary. But while we’re in it – communication is key. And working remotely to make a plan – solving a problem is always possible. Working together, even when you’re working remotely, is key. You need to keep everyone updated and in the loop. On a more personal level, we’ve all saved a lot of time commuting and have lower expenses because we’re not spending money on petrol, lunches etc. I appreciate that things are more flexible so I can run to the shop or work from bed if I need to.
Chevon Nell, junior HR consultant at Nebula
A: My key takeaway is that our teams and company, as a whole, has adapted so well to this challenge – keeping the rhythm and working smarter to get results. I commend and appreciate our company for creating transparency and frequently giving us updates and sharing what the plans are moving forward.
Kim Kirby, Nebula multimedia design lead
Q5: Describe remote working during this crisis in one word.
A: Challenging.
Cherzaan Perumal, Nebula HR manager
A: Adjustment.
Kim Kirby, Nebula multimedia design lead
A: Prioritisation.
Servaas Fick, Nebula’s finance manager
A: Challenging.
Shelley Lessing, Nebula senior analyst developer in ITD
A: New-normal.
Many of us see this as a bad thing. But we’re actually very fortunate to be able to work at all.
Chevon Nell, junior HR consultant at Nebula
For years, we’ve been helping our clients manage their remote/mobile employees. Want to find out more about what we do? Simply complete the form below and we’ll get back to you.