The transition from on-site to remote work made employers curious about whether their employees were working.
However, several studies proved that remote workers are definitely working. A QuickBooks Time survey of remote employees showed that the maximum time they spend on personal tasks is 30 minutes.
Examples of personal tasks include preparing meals for the family, taking their dogs for a walk, or even picking up their kids from school.
Below are some reasons that further prove the claim that remote workers do their job:
#1. Remote Workers Work Longer
According to a National Bureau of Economic Research study, remote workers tend to work longer hours compared to those in the office.
There was an 8.2% increase in their workday, equivalent to 48.5 minutes. It’s because the length of the meetings decreased, as employees preferred communicating through email.
Egotron’s study also showed that 40% of office workers work longer now because they’re in a hybrid setup. Considering that they don’t have to spend time traveling, they can use that extra time to finish more tasks.
#2. Remote Workers’ Performance Is Better
Remote workers feel less stressed because they’re in an environment that’s quieter.
Plus, working in the comfort of your home doesn’t make you anxious. It’s because there’s a tendency for us to associate the feeling of anxiety and stress with an office.
As a result, employees are more productive whenever they don’t feel burdened. Not only that, but because remote workers have gotten accustomed to a remote setup, they can efficiently do their tasks with the help of technology.
Common Distractions Faced By Remote Workers
There are still distractions that can hinder them from working, no matter how hard they try to focus.
So, the following are a few examples of distractions and how you can prevent them from happening:
#1. Interruption Of Family Members
This is one of the most common forms of distraction when working remotely. It’s inevitable for your family members, especially if you have children, to interrupt you at some point while you’re working.
They might need some help with something, or they’d like to spend a couple of minutes with you. As such, you should set boundaries by letting them know that you need to focus on your work by making them aware of your “office hours.”
#2. Online Entertainment
Considering that you’re using a device that has easy access to social media, it’s easy for you to become distracted because of the notifications you receive.
You can prevent online entertainment from distracting you by turning off your TV, closing browser tabs that aren’t helpful to your work, and putting your devices on silent.
#3. Household Chores
Household chores are a handy way to postpone doing your work. So, you can prevent procrastinating by doing your household chores before your workday starts.
Alternatively, you can create a schedule that enables you to finish the chores before or after your working hours. Knowing that you’ve set aside time for your housework will help you focus better on your job.
Conclusion
Now, are remote workers really working?
Well, according to the study by the NBER, they’re working. In fact, remote workers can work longer despite the distractions that surround them.
Additionally, they can perform better because they don’t feel stressed.
