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How working from home is changing us

Microsoft 365 Team


Think back to March 2020. In a matter of days, millions of employees went from sitting in traffic getting to work, to sitting at home figuring out how and where to work. In the months that followed, businesses learned one very important lesson: remote work is different work. It involves more flexibility, a good wi-fi connection, and occasional kid interrupting your conference call with demands for more snacks.  

With careers and lives having been upended by the pandemic, it’s imperative to understand the physical and emotional effects remote employees face every day while empowering them with the tools and technologies that make a difference.   

Recognize the new reality 

Work-from-home employees are facing levels of stress and change they never imagined. Many are concerned about job stability, some are juggling child and elder care responsibilities, others have little to no experience working this way and are feeling isolated and alone.  

Yet as coronavirus cases climb, the number of employees being asked to remain working from home climbs right alongside them. A record 46% of American businesses have implemented working from home policies.1 So, with all these people setting up shop at their kitchen tables, it’s good to understand their work-from-home health and the factors that make their jobs especially demanding. 

Common feelings remote employees express include: 

  • More face-to-face attention from managers to feel seen and supported. 
  • Better access to information so simple tasks don’t require more time. 
  • Opportunities to connect socially in a virtual environment. 
  • More flexibility in scheduling to take care of children, pets, and others. 

Understand the impact of distractions 

With so many things vying for a remote employee’s attention, getting distracted is an everyday occurrence. In fact, more than 75 percent of employees admit their productivity has plummeted due to distractions related to working from home and the pandemic.2

Getting a text here and an email there may not seem like an intrusion, but the facts speak differently. According to research from the University of California, Irvine, it typically takes about 23 minutes for someone who has been distracted to refocus his or her attention.3 So three distractions equal one hour of work lost.

What’s a remote employee to do? Here are some ideas: 

  • Turn off notifications: Even just a half hour here and there helps you make headway fast. 
  • Use headphones: Check out background noise apps with options from café sounds to busy lunchrooms, so you feel like you’re out in the world again. 
  • Go for a walk: It seems counter intuitive, but taking a break actually boosts focus and productivity.  
  • Say nice things to yourself: Replace negative thoughts with positive ones—being kind to yourself goes along way with…well, yourself. 

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