The COVID-19 pandemic changed office work routines around the globe as lockdowns and worries about the spread of infection caused millions of employees to start working from home. Even now that the dangers of contracting the virus on the job have diminished, the pattern has become the new normal: 92% of U.S. employees are now working remotely at least one day per week and 66% are working remotely at least part-time.
The demand for remote work has impacted not just office workers, but those in the field, too. In the oil and gas industry, even oil drillers went remote, and they plan to use digital technology, data streaming, visualization, and rig-site data engineers to conduct what’s called “remote drilling.” In short, today’s employers are responding to the demand for remote work, and employees are faced with the need to learn how to make the most of this new way to get their jobs done.
The four new training courses covering “Remote Work” in the IHRDC “Business Essentials” e-Learning library can help. For example, “Working Remotely” allows for greater flexibility, but it also requires a thoughtful approach to time management. Scheduling tasks in an efficient way and ensuring a clear boundary between work life and home life are key elements to managing the demands of remote work.
The series provides an overview of the skills and strategies needed to achieve a fulfilling , productive remote work routine as illustrated in “Work From Home: Work-Life Balance”. This no easy task. Knowing the right amount of time to devote to your work, your family and yourself has never been easy. And now that more people are working from home, the lines between work and life have blurred, while the idea of “balance” has grown ever more elusive. The course delves into the concept as it applies to remote work, and it provides practical advice and tips on dealing with your employer, supporting your family and caring for your parents or other loved ones.
There is also another hurdle to handle: managing the technology to make working at home even possible. Nothing is worse than dealing with a frozen virtual meeting or broken VPN connection. So the “Work From Home: Technology at Home” course provides learners with the knowledge, tips and practices to manage different technologies and devices in the home environment. In addition, it provides practical guidance for purchasing products, contracting for services, and troubleshooting common issues to make your day run smoothly from anywhere in the world. It also covers interview preparation for remote positions as well as videoconferencing, instant messaging and best practices for using business email.
Working from home also presents a unique set of challenges when it comes to maintaining mental and physical health. From increased feelings of social isolation, anxiety, and stress, to a decrease in physical activity, sleep quality, and motivation, many people find that working from home is not necessarily the experience they had imagined… or hoped for.
The “Work From Home: Health and Wellness at Home” course provides learners with the knowledge and practices to gain and sustain optimum well-being while pursuing the new paradigm. It provides guidance for improving sleep hygiene, practicing mindfulness, developing healthy eating habits, exercising, and tracking health with technology.
Bottom line: The “Remote Work” series is a really good way to make the most of this universal megatrend.
The following are the titles in the “Remote Work” series.
- Working Remotely
- Work from Home: Work-Life Balance
- Work from Home: Technology at Home
- Work from Home: Health and Wellness at Home