If you live on the east coast, you probably (hopefully) were tempted to telecommute today, and you might have to work from home on Monday, too. Staying off the roads when weather is bad is one of the great luxuries that the digital age has brought. It’s also the flip side of the “always-on” problem I write about a lot in The Restless Project. (Who says I can’t look at the bright side?). On the other hand, Marketwatch sadly proclaimed last year that technology has led to the end of the snow day, a modern tragedy. (Who says I can’t a dark cloud inside a silver lining?)
As anyone who’s tried working from home knows, however, it’s an inexact science. Can you log into the company resources you need? Can you work without distraction from the kids (or the dog)? What does your boss expect from you when she or he can’t see you? These are tricky questions, so it’s best if days like today aren’t the *first* time you telecommute, or the *only* time you’ve done it this past year. The folks at FlexJobs sent me some telework tips this week, which are below, and CEO Sara Sutton Fell included an excellent point: Companies that allow occasional telecommuting tend to fare better during weather disruptions because they endure …fewer disruptions.
“(It creates) a more seamless transition to working from home for weather-related reasons,” she said.
Were you working from home today? Did the dog get in the way of your productivity?
Here are the FlexJobs tips:
Identify Your Work Space
Alternatives to a home office, if you don’t have one set up already, include: the attic, the garage, a small closet. Gather the essentials for quiet work: headphones, cell phone, earplugs, lamp, mouse pad, laptop + charger, pen, paper, etc. Wherever you set yourself up, you’re likely going to be more productive working from a desk than from your bed; office monster sells a range of desks which might be attractive to you if you’re currently in the process of furnishing a home office or trying to convert a corner of a room into a workspace.
Make Backup Internet Plans
Know which local establishments offer free Wi-Fi ahead of time (if you can venture out). But don’t show up empty handed. Bring a power strip and all of the cords necessary to charge your various devices (a tote is handy here). PS You will be popular at Starbucks if you have a power strip.
Save Your Work. A Lot.
Don’t rely on Google Docs or other online tools; to be safe, save as Word documents. One fallen tree, one blast of wind, can take your work away in a second. And as long as your cell service is on, you can create your own personal hot spot.
Swap childcare duties with spouse or neighbors
If there are other neighborhood families stuck without daycare, consider swapping children for a few hours. Or if your partner has vacation days to use, consider asking him/her to be on full-time childcare duty while you work.
Set Expectations
Set rules for when you can or cannot be disturbed, setting a code signal for an emergency, or writing your schedule out for others in the house and prioritizing based on what you must get done.
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