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UPFRONT
THE LONELINESS OF WORKING FROM HOME
Latest research by global workplace provider Regus has revealed
that Canadian home workers “get lonely,” miss mixing with fellow
professionals and are afraid of becoming overweight from snacking
throughout the day. The research surveyed 2,692 Canadian
professionals.
Additionally, the report highlights that 60 per cent of respondents
feel they are getting stale and need to schedule trips outside
of the house, raising the question: is the freedom of working from
home all it’s cracked up to be?
Other issues highlighted by the report include resentment from
family members for taking up space in the house, work being taken
less seriously by family members and unwanted distractions.
Here are the key findings in the report:
■■ Almost half of professionals report that they work outside the
office more than half the week
■■ Seventeen per cent of respondents say that their family resents
that they have sectioned off a space in the family home and
two-fifths think family members take their work less seriously
when they work from home
■■ Nearly two-thirds say they feel they are getting stale and need
to schedule trips out of the house
■■ More than one-third “get lonely” and 65 per cent miss mixing
with other professionals
■■ Thirty-one per cent are afraid of becoming overweight as they
snack throughout the day
“Often times, flexible workers need a professional and fullyequipped
environment to thrive and be productive, and working
from home isn’t always the answer,” said Wayne Berger, VP of
Regus Canada. “When working remotely, it is important for professionals
to get out of their pajamas, and out of the house to
maintain their morale and wellbeing.”
Working from a fully functional environment, instead of a
makeshift space at home, offers professionals who work remotely
the chance to interact with other professionals.
CONFERENCE CALL ETIQUETTE: ARE YOU
AN OFFENDER?
When joining conference calls, employees should be careful
about "phoning it in" if they want to avoid irritating colleagues,
OfficeTeam research suggests. Of the workers surveyed who participate
in conference calls, almost one-third said multiple people
talking at the same time is the most distracting behaviour, followed
by excessive background noise.
"It's tempting to let your guard down on conference calls because
participants can't see you, but basic meeting rules still apply,"
said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "To get
the most out of these discussions, join on time, offer your undivided
attention and be respectful of other attendees."
OfficeTeam identifies five types of conference call etiquette offenders
and provides tips to help workers avoid these labels:
1. The late arriver disrupts the flow when he or she joins after
the call has already kicked off. Have the dial-in details ready a
few minutes prior to the start time so you won't be scrambling
at the last moment. If you anticipate being tardy, let the host
know.
2. The noisemaker causes a commotion with loud typing,
a barking dog or other sounds that can be heard in the
background. Find a quiet location for calls and mute the line
when you're not speaking. Just remember to unmute yourself
when you have something to say.
3. The multitasker is too busy eating, checking email or reading
a report to pay attention to the discussion at hand. Put your
other work away and eliminate potential distractions so you
can actively participate in the conversation.
4. The tech transgressor is prone to technology faux pas, whether
it's misusing phone access codes or a headset, or accidentally
prompting music by putting the line on hold. Familiarize
yourself with conference call systems and equipment before
dialing.
5. The scene-stealer is known to interrupt or monopolize
discussions. Contribute your thoughts, but don't forget to
share the floor. Since there may be audio delays on the phone,
wait a beat before speaking to avoid talking over someone.
Honza Hruby/Shutterstock.com
HRPATODAY.CA ❚ OCTOBER 2015 ❚ 11