Hybrid & fully remote work is here to stay, and that’s why digital wellness matters

Although the Covid crisis might seem like a distant memory, the time when confinement and masks were the primary concerns was not that long ago. Since then, the workplace scenario has rapidly changed. As fast as possible, most companies implemented some level of remote work to adapt to this new situation and maintain all health and sanitary standards. Remote working is undoubtedly more prevalent than ever, and it will continue to be so.

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Originally, it was only implemented by IT companies, but now it is being adopted by companies in every field. It is not uncommon for employees to work completely remotely, choosing the location where they want to work. Alternatives include a hybrid system that allows employees to work from home or at the office.  

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For employers, this means they can hire skilled workers no matter where they are without facing relocation challenges. Further, these flexible work environments lead to a more productive atmosphere for their employees. The company has also made significant savings on real estate as it no longer needs a prominent office in the city’s center.

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Having a better balance between work and personal life is another hidden benefit of remote work. Workers now have more job opportunities thanks to the fact that they can work for companies worldwide.

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Nonetheless, remote work also comes with many challenges for employers and employees.

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Is working from home really working?

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You probably have experienced that when your team is spread across the country (or the world), defining the right strategies and technologies to make the work rewarding, fulfilling, and valuable is difficult. Motivation and inspiration are sometimes harder to come by without social interaction. Because there is less interaction between them, keeping employees loyal to the company’s culture is also challenging.

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Changes in the routine that make employees feel like they are doing things differently, like working from home, are good at first. The time they save by not going to the office can be used for other activities. They also can be part of the daily routine of their families, such as breakfast or lunches. There’s a catch, though.

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The initial motivation of employees dissipates within a few months after they develop a new work routine at home, and new problems arise. Take for example what happens with meetings. Since the pandemic outbreak, they have increased significantly, and most teams still have a majority of their calendar filled with them. No guarantee exists that more meetings will lead to greater productivity, and it’s not just the number of meetings per week that is increasing, but also their duration.

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Additionally, due to the distractions associated with working from home, they are likely to spend more time online to complete their task. Because they always have a computer nearby, staying connected all day until late at night is common for remote workers. Rather than improving productivity, this generates more stress among employees, as they are never able to disconnect from their jobs. Because of increasing stress levels, those employees’ work quality suffers, resulting in decreased productivity.

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Having no structured schedule makes it difficult for employees to decide when to go to work in a hybrid work policy. However, setting rigid parameters to follow can backfire, as it contradicts the concept of flexibility that hybrid work offers. Managers should provide employees with clear guidance while exploring and learning what works best for the company. Businesses face new challenges all the time, some of which seem impossible to resolve, but need to be addressed to improve.

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The lack of time management skills of many employees leads to hours spent watching screens at home while doing non-work-related tasks. Under these circumstances, employees feel they have no choice but to work longer hours, which does not guarantee a higher level of productivity. Managers, on the other hand, have a hard time matching the company’s objectives and expected results to employees’ expectations. Eventually, a company’s system will fail if it lacks the infrastructure and the leadership skills to develop the necessary changes.

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What can you do?

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Every organization and company faces this challenge, regardless of its size, sector, or number of years in business. Companies should try to find the best way to solve this problem for themselves and their employees.

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Our goal at The Digital Wellness Institute is to help companies operate in a healthy environment to reach their full potential. Employees must upskill to balance work and life in this remote and hybrid environment. Clearly, this new work methodology brings a lot of complications, and we are here to assist you in overcoming these challenges.

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We have designed e-learning courses to promote healthy digital habits among your employees. You can visit our website and contact us to get more information about the tools we have to help your organization. We can help your company adapt to this new reality with constant challenges and enormous demands.

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Your employees will learn to improve their productivity, communication skills, mental health, and physical health. The training will focus on dealing with digital distractions in the workplace, enhancing communication in the digital world while protecting mental health, and creating a healthy workspace.