Does March 13, 2020 ring a bell? And if you hear the word “health emergency”, does it ring a bell?
It was on March 13, 2020 that the Quebec government, faced with the spread of COVID-19, declared a state of health emergency. From one day to the next, we all had to deal with measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, from the mandatory wearing of masks to the closure of several public places, not to mention curfews.
No need to panic! This article is not about COVID-19. You can continue reading…
As mentioned above, the COVID-19 crisis (this is the last time the author will mention it, I promise!) had a major impact on our daily lives. While many of these impacts faded away once the health emergency was lifted, one has remained, at least for a good many of us: telecommuting.
So far, a rather marginal practice in our country, telecommuting suddenly became the obligatory way of working for a very, very large proportion of workers in Quebec (and elsewhere too, but that’s not our point). So, we had to adapt quickly, which wasn’t necessarily easy, because let’s not forget that at the time, high-speed Internet wasn’t only available in the Far North.
Post-COV… sorry… back to normal
Today, while things have returned to “normal” and most of the preventive measures deployed at the time are no longer in place, telecommuting has become a preferred mode of work for many companies and organizations, and even sought-after by many workers.
Telecommuting can be an attractive option for employers, who can now recruit candidates who meet their needs regardless of where they live, and for workers, who can broaden the scope of their job search or see telecommuting as a way of balancing work and personal life.
And since it’s no longer a question of a “wall-to-wall” measure imposed on everyone, all the time, today we see various formulas, such as:
- 100% telecommuting, like “I don’t even have an office!’’
- Weekly hybrid formula, such as 1/4 (one day in the office and four at home), 2/3, 3/2 or 4/1
- Monthly hybrid, remote most of the time, with a “visit” to the office a few days a month
- Free formula, or “I go to the office when I feel like it!’’
100% teleworking even allows some companies to “dematerialize”, meaning they no longer have physical facilities, premises or even a street address other than a post office box.
Ah, the benefits of working at home
For many, telecommuting offers significant advantages. No rush hour, no traffic, no parking rush, not to mention not having to face inclement weather to get to work.
No need to pack a lunch either, and you can even work “in the slack”, in comfortable tracksuits, or even pyjamas, unless you’re taking part in virtual meetings, in which case a dressy top is de rigueur, of course!
For those with young children, telecommuting also offers interesting attractions, such as being able to accompany your children to school or to the bus, and being there when they come home from school.
Virtual office, real mischief
While there are undeniable advantages to telecommuting, there are also a number of insidious pitfalls.
One of these traps is physical inactivity. While at the office, we’re often called upon to move around to talk to a colleague, attend a meeting or simply pick up a sheet from the shared printer, at home, it’s easy to sit at your desk for most of the day. Even for lunch, you’ll take more steps at the office than at home.
This relative immobility, which we might call “laziness”, can have harmful impacts, ranging from a simple lack of activity to prolonged maintenance of a static posture, with all that this implies. Added to this is visual fatigue, since unlike when we’re in the office, there’s virtually nothing at home to force us to look away from our computer screen.
Another, even more insidious impact is the lack of social interaction. Indeed, it’s not uncommon for some people to spend entire days without contact with anyone. This isolation, which contrasts with the frequent interpersonal contact of the office, can over time affect a sense of belonging, the ability to concentrate, mood and motivation, and even lead to depression.
Get moving!
Here are a few ideas to put into practice to offset the potential harm of laziness:
- Dress up! It’s funny to say, but the simple act of putting on a blouse, shirt or sweater will give you a little extra energy.
- Have a good breakfast.
- Do some warm-up exercises before settling in at your desk.
- Organize a few minutes of “virtual coffee” with your colleagues to talk about anything and everything, but above all to maintain and strengthen your bonds.
- Got a question? Call your colleague instead of writing. You’ll probably get an answer faster than by exchanging e-mails or text messages.
- Take breaks to get up and do a few steps or stretching exercises. Set an alarm to remind you to do so.
- Don’t eat at your desk. Take your lunch break in the kitchen, the living room… why not outside?
- Finish on time, turn off your computer and get out of the office.
Of course, you can think of plenty of other ways to give your body a workout and your brain a rest during your telecommuting day. Above all, do it for real, not virtually!
By Hervé Charbonneau