04.05.2020

The pain of working from home revealed

‘Sorry, I was on mute’ has become a regular phrase used by millions across the country, as workers grapple with challenges of remote working, during COVID-19 lockdown.

With many now working from home, new data compiled by YouGov, reveals that the majority of those remote working are really struggling with the new ‘normal’ of virtual meetings via video call, with younger workers feeling the most pain.

More than half of workers (52%) admitted that video calling made their lives more difficult and prevented them from being able to communicate effectively, compared to physical ‘face to face’ interactions.

Whereas just over one third (37%), stated that a remote working environment was making no difference to their day to day job.

Opinions on this also varied regionally, with 42% of Londoners claiming it be more difficult to get their point across, whilst those in the North of England find it the least difficult when working remotely (34%).

The largest variation in opinions on the topics was across age ranges; those between age 18-24 claimed it to be more difficult (48%), whilst less than one third of those 65+ (31%) claimed to find it harder.

Less than 1 in 10 (6%) of workers questioned said that they find it easier to communicate over video calls. With no clear end to lockdown in sight, workers need to adjust to finding ways to communicate that work effectively for them.

To support this, the personal finance experts at money.co.uk have created a Working From Home guide to support the millions working remotely in remaining productive and healthy during the ongoing pandemic, including tips for better video calls:

Set the rules of engagement

Setting the ‘rules of engagement’ ahead of a call gives your fellow video callers the time to prepare for your call they could include things like;

Mute on arrival - mute as you enter a call so you don’t interrupt any conversations that have already started

Question time - If the meeting involves a presentation make sure you ask any questions at the end of the meeting or post them in the chat function to avoid presentations being interrupted

Encourage interaction - it’s a video call not a phone call, so make sure everyone has time to engage with each other, it may be the only time they get to do so in the day, even if it’s just to say hi or introduce themselves.

Follow an agenda

When setting up a video meeting, always share an agenda ahead of time. This gives you structure and allows participants to understand the flow of the meeting and what will be expected from them

If you are leading a meeting, send the agenda across at least an hour before (longer if possible), to be sure you make the most of the time, and have as little questions left unanswered as possible.

Alternatively, if you are not leading on the meeting, do write a list of the points you need to make prior to the call. Always ensure you prioritise what is most important, and save the points which you can ask or share via email or message app.

Ensure your equipment is set up well.

Make sure you have all the necessary equipment set up prior to the call. This includes testing out your webcam, making sure it is not too high or low. Aim to place your camera at eye level- also saving you from any potential neck pain.

Additionally, test your microphone before the call, especially if you’re in a new environment or using equipment for the first time. If you have an echoing microphone, be cautious of this and mute it before the call- the last thing you want is to be a victim of a “who’s bleeping in the background?” complaint.

Also, make sure the lighting in the room you are in is good, the other participants on the call want to see you, so make sure they can.

Over Communicate:

As you don’t have as many opportunities to verbally communicate when you aren’t in the office, be sure to get verbal acknowledgement from the people you are speaking to, that they have understood what you are saying. This may mean repeating yourself until you get the answer needed.

Additionally, ensure you are informing everyone who needs to about your schedule and availability, and don’t be shy to ask a question at the end that you may have forgotten to discuss earlier on in the call.

Dress the part

Whilst it may be tempting to roll out of bed five minutes before a meeting, it is important to ensure you dress appropriately. This means aiming to follow the company dress code for video calls, for example, if you dress in a suit everyday, go for a smart look, although there is no need for the full blazer and suit trousers.

It is also important to be well groomed; this does not particularly mean a full face of makeup, but ensure you present a reasonably put together appearance.

https://www.money.co.uk/guides/coronavirus

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