What Is WFH (Work From Home)?

Introduction to WFH (Work From Home)

Contrary to popular belief, working from home is not a new concept that organizations suddenly had to embrace after COVID-19. It has been around for a long time. In fact, 5.7% of the US population was already working from home before the pandemic forced businesses to switch to this model. 

Before we discuss the advantages of working from home in detail, let’s first understand their origin. 

In 1990, when technology and computing began to connect web users worldwide, many organizations had already started viewing remote working as a plausible structure for the first time. The rapid increase in the use of cell phones further fueled the idea, as more and more business people and entrepreneurs were now able to discuss important matters and handle dealings from their homes, restaurants, and golf courses.

Fast forward to a few years, in 2020, when the world was struggling with the pandemic, and everyone had to face the wrath of government lockdowns, organizations had to finally embrace this work model and accept it as the newly mandated reality.

The Rise of WFH

Post-COVID-19, the number of people working from home doubled, if not more. And this was not just a one-time phenomenon. The pandemic caused a permanent increase in remote working even after the crisis. 

Despite gloomy predictions, this shift in workplace culture did not hamper an organization's productivity level. Remote workers were just as productive, and sometimes even more, since they had given up their commutes. 

Additionally, work-from-home offers opened more tantalizing opportunities for businesses. They allowed employers to hire the best person for the job, not just the local person. 

Technological Advancements

To further facilitate the WFH experience for employees, digital tools, whether communication and collaboration software or team and project management platforms, have fundamentally changed how we work. 

For example, with the emergence of platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, and other myriad applications, real-time communication no longer seems impossible, especially in a remote work environment. You can send a message, make an audio or video call, and communicate efficiently, all through a centralized platform.

Additionally, companies have started leveraging E-learning and online courses. They serve a dual purpose. First, through e-learning, employees can continue to pursue their education. Second, employers and businesses can train employees and help them perform better.

What is WFH vs. Remote Work?

Remote work is often used interchangeably with WFH. However, they are not the same thing. Think of it more like working from home, which is a part of the remote work experience. 

Nonetheless, here is a detailed explanation to help you better understand the distinction between remote work and working from home. 

Definitions and Scope

In the simplest terms, remote work means working from anywhere but your office, such as cafes, your home, or a co-working space. Instead of interacting with your colleagues face-to-face, you rely on digital tools to communicate with your team members, manage projects, or meet deadlines. 

Employees can either be fully remote or partly remote. The former denotes that they will not be required to come to the office station at all, while the latter means they may be required to visit the office at least a few times a month. 

On the contrary, work from home (WFH) means you work remotely but only from your home. This can be anything, such as your living room, bedroom, dedicated office space in your house, or sometimes even from the kitchen while cooking lunch.

Flexibility and Location

One of the biggest benefits of remote working is that there is no need for completely synchronous tasks. This means that employees usually enjoy great flexibility when determining their work schedule. They can be anywhere if they are online and doing their work.

However, certain tasks, such as video conferencing or meetings, require employees to be in sync. These need to be planned ahead of time to avoid disruption. 

Working from home, on the other hand, does not always support the asynchronous nature of work. This model of work is particularly useful when, say, you already have an office where most of your employees work but need to hire people from different locations.

Types of Work From Home

Moving on, let’s take a look at these three different types of work from home arrangements that are prevalent nowadays.

Advantages of Working From Home

Mentioned below, we have highlighted some of the many advantages of work from home for employees and employers. 

For Employees

• Reduced commuting time: One of the biggest advantages of work from home for employees is a significant reduction in stress and time associated with commuting from home to work. It allows for more time during the day, which employees can use to do other personal or professional duties.
• Improved work-life balance: By working from home, employees can structure their day-to-day schedule according to their preferences. This means that they can pursue other activities to keep them engaged and happy, thereby improving work-life balance.
• Improved focus: Last but not least, working from home allows employees to create an environment wherein they can completely focus on their tasks and stay productive by eliminating distractions that arise in an office environment.

For Employers

• Larger talent pool: By indulging in work from home, employers are no longer confined to hiring candidates only from a specific location. Remote employers can recruit virtually and select candidates from all over the world. 
• Lower turnover rates: Wfh opportunities allow for flexible schedules and higher job satisfaction among employees. This can, in turn, lead to lower turnover rates for an organization. 
• Reduced overhead costs: A traditional office setting comes with various expenses, such as building rent, office supplies, kitchen snacks and equipment, utilities, and so on. By allowing employees to work from home, employers no longer need to worry about such investments and can save a lot of money and resources.

Challenges and Solutions of WFH

While WFH has many advantages, as clearly mentioned above, it is not devoid of its own unique challenges. Here, we have highlighted a few examples and explained how to navigate them successfully. 

Work-Life Balance Issues

Did you know that 47% of leaders who intend not to offer WFH opportunities to their employees say remote work is bad for their well-being? Executives trying to get their workers back to the office claim that remote work can disrupt work-life boundaries.

Truthfully, remote work can cause an unhealthy work-life balance if you do not take the proper steps. Late-night calls, overtime, and deadline sprints can intrude on personal and family time, thereby leading to burnout.

Solution: The key is to establish a routine and set clear boundaries. Dedicate a space, which can be a separate room or just a desk in a corner, where you only work. Once you sign off, you can physically step away from work.

Communication and Collaboration

Avoiding miscommunication remotely can be quite tricky. This is because when you communicate via emails or Slack, you are not exactly able to understand the tone or gauge intentions. Even in video-conferencing platforms such as Zoom, you are unable to decode body language or hand gestures.

Solution: The trick here is to always be as clear as possible when you are engaging in conversations with your co-workers. Whether discussing any issues of a specific project or assigning work before going on vacation, make it a habit to be direct and avoid using veiled language. 

Isolation and Mental Health

Yet another one of the most commonly faced challenges of working from home is isolation. Social interaction is non-existent in a remote work setting. When in an office, engaging in small talk by the water cooler can be fulfilling or bring happiness to some. 

However, such opportunities are not available in a work-from-home environment. This can inadvertently lead to a feeling of disconnectedness and isolation, even when you are part of a team or the company. 

Solution: The best way to beat such loneliness is to engage in some form of interaction throughout the day, even if it is online. You can schedule one-on-one Zoom coffee chats with your teammates or simply start a channel in Slack, wherein you can get to know your co-workers. 

Distractions and Productivity

Home can be a busy place for many. Whether barking dogs, crying babies, noisy neighbors, or relatives popping in and out, it can often be challenging to focus on your tasks when working in such environments.

Additionally, your television or the new book you just bought can all become potential distractions, especially when you are working on deadlines. These can affect your focus and hamper the quality of your output, thereby leading to decreased productivity.

Solution: There are several ways to deal with these distractions. If a loud noise bothers you, opt for noise-cancelling headphones. If you are getting tempted by a television show halfway through bingeing, try avoiding such places. Furthermore, physically hiding your distractions can help you concentrate.

Technology Issues

Since remote work heavily relies on technology, even the most minute technical glitch can impact your performance. Say you are in a Zoom meeting where you are about to share some very valuable insights on an important issue, and your Wifi stops working. What’s worse? You are unable to speak, and your face freezes on the screen in an unflattering shot. 

‍Solution: The best way to deal with such scenarios is always to have a Plan B ready. Even if your Wifi stops working, you can immediately join the meeting again through your phone, using mobile data.

Best Practices for Working From Home

Here are a few examples of the best practices for working from home and how you can maximize the benefits of this work model.

• Setting up a Productive Workspace 

It is always advisable to dedicate a separate physical workspace to avoid distractions. Even if you do not have a separate room, you can always carve out any section of your room as your workspace.

• Effective Time Management

Designate specific work hours and stick to them whenever possible to keep a continuous workflow. Consider using time management software to help you follow your schedule. 

• Leveraging Technology and Tools

Microsoft Teams, Zooms, Slack, Asana, Google Drive, and Toggl are some of the best digital tools currently available to facilitate the work-from-home experience. 

• Maintaining Communications

Establish clear guidelines for the frequency, timing, and means of communication to ensure everyone is on the same page, especially in a remote work setting. Provide as much information upfront as possible, and supplement your message with screenshots or images.

• Prioritizing Well-being

Set up a structured routine that allows you to balance work and hobbies. Your personal schedule can include anything such as a 15-minute walk or a phone call to family members or close friends. Additionally, maintain strict work boundaries to prevent burnout.

How to Implement WFH Successfully?

Now that you have got the answer to what is WFH, let’s move on to the next segment where we will discuss how you can implement such a work policy into your organization.

Truthfully, implementing WFH is easier said than done. It requires a strategic approach and a careful evaluation of your employees’ needs. Below, we have shared some tips and tricks on how you can integrate this work model into your organization.

• Developing a WFH Policy

A remote work policy is a set of guidelines that establishes rules and clear expectations for employees working remotely. Some of the most common elements of such a policy include work hours and availability, how productivity and performance should be measured, equipment and technology requirements, and data security and access.

• Training and Support

It is very important to provide training on developing relevant skills to help your employees transition to a successful work-from-home model. These include teaching your employees remote communication etiquette, cybersecurity protocols, effective time management, and mindfulness and well-being best practices.

• Monitoring and Evaluation

Set up key performance indicators and monitor them regularly to understand how your business, including your remote employees, performs. The most common KPIs are churn rate, net profit, and revenue growth rate. Additionally, formulate clear project and performance goals (whether weekly, monthly, or yearly), to measure the performance of remote workers.

Conclusion

Wrapping it all up while working remotely from home can seem easy, but when you engage in such a work model, it can get tricky to manage. True, remote work has many benefits, as we have clearly established. However, you must follow certain guidelines to avail yourself of these perks to their fullest capacity.

By establishing clear remote work policies, training your employees, and setting up clear performance goals, you can reap the benefits of work-from-home in its truest form.

Implementing a robust remote work strategy can get very confusing quickly, especially when handling a diverse team of international employees. 

An employer-of-record, such as Skuad, can help you by taking on all the administrative tasks on your behalf. These include complying with legal obligations under country-specific labor laws, optimizing payroll management, running efficient background checks, and more. 

Book a demo today and take your international hiring journey to the next level only with Skuad.

FAQs

Q1: What does WFH stand for?

Ans: WFH stands for Work From Home. It is a commonly used term for when an employee performs tasks or works from home instead of a traditional office.

Q2: What are some of the advantages of WFH?

Ans: Working from home has advantages, such as increased productivity, flexible schedules, better work-life balance, zero commuting, and cost savings. 

Q3: Are working from home and remote work the same?

Ans: Working from home and remote working are not the same. The former implies that you are working from a home office, where you have all the amenities needed to complete a particular task. The latter denotes that employees can work from anywhere, such as their home, library, a foreign country, or even a local cafe, as long as they are completing their duties. 

Q4: Which is better, remote work or hybrid work?

Ans: There is no specific answer to which is better: remote work or hybrid work. It depends on individual preference. If you enjoy face-to-face interaction with your colleagues but also want the flexibility to decide your schedule, then hybrid work may be the best option. If you wish flexibility in your work schedules and locations, then remote work will be the better choice.