Remote working has become the norm in the 21st century. Most of us now expect to be able to work wherever we want, be it online or in the office (or even on the beach, for many). To become a remote worker you need a job with a remote work arrangement, a remote work-friendly employer, and a remote work-friendly boss.
But remote working is not always accepted. Some employers don’t want remote work and some bosses think remote workers are a threat to their company’s business interests. Here’s what you need to know about this tricky subject. If you work for a boss who doesn’t want you to work remotely, or if you work for a boss who doesn’t know how to manage you working remotely, it’s difficult to know how to keep doing your job (and your co-workers) despite the restrictions.
Although we know that remote work has come with lots of benefits, but not all the business and boss can accept or adapt it. In this article, we are going to figure out the common reasons your boss doesn’t let your work remotely.
You Don’t Have a Good Track Record
There are many benefits to working from home, including considerable flexibility, improved work-life balance, less stress, and an ability to work at the pace that suits you. However, working remotely is often more complicated, especially in the case of employees who are working for an employer who has strict policies against working remotely. There are many reasons behind the employer’s opposition, but one of the most compelling is the possibility of fraud.
I’ve been a remote worker for over some years now and I’ve noticed that the main barrier that’s stopping people from working remotely is that they don’t want to lose their jobs. The truth is that if you’re good at what you do and you’re competitive, you likely won’t get laid off, and if you’re not and you’re underperforming, you won’t get re-employed.
We know that working remotely has become increasingly popular for business, and with good reason. The flexibility remote workers enjoy, the ability to work their own hours, and the ability to bring their own devices to work can make remote work especially appealing for many employees. Unfortunately, many bosses do not see it the same way, and enjoy working their employees too much to let them work remotely. This can be especially difficult for employees who work with clients remotely, because their employers can view their work on a client’s computer.
Your Company Worried About the Social Aspects of Work
Companies who hire remote workers often find that they’re happier and more productive than those on the office floor. However, some companies insist their employees must be physically present in the office on a regular basis. Their reasoning is to protect the company and its employees from employee misconduct, and for the sake of morale if they can meet each other every day.
Many people are also scared by the idea of giving up face-to-face contact with their colleagues. The benefits are obvious though. Working at home can allow employees to work flexibly, allowing them to manage work around their own lives, free from the burden of commuting, meetings or other distractions.
However, some company like Microsoft are worried losing the social capital they built up for years if they allow their employees to work remotely.
Your Employer Has an Existing Lease
Working remotely may be a dream for many of us, but some employers have a slightly more complicated way of thinking about it. In fact, some employers have a lease agreement that prohibits employees from working from home.
The problem comes from employees being able to work from home sooner than the employer, who is bound by the lease agreement, can guarantee they can be on-site at all times. In this scenario, it is not an issue of whether or not a remote job works, but how it is going to be done.
Your Employer Doesn’t Want To Pay For You Traveling
It’s no secret that many employers want their employees to be physically present at the office. This is partly because many managers believe that not showing up to work is a form of disrespect. But it’s also partly because it’s a way to ensure you’re treated fairly and equitably.
To many people, working from home is a far better way to earn a paycheck and spend time with their family. But working from home also has its drawbacks: sometimes you can’t get a hold of your boss, you can’t always leave your house (or the annual nearby family gathering), and you can’t take a break and grab a cup of coffee.
Employers often don’t want you working remotely, and some may even want you to be more physically present. Some employers think that if employees didn’t physically present, they might become a digital nomad and they have to pay the travel expenses of their employees which they don’t want to.
Your Employer Doesn’t Want You To Take Time Off Work To Work On Tasks For Him
We all know that a lot of our work is done remotely these days. From internal meetings to video calls, we can still fall into the habit of focusing on our work from our home offices. These days, that’s not an option for everyone. Your employer may not want you to take time off work to work on tasks for him/her, as the case may be.
99% of organisations today have a remote work policy, allowing their employees to work from home, at the office, or in another location. However, even with this flexible working, many managers can still have a hard time letting their employees work remotely. This is because they are used to creating a “face to face” connection with their employees, so being unable to see them every day can be disorienting for them.
“Bosses don’t want you remote working, because they want to control every aspect of your job. They don’t want to pay people to work from home. They don’t want you to work remotely all the time. You must be in the office at your desk, for them to feel “protected”. They don’t want to pay for your time, so they want to stop you from working remotely all the time.
Working From Home Isn’t the Ideal Situation for Some Employees
With the rise of the digital nomad lifestyle, many employees are taking on the idea of working remotely. With the best of intentions, some professionals are starting to work from home. But others are not so fortunate, with their employer’s policies on remote work.
As the companies are trying to maximize their profits and some company are not in the industry that are remote friendly. It can be an enormous loss of profits if they allow their employees to work remotely.
Your Company Relies Heavily on Collaboration
It’s no secret that the workplace is changing, and technology has been a big part of it. In fact, more companies allow their employees to work from home and even remotely, if they desire. The main drawback of this is that it usually requires the employee to come into the office and “catch up”, and it can limit the productivity of the team.
People Will Not Work Hard
It can be hard to work remotely if your boss doesn’t let you. The line between remote and in-office work isn’t always clear, and many employers define “working from home” as meaning you’re just chilling around the house. It’s not that your boss is a jerk, it’s just that she may not realize she’s making it harder for you to do your job.
New Hires Will Not Learn Fast Enough
Remote working is a great way to work, especially if you’re new to an organization. It allows you to work when you need to, at your own pace, with your team, without any commute time. It can also help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. The biggest drawback of remote working is that you cannot be in the office when your team is, which can make it hard to learn new skills or handle new tasks.
People Who Work at Home Aren’t as Productive
Work-from-home is great for many people, but if you’re not careful, working outside of the office can lower your quality of life. The office environment provides a sense of safety and security, and even if you’re just working on a different floor than your colleagues, the atmosphere can help you feel more comfortable.
Think about it; the first time you walk into an office you feel like you know where everything is, you’ve got all your supplies at the ready, and you don’t feel like you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. It’s safe to say that at least some of your coworkers experience this feeling, too.
For some, working remotely is the most efficient way to be productive at work. For others, it’s all about flexibility. Either way, it’s great to feel like you can work when you want, where you want. But it’s not always easy to make that happen. You may be frustrated because you can’t get your boss on board with your idea for a game-changing new product, or you’re stuck in a meeting when you’d rather be in the office, doing your best work.
Company Culture and Collaboration Might Fall Off a Cliff
Remote work has been becoming more and more common in our society. Currently, about 20% of companies offer employees the opportunity to work from home periodically. It works out well for companies because it helps them stay close to their customer base.
However, in some companies, this way of working may be a threat to the company’s culture. The reason is that employees may become extremely productive, but then it will be hard to share this productivity with the rest of the company.
When employees work remotely, it’s more difficult to ensure they’re on-time, engaged, and productive—and more likely that they will slack on the job. Because companies are responsible for retaining remote employees, they naturally want to keep an eye on how they perform. This reality can make it difficult for employees to work remotely.