APU Careers Careers & Learning

Remote Working: The Do’s and Don’ts

By: J. Mason
Online Career Tips Staff

Working from home is a privilege, not a right. Sound familiar? This is the speech most employers will give their remote workers. From a management perspective, it’s about trust. If they can trust you to get a normal’s day work done while you’re on your couch at home, then it’s worth it. For the micro-manager this approach may make them more apprehensive about giving you rights to VPN in from home.

[Busy vs. Productive: What’s More Important to You?]

If you’re lucky enough to be able to work from home there are some guidelines you should stick to. To make the best impression on your boss, follow the do’s below…and avoid the do not’s.

Do’s:

  • Establish a time window to respond to emails – within 20 minutes, or about how long it would take if someone would check to see if you were at your desk.
  • Provide a number to call you on.
  • Give a weekly status update on your projects – a quick email to your manager should work.
  • Get an early start – no commute time, so factor that in!
  • Catch up on emails – since nobody is dropping by your desk to chat, this is your time to play catch-up.

Don’ts:

  • Get lazy with your appearance – just because they can’t see you doesn’t mean they can’t surprise you with a skype conference call.
  • Do chores around the house – this is time that could be spent tying up loose ends.
  • Ignore emails as they come in – you don’t want people assuming you’re not working.
  •  Work in front of the TV – turn off all distractions.
  • Treat your home work environment like a buffet. Snacking all day can do a number on your hips, so avoid keeping your hand glued to the cookie jar.

Have more tips on making the zero commute work for you? Leave them in the comment section below.

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