Sophie’s Top Tips! How to be effective when working from home

How to be effective when working from home

Sophie’s Top Tips

 

COVID-19 brought remote working to the forefront of modern working practices, with it becoming a necessity rather than a luxury for the select few that had managed to secure it.

As we have become more accustomed to the practice and with hybrid working becoming more common, it is important to ensure remote working staff are not just out of sight and out of mind, but are part of an inclusive workforce. Not only is it important for productivity but also for the wellbeing of those who are working remotely.

In this month’s tips I look at ways HR can advise those working from home, how to be productive and stay focused. The following as some tips you can provide to those who are working from home:

Stay focused

It is very easy to get distracted when working from home and it is up to you to try and minimise these as much as possible. Try to avoid working from bedroom, kitchen or in front of TV, in that way it is easier to stay focused on work, if it is unavoidable that you are working in a living space, try and make sure you have some separation from the space as a ‘leisure’ environment, so that you are in the headspace for work.

Stay Focussed

Stay Focussed

Make a dedicated workspace

When you have your own office room or any other work-from-home office setup, you bring a sense of legitimacy to your work environment. You are away from the temptation of doing anything else that is not work-related. Being in an environment that feels like work makes you automatically think and focus on work. When you remove yourself from the goings-on of your home life, you suddenly find yourself far less distracted and more focused than before.

Dedicated work space

Dedicated work space

 

Set Ground Rules with the People in Your Space

Set ground rules with other people in your home or who share your space when you work. For example, if you have children who study home or who come home from school while you’re still working, they need clear rules about what they can and cannot do during that time. If you share a space with another adult who’s working from home, you may have to negotiate quiet times, meeting times, and any shared equipment, like desks and chairs.

Shhhh

Shhhh

Move about and stretch regularly

Sometimes when we have lots to do due to tight deadlines we forget to stand up and stretch regularly. It is very important to take as little as couple of minutes every hour and just walk around the house or go up and down the stairs if possible. This will help to release the pressure from your muscles and minimize the chance to get Musculoskeletal disorder which is mainly caused by sitting all day. Remote workers without the habits of the canteen/watercooler or popping into colleagues offices often find themselves sitting for much longer periods.

Stretch

Stretch

Give yourself a proper break

Do not forget to press on the restart button and I do not mean on your laptops. It is important to take regular screen breaks. When having lunch try to avoid having it by your desk, if possible, spend some time outdoors, set a time to go for a walk, run or a bike ride for some fresh air. In that way you will return to your work all refreshed and ready for whatever challenge.

Take a break

Take a break

 

HR Anchor Welcome Megan Bell to the Team

Following a very successful first 2 years, HR Anchor welcomed Megan Bell as their new Employment Law Executive Paralegal.

Megan joined the business this week and will be splitting her time between both HR Anchor and Gamlins Law in her position.  Megan was previously working in a private family law firm based in Winsford, Cheshire since she graduated from Edge Hill University where she achieved a first class honours degree.  Megan brings valuable experience from her previous role and is keen to get stuck in.

Megan finds employment law very interesting, she comments “you don’t realise how many things (relating to employment law) can affect you in your work . . . the fast paced, everchanging world of employment law intrigues and excites me”

In her spare time Megan enjoys singing, playing piano and Zumba.

 

The firm have experienced incredible growth in the past 2 years since the business was formed, which has seen them being selected for Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP). HR Anchor provide all aspects of HR and employment law services to an array of businesses both large and small with bespoke packages built to meet individual requirements.  

 

See more like this

 

HR Anchor announced the appointment of their latest recruit

Employment Rights – The 2 Year Rule

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Jaimie Whiteley, Solicitor Advocate gives a run down on dismissing staff before they reach the statutory protection for unfair dismissal timescale of 2 years.

Although you can dismiss a member of staff without going through the correct disciplinary or dismissal procedures we would strongly suggest you exercise caution and go through these procedures. Even though the employee won’t have the statutory protection for the unfair dismissal they could still bring a claim for unfair dismissal. There are claims employees can bring even without the 2 years service such as

  • Pregnancy
  • Raising H&S concerns
  • Discrimination
  • Gender
  • Breach of contract

In conclusion, although you don’t have to follow the correct procedures before the 2 years service, we would suggest you approach this cautiously and use best practice by following the procedures to protect your business from an employment tribunal claim.

 

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We are waiving our fees to help businesses through the Coronavirus crisis

To help businesses to combat the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic we are waiving our fees for three months.

Any new clients will not have to pay anything for the first 12 weeks to ensure they are able to access the vital advice they need.

Over the past weeks, we have been working round the clock to handle the flood of enquiries from clients who are facing “unprecedented pressures”.

Elissa Thursfield, Director of HR Anchor, which operates remotely, said: “Businesses are entering uncharted territory. The biggest issue is the total uncertainty as to when the coronavirus crisis will end.

“Business planning and operational capability have been thrown into complete turmoil and, for many companies, the only thing that matters now is how to survive these unprecedented and volatile times.

“We have therefore taken the decision to waive all fees for any businesses which urgently require HR support. The most important thing is that business owners get the right advice as quickly as possible.

“These may be companies with no previous experience of HR or a business which has an inhouse function but urgently needs additional senior expertise.

“In the last 48 hours, we have been advising all types of businesses, from early stage start-ups through to established family businesses and across all sectors. While many clients are in Wales, I have also been advising a company in the Midlands and even one in New York.”

Elissa added: “I have been advising companies on a range of issues including how to work remotely, changing people’s duties to keep them working and the correct pay procedures when employees are self-isolating. There is now the further impact on businesses of schools closing on Friday.

“In the worst-case scenarios, I have been helping businesses which are having to urgently reduce the size of their workforces.”

HR Anchor is the sister company of Gamlins Law, which has offices in Rhyl, Denbigh, Ruthin, Mold, Holywell and Abergele.