Tips for Working from Home

Is this how you work from home? Doesn't look particularly productive

A lot of companies in Hong Kong have urged staff to keep themselves free from the coronavirus by working from home, and one wonders how productive these people are, not being in the office.

We have the option to work from home too, but I prefer to go to work where I can at least interact with a few colleagues and get my requisite one mask per day.

Some management trainees went hiking instead of working

However, there are some people, mostly young people new to the workforce who don't seem clear on what it means to "work from home" and thought it was an opportunity to play hooky, like some management trainees at Hang Seng Bank did.

A group of them went hiking -- and took pictures which they posted on Instagram with the sentence, "Best WFH activity", with WFH meaning, "work from home".

It is unclear what has happened to these management trainees, but one HR consultant hinted they are not suitable for managerial jobs...

Which may explain why my company's HR department sent out an email giving some friendly tips on how to work from home.

The first suggestion is to get dressed for work so that you are in the mindset of being in the office.

Working from home means more supervision needed online

Second is to work at home as if in the office and it may help to have a to-do list to follow.

Third is to have a dedicated work space to help focus.

Fourth to put personal chores aside, as it can easily be distracting to have things to do at home, like watch Netflix, do the laundry, or Marie Kondo your flat. Do these other things after your work hours.

Fifth is to over-communicate by using our online messaging system so that you are checking-in with supervisors and letting others know what you're doing. Or "meet" colleagues in online meetings, but much like teleconferencing, no one can hear what the other person is saying.

Best to have a dedicated work space for being in the "office"

The last tip is to make your family aware you're working and not to disturb you (easy to say), and that when you are done for the day to put the laptop away to delineate between work and personal time.

So there you have it. Some tips are common sense, but like those Hang Seng Bank management trainees, better to spell it out than to see them enjoy some fresh air during office hours...