Microsoft may soon ask workers to spend more time in the office as it prepares to tighten its hybrid work policies. A Business Insider story claims that the tech giant intends to implement a new attendance requirement as early as January; however, specific dates may differ depending on where its offices are located.
Microsoft’s New Hybrid Work Policy for 2025
Beginning early next year, employees at its Redmond, Washington, headquarters are anticipated to start coming into work more regularly. Microsoft is planning to require at least three days of in-office work per week, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke to the outlet.
The business is currently figuring out the specifics, although its original goal was to make an official announcement in September.
Why Microsoft is Ending 5 Years of Remote Flexibility
Microsoft has had a flexible work policy since late 2020, allowing staff members to divide their time between the office and their homes nearly evenly without requesting special permission.
However, in reality, the policy has been even more lenient, with many employees opting to work remotely the majority of the time. The business now appears prepared to adopt a more stringent balance. Although spokesperson Frank Shaw stressed that no final decision has been taken yet.
How Microsoft’s Policy Compares to Google, Amazon, and Meta?
This action would align Microsoft with other major tech companies that have recently tightened their policies around office returns. For example, Amazon mandates that staff members be present at the office five days a week.
John Stankey, the CEO of AT&T, has taken a firm stand as well, emphasising that staff members either cooperate or look for alternatives. Similar to Microsoft’s suggested strategy, Meta and Google have also implemented three-day office regulations.
The Future of Remote Work in Big Tech
It’s interesting to note that several Microsoft teams are already in the lead. More than three days a week have apparently been spent working from the office by staff members in its Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) group. After years of relative freedom, Microsoft’s employees will need to retrain if the policy is finalised. The shift suggests that, as businesses strive for a more collaborative office culture, the days of highly flexible remote work at large tech companies may be coming to an end.
Quick
Shots
•Company set to mandate 3 days
in-office per week starting early next year.
•Since 2020, Microsoft allowed
near-equal remote/office balance, but employees often worked mostly remote.
•Some teams (e.g., CELA group) already
work >3 days in office, signaling transition in progress.
•Reflects broader move among tech
giants to rebuild collaborative office culture and reduce remote dependency.
Amazing Workplaces declared that Digital MarkEthics, an end-to-end digital marketing agency offering enterprises tech-driven branding solutions has been certified as Amazing Workplaces® for Work from Home Best Practices for 2022-2023. The certification is based on the feedback received from the employees about their experience of working remotely with Digital MarkEthics assessed on the basis of an in-depth employee assessment survey conducted by Amazing Workplaces®.
Ekta Capoor, Co-founder & Director, Amazing Workplaces®, a passionate proponent of workplace culture said,
“The Amazing Workplaces®, Work from Home certification is granted to organizations that look at remote work culture from a long term perspective and are trying to create a thriving workplace culture remotely on the basis of the 9 pillar framework. I congratulate the Digital MarkEthics team for genuinely taking care of their people by providing a flexibile, transparent and psychologically safe work environment in a remote set-up.”
Digital MarkEthics is an end-to-end digital marketing agency offering enterprises tech-driven branding solutions. Saurabh Ganguly, CEO & Founder – Digital MarkEthics said ,
“We empower growth by optimizing the digital marketing funnel to drive sales. We believe that our employees are our biggest assets and we help them by providing the best working environment. We ensure that everyone gets their proper recognition and motivation to grow as a professional as well as a team player. Work-life balance is another important aspect of the work culture at DME. We work as a family, encourage each other to bring out the best within, and grow together.”
Shreyasi Raghav,Co-founder & Director, Amazing Workplaces® stated that
“It is easy for organizations to slip into a mode of distrusting employees and resorting to micro-managing their people in a remote set-up. Through the Amazing Workplaces® Work from Home assessment, we go deep into the employee satisfaction aspect to understand this sentiment. It’s not surprising for us to know that workplaces that are amazing like Digital MarkEthics have won the trust and commitment of their employees by taking steps towards trusting their employees first!”
As more and more employees show reluctance to return to office and prefer to continue working from home, the debate about return to work is still on.
In a bid to retain talent, avoid retention and woo new talent, many organizations like Airbnb, Meesho, Swiggy, Shopify, NoBroker, Magicpin, Spinny and Zerodha etc have given their employees an option to permanently work from home.
In this scenario, it is important for organizations to build an employer brand that portrays that they don’t just adopt and encourage work from home but also go out of their way to ensure that their employees have a great experience while working remotely.
Ekta also added:
“The past 2 years brought in the trend of Working remotely which posed various problems for the employers as well as the employees. To understand this better we surveyed various organizations and employees. We not just got inputs from the leadership but also at the grass root levels to get a deeper understanding on the important aspects of remote work and problem areas of working remotely. On the basis of the data collected and analysis, the Amazing Workplaces® Work From Home Assessment & Certification was developed by a team of Sr. HR Experts.”
The Amazing Workplaces®, Work from Home employee survey is especially meant for organizations which are currently continuing to work from home and are planning to make this a long-term practice in the future, or who follow a hybrid system and have a significant percentage of population who prefers to choose working from home.
This survey is designed to get insights into the various aspects of working from home, to help organizations measure and improve employee satisfaction in a remote setup with regard to the 9 pillar framework that includes Hiring & Retention, Culture, Compensation & Benefits, Employee Engagement, Internal Communication, R&R, L&D, DEI and CSR which help form the foundation of Amazing Workplaces®.
Specific questions about vital work from home environment issues which include compensation and benefits, leadership, engagement, communication, transparency, flexibility, psychological safety, mental & physical wellness, work life balance, diversity and inclusion to general feelings of purpose and fulfilment are covered in detail in this assessment.
The budding idea of office spaces that took shape in the last decade was reimagined with the advent of the pandemic in March 2020. The hitherto notion of offline offices was expanded to virtual spaces where only a good internet connection was a prerequisite.
Interestingly, after office spaces entered into a hybrid model, many startups mushroomed taking advantage of virtual spaces over physical spaces. This article will look into these aspects that have strengthened the popularity of online office spaces.
Human resources are the prime factor that drives any business forward. When ideas and plans are worked out together, it leads to the efficient usage of technology and raw materials.
When a business is limited to physical offices, the proximity of employees to the office is an important factor. In many cases, companies, especially startups are forced to compromise on recruitment just because of the incompatibility of locations of the parties involved.
The prevalence of virtual offices has made a positive intervention in that regard. Companies with a virtual office now have the liberty to employ the best talents from anywhere in the world without location, transportation and accommodation becoming a problem.
Many startups have made use of this benefit extensively during the time of the pandemic. This benefit has worked both ways as employees who otherwise had concerns with travel and accommodation were now able to get better opportunities as virtual offices thrived.
2. Heightened Productivity
Studies have shown that employees work better remotely in virtual spaces than in physical offices. According to a study by Stanford University, working from home has increased the productivity of employees by 13% as the number of calls per minute increases owing to quiet work environments.
A similar study cites that 70% of people prefer hybrid meetings and work from home. Studies have also shown that since virtual offices cut the time spent on commutes and breaks, employee efficiency has also increased tremendously.
3. Democratic Space
It is a fact that certain places give specific facilities to the entities there. The reason why companies spent a fortune in setting up their offices in cities like Bangalore and Mumbai is due to the competitive edge that these places will give to the business. However, virtual spaces have been successful to a great extent in reducing the unequal opportunities that physical offices provide for various enterprises.
Virtual offices mean that the organisation functions online. At a time when a business has become chiefly an online affair, there is nothing that an infrastructural facility at a specific location can add to the well-being of the company.
Irrespective of where you are based, virtual offices provide an equal pedestal for all the competents in the market where the only criteria of growth become performance.
4. Easier Expansion
As virtual spaces waves off the burden of location and infrastructure, it becomes easier for companies to expand their business into newer places. All they would need is the technological backup and entrepreneurial vision to sustain in a new location.
When compared to the traditional methods of expansion, virtual spaces allow a cost-effective, hassle-free and stress-free expansion. Even if the companies have the financial reserves and other necessary resources to set up a new office, it will only be wise, to begin with, a virtual office before expanding physically so as to understand the feasibility that the business in the new location would bring.
5. Environment Friendly
One of the biggest advantage that virtual spaces bring to the table is that it is environmentally innocuous. In fact, all of its benefits boil down to this major advantage.
At a time when air pollution and land management are becoming grave concerns, the popularity of virtual office spaces will help significantly reduce the contribution of the business world to environmental degradation.
Virtual spaces not only reduce the contribution of physical spaces in polluting the environment but also cuts down the carbon footprint of each and every employee of the organisation.
The amount of difference that online office spaces can make is very significant in the face of humanity. At a time when the business world is trying to develop sustainable ways of doing business, prioritising virtual offices will be a great initiative.
6. Short-Term Commitments
Unlike physical office spaces, the companies are no longer required to enter into long-term contracts with real estate owners for office spaces. Most of the software services that support the functionalities of virtual office space are based on a monthly subscription or an ad-hoc basis. It gives the owners the flexibility to opt for better options more often. Such short-term commitments also mean that the companies need to pay for what they use and only for the time they need.
7. Better Business Support
There is no doubt in the fact that virtual spaces have made work easier. It also has the additional advantage of the tremendous amount of technical and business support that companies receive through these spaces.
There are a plethora of other companies that specifically work for helping others set up their virtual office spaces to such an extent that such assistance cannot be found in a physical office. Co-working spaces and meeting rooms are two recent examples of such support. It helps companies focus solely on their business.
8. Cost Cutting
Virtual offices cut down the cost that companies have to spend on office spaces to a great extent. At a time when only physical office spaces were prominent, a large part of their revenue goes to the maintenance of infrastructure which includes rent. It further takes a financial toll on the company if these offices are in prime locations like Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune or Delhi.
Virtual spaces, in that regard, are a big relief to the company as it only demands a technologically sound office space which in many cases is relegated to an efficient communication platform and Google services.
Apart from that, virtual spaces also give the liberty to the companies to longer provide allowances for transportation for their employees. Thus, virtual spaces play a significant role in reducing the overall expenses of the company. In fact, such spaces have given an impetus to a lot of startups which would have never rolled out in the first place if they had to set up an offline office.
Conclusion
As the world inches into a global village with advanced technologies reimagining businesses by the minute, the possibilities of virtual offices have become abundant. If utilised properly it can even be a feasible alternative to physical office spaces. However, depending on the nature of businesses the opportunities that virtual spaces offer will differ.
FAQs
What is a virtual office?
A virtual office is a space with a physical address but it is less expensive than maintaining a traditional office.
Is a virtual office a good idea?
Yes, a virtual office is great for small businesses. It also boosts productivity among employees as they don’t have to travel to the physical office.
How do I start a virtual office?
Focus on communication, invest in the right tools, hire the right people, and make sure you establish a proper organisational structure.
Job seekers have long been drawn to remote jobs because they provide flexibility in the form of greater personal and professional control over their private lives and careers. With the start of Covid-19, when people got confined to their homes, they want for Remote work increased. With the situation due to the virus, companies started offering Remote work refers to work that is being done by individuals who are not in the same physical place but still work effectively and productively on the same projects.
Remote work is about location, ‘flexible hours’ focuses on determining your schedule. Getting remote work is not tough there are many jobs available in the market. One of the advantages of remote work is that you’re able to handle most of what life throws at you—including the moments that might have previously put your job at risk.
One of the biggest benefits of remote work is reducing costs. It Improved work-life balance. Also increased productivity and cross-team collaboration. The considerable benefit of working from home is having access to a broader range of job opportunities that aren’t limited by geographic location. In this article, we will talk about some websites from where you can get remote work and the pros and cons of remote working. So, let’s get started.
FlexJobs was created in 2007 to provide a trusted, more effective, friendly, and overall better way to find professional remote and flexible jobs. FlexJobs has more than 50 job categories featuring telecommuting and remote work opportunities at every career stage. These include freelance projects, part-time jobs, and full-time remote work. The FlexJobs Team is dedicated to helping people find remote and flexible jobs.
Benefits of FlexJobs
It has over 29979 jobs from 5697 companies to choose from.
Remote and flexible jobs in 50 career categories can be found.
All the companies and the jobs are hand screened by the FlexJobs team to avoid any kind of scam.
Upwork is a great place to find more clients, and to run and grow your own business. Upwork is a global platform where businesses and independent professionals connect remotely. Freedom to work on ideal projects. On Upwork, you run your own business and choose your clients and projects. Just complete your profile and they will highlight ideal jobs. Also, search for projects, and respond to client invitations. They provide a wide variety and high pay. Clients are now posting jobs in hundreds of high-paying skill categories, paying top prices for great work. The greater the success you have on projects, the more likely you are to get hired by clients that use Upwork.
Benefits of Upwork
Upwork takes pride to be backed by payment protection for job seekers.
Upwork offers higher-paying jobs to job seekers.
You get hired quickly with the help of Upwork as most of the time employers want to start with the job quickly.
Indeed
Indeed Logo
Indeed.com is a job board that aggregates postings from many sources, allowing users to search for specific positions. You can also upload your resume to let employers looking for remote employees to find you. The main aim of Indeed is to help get people jobs and over 10000 employees are working to achieve that aim. Indeed strives to cultivate an inclusive workplace where all people feel comfortable being themselves in a safe and supportive environment.
Benefits of Indeed
Indeed allows the job seekers to build their CV online with help of their Resume Builder
All the job alerts for jobs are provided to the job seekers through their email.
Indeed is very easy to use as it provides a Google-like search engine, through which one can look for jobs.
Jobspresso
Jobspresso Logo
Jobspresso is a website that provides you with an opportunity to find remote work. Jobspresso is an established remote work job board trusted by some of the world’s top startups and remote companies, such as WordPress, Zapier, and Trello. It is a site offering some job opportunities in design, development, marketing, support, writing, and project management, these are some sectors that get benefits by making their employees work from home.
Benefits of Jobspresso
All the jobs that are uploaded on the website are legitimate as the companies and jobs are screened by the team of Jobspresso to be sure of their authenticity.
Jobspresso is completely free for those who are seeking remote jobs.
A wide range of employers is looking for job seekers on this website.
Fiverr
Fiverr Logo
Fiverr is a company built on the model of listing temporary work positions. Freelancers work in a variety of workplaces, ranging from home to office. Fiverr serves as an e-commerce platform for freelancers & companies to sell their services by using their gigs. The gig is an advertisement for services.
Benefits of Fiverr
Lots of job possibilities for job seekers.
High earning is possible with Fiverr.
Fiverr provides great payment security.
Pros of Having Remote Jobs
Remote Jobs are now the new trend, they provide some benefits that make people want to get remote work. Some of those benefits are:
You don’t have to wait in traffic for hours to get to your workplace.
Work according to your own schedule.
You can work from anywhere even while travelling as long as you have your laptop and internet.
You can enjoy your own personal time as well as family times as you get to work from home.
You can work without any distractions that you might face while working onsite.
Cons of Having Remote Jobs
Remote work has some disadvantages as well, some of which are:
One can feel lonely and isolated while remote working, as you are away from the typical hustling and bustling of the office environment and culture.
One can get distracted at home due to cries of babies, ringing of doorbells or any other household work.
Communication gaps between colleagues.
The Internet connection can be a problem while working.
Conclusion
If you have decided to work remotely, getting remote jobs won’t be an issue. With the sword Covid still hanging on our heads, companies are still offering remote jobs. Working from home has become a new trend and this trend is not going to end anytime. People look for flexibility and working remotely offer them that, so it’s quite normal that job seekers nowadays look for an option where they can work remotely.
FAQs
What is meant by working remotely?
Working remotely is all about working from a preferred location of an employee instead of a proper office.
Is remote means work from home?
Remote work means working from anywhere apart from office.
What are some top websites to look for remote works?
Some of the top websites to look for remote works are:
The ‘festival of lights’, Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and show in our country. Families, friends, and colleagues all come together on this auspicious occasion to share greetings and seek blessings. However, since 2020 there are some changes in the way we are celebrating festivals owing to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Remote Working system.
Although entrepreneurs don’t like to waste their time and money on such celebrations, they should understand that a festival like Diwali is one of the biggest marketing opportunities for their company. Along with that, they can make the office culture more engaging with celebrations and get-togethers.
There are several ways through which companies celebrated festivals along with their remote teams. We spoke to different entrepreneurs and they shared their unique and interesting ideas and plans by which they made Diwali 2020 interesting and engaging for everyone. So, let’s take a look at them.
Sparklers last only a few seconds, but the legend has lived for millennia. After the long war, when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya, the city was dressed up with lamps and flowers. Diwali marks the return of the king and the Ramayana still remains India’s most enduring legend. Diwali or Deepavali means ‘row of lamps’ in Sanskrit. The festival marks the triumph of light over darkness.
However, given the effect of the pandemic on life, this season is bound to be very different from all these years. A new contactless and touch-free world together with a not-so-rosy economic scenario has not only seen a subdued but also a very different gifting culture emerging on the corporate front. Virtual Cards are the new way of gifting gifts to your employees working remotely by strictly following the government norms.
Digital Gift Cards were the trend this Diwali with so much of options available. Virtual Gift Cards are assortments of multiple clothing brands, Restaurants, Retail stores, Jewellery stores, Hotels, Entertainment options etc. It’s all on a single virtual card providing corporates working remotely the liberty to choose where to spend their gift.
Companies like Zaggle and others who service this segment have seen a natural uptrend in the demand for virtual and digital gifting cards. According to Technopak, India’s leading Management consultant, the total size of the Indian corporate & personal gifting market put together is about INR 250,000 crores today. Of this, the corporate gifting market in India is estimated to be INR 12,000 crores and is growing at over 200% per annum. This provides a peek into the size of business that digital gifting options have today.
“Zaggle has seen a huge demand for its digital gifting cards having already seen a turnover of Rs 2000+ Crores through them. It has introduced many innovative options for meeting client needs on a customised basis. The company expects to close this festive season, including Christmas and New Year, with a total turnover of Rs 5000 Crores from this segment. Zaggle has planned the following few activities: Having Fun With Employees’ Talents: We hosted contests and gave prizes for creating festive-themed projects. Employees get creative and have fun with making photoshopped images, mad-lib RFPs, humorous gifs, and other playful versions of whatever it is they do best.” – Raj N, Founder, Zaggle
The British School of Etiquette India
Niralee Shah, CEO,The British School of Etiquette India
Niralee Shah, the CEO of The British School of Etiquette India shared few ideas to get you started on spreading the merriment and virtual celebration to employees both near and far.
Share Videos and Photos of the Office Decoration for Diwali
Don’t let remote employees miss out on seeing office decorations, homemade treats, diyas and lanterns. Host a video tour, create a shared photo drive on dropbox or post pictures in your company’s chat or social media channels. Make them feel they are a part of the company although they are working remotely.
Send a Remote Care Gift
Send your employees a small care box of treats and have them open the box virtually. It can also be fun to open these gifts during a video call! Instead of gift hampers and gift exchanges during Diwali, give gifts that can be easily shared with remote employees. Electronic gift cards, concert/event tickets, travel packages, charitable donations and time off are all easily given by email.
Host Friendly Virtual Competitions
Get everyone in the spirit by hosting competitions that remote employees can easily participate in through video calls and shared photos. There are many competitions that you can host virtually Challenge your team to come up with the Best Diwali Dressiqutte or the best festive desk decorations.
Saba Group
Malini Saba, Founder and Chairman, Saba Group
“We planned to have a virtual Diwali celebration where our team members can dress their best in traditional dresses, create Rangoli’s & share pictures of them along with what they have created. The best-dressed male & female and the most creative Rangoli design shall win exciting prizes that we have arranged for the activity. We also plan to have engagement activities such as singing, dancing, and virtual games like dumb charades, antakshari, Pictionary, trivia, and others.
We also played ‘What’s On the Desk?’ where we will ask them to submit a picture of an item on their work desk or any other belonging or any image on their mobile wallpaper. This shall be uploaded to our organization’s cloud drive. Then employees can start guessing the owners of those photos. The winner is the one with the most correct guesses. We believe that such games allow employees to know each other better and bond. We plan to give our employees the chance to choose from two or three options and identify a gift that would be useful and helpful to them. We have also encouraged our team members to prepare delicacies and sweets at their home and exchange it among a group of team members through delivery agents. The joy of preparing for one’s team and impressing them will bring out the best in each employee & strengthen the relationship.”- Malini Saba, Founder and Chairman, Saba Group
FAQs
What message does Diwali give out?
Diwali is a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
What online platforms can be used to celebrate Diwali virtually?
Zoom or Google Meet is the best option for online platforms to celebrate Diwali with your colleagues.
How can you decorate your office this Diwali?
Paper lanterns, LED lights, Diyas, flower decorations, and Rangoli can be used to decorate the office.
Are you dissatisfied with your appraisal reports for not being able to be productive enough? Sometimes even though it is a work-from-home job the productivity is hampered. But, this does not mean that there are no solutions to that because there are plenty of tips that can be followed to increase productivity.
Home might be one of the most comfortable places on earth but it is not a place to work. But, due to the pandemic situation worldwide it has become necessary for everyone to work-from home. Even though you feel energetic and productive for the first few days later you begin to lose them.
Is it because that your home is way too much comfortable that you cannot concentrate on your work? Well, if you face such kind of problem in your work then try following some tips mentioned below.
How to set up your Workspace to make your home office more productive?
Tips To Make Your Home Office More Productive
Set up a home office
Setting up office to make your home office more productive
People tend to make the mistake of sitting on their bed all day long and doing their work. Well, that will only make people lazier. Do not do that because that way you might lose your job someday. For the first few days, you might be working seriously with a full concentrated mind but in the long run, that will not be the case.
So, it is better to determine a certain room at your house to convert it into your home office. You might have the necessary office types of equipment at your garage or from your study table. Use them and set your office at home. Whenever you are working you should be in your office room and make sure that you do not allow your family members to come in until and unless it is extremely necessary.
Being comfortable at work does not mean you sit on a sofa or a rocking chair and do your work. It is just the opposite to that where you should have all the types of equipment that you will be needing for your work but not unnecessary things.
Sit in a proper position on a fixed chair by investing in a good office chair. If you are uncomfortable sitting too long then you can keep a standing desk on one side of the room. Other than that if you are working on your computer or a laptop then make sure that the screen is an anti-glare one.
Little things like these will help you focus on your work without any distractions. So, if you are feeling uncomfortable then try making necessary changes to your home office room.
One of the major reasons why productivity decreases are people do not indulge themselves in light exercises. You can at least do some walk around your house for a couple of minutes if you do not want to go out.
Or you can do some light weights or even keep a small treadmill machine at your home. If you already have those then you should not have any complaints about not being productive. It is recommended to do some light exercises because in the end, it is you who will benefit the most.
Take certain breaks (Recommended)
We know that you are motivated to work but it does not mean working late nights without giving some rest to your body. Take breaks after spending an hour or two after continuously looking at the computer screen.
This will also give some rest to your eyes. You can create a schedule for it where after a certain time you can stop looking at the screen for a few minutes and then start working again. Keep a bottle of water with you and keep yourself hydrated so that your eyes do not become dry as it will be the reason for a headache.
Work with a target
Work with a target to be more productive
If you have made a routine for your break timings then you should also create a routine for completing certain tasks every day. Make sure you are disciplined enough to follow your routine. Set some targets that you want to achieve at the end of the day because this way you will have a certain purpose to work.
Most people work just for the sake of doing it and thus they lack productivity. So, start making a list of work that you are going to complete each day and make sure that you do it. As you complete each task just strike it off with a pen.
Keep disciplinary measures at priority (Recommended)
Even though it is your home where you can move about freely and do whatever you like but that should not be done when you are doing your office work. Make sure you keep yourself disciplined and follow the schedule that you have made for yourself strictly.
Once you have followed your schedule you can see the productivity results for yourself when your boss sends you the next appraisal reports. Also, you should dress up decently while working because the boss can call up for a meeting whenever he likes and would not like to see his employees in improper clothes.
Keep in mind all the above tips and recommendations if you are working at your home. Even if you follow anyone tip or recommendation from the above list then automatically the others will follow.
FAQs
Can doing light exercising help me become more productive?
Yes, exercising can help you become productive in various areas. Exercising gives you more energy and will help you do work without getting tired. It helps keep momentum at work and improves mental capacity.
What things do I need to set up my home office?
You will need the mentioned below things for your home office:
Computer/Laptop
Internet access
A desk
Good office chair
Phone
Lighting
Office types of equipment like a pen, paper, files, paper clips, printer etc.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made governments across the world to take measures to contain the spread of coronavirus. Many governments have implemented lockdown. So almost all the companies are asking their employees to stay home and work remotely as much as possible to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The companies are asking employees to keep in touch with one another while working in teams, with the help of phone & video conferencing. To increase the efficiency of work, the right software and tools must be chosen. Many are using video conferencing software like Zoom to get work done and talk to colleagues or family.
Video Conferencing tools have become the Need of the Hour
Zoom is one of the fastest-growing video conferencing apps out there. It’s easy to set up and host video calls. But due to recent security and privacy concerns about Zoom, the company has landed itself into trouble. While the company promises it’s working to address those issues, one can switch to other similar apps offering the same services rather than waiting to get issues solved.
There are plenty of video chat services, each with their advantages and disadvantages making them better suited to different uses. Some of these have free versions, some are paid while some offer temporary access to additional features if you need them. Though some are paid ones, they are worthy of spending money. This article will show you some of the best alternatives to Zoom.
The best alternative to Zoom is Cisco Webex Meetings. Webex is a video-conferencing app whose company was originally founded in 1995 and was subsequently acquired by Cisco in 2007. Since then, it is known as one of the best business applications and continues to focus on serving companies. It also offers a trial free version that’s worth checking out. It has expanded the features of the trial free version from 50 to 100 participants, removed of the 40-minute limit on meetings and added call-in abilities.
Cisco Webex Meetings
Webex also offers premium plans starting at $13.50 per month, per host. The premium plans offer additional features like cloud storage, recording transcripts, a downloadable video file of meetings, customizable meeting room links, and more. The company also sells a range of video conferencing products for business users such as the Cisco Webex Room Kit and the Cisco Webex Desk Pro.
It’s one of the great apps like zoom for small businesses that often hold short meetings, as the service offers a free plan. If that’s too short for you, upgrading to one of the company’s paid plans is the way to go. With Webex, one gets all the standard business-focused features one would expect.
Another alternative to Zoom app is Skype. Skypeis one of the few video-conferencing software that was made available to the public in 2003. It is popular for its high-quality audio and video due to its large bandwidth. It’s Meet Now feature offers free video-conferencing. Meet Now in Skype allows you to easily set up a collaboration space and invite both Skype contacts and friends or family who are not on Skype.
How do I create a meeting in Skype?
For more professional meetings and conferences, the paid version is also available – Skype for Business that helps you manage your employee accounts with enterprise-grade security. In standard Skype, number of participants is limited to 25 people on a conference call at once but Skype for Business raises this limit to 250, making it much more suitable for large-scale presentations, meetings or live webinars. It just costs $2 per user per month.
Key Features
Keeps a recording of the call for up to 30 days.
Can blur the background (if required).
Share presentations.
Skype for Business Price: $2 per user per month
Number of participants: Up to 250
Google Hangouts & Google Meet
If you need a google alternative to the Zoom app, we have Google Meet. Google Hangouts is a video-conferencing app by Google, which is free to use. You can use Hangouts to video chat with up to only 10 people. There aren’t a lot of features. You still have access to a text chat and can share your screen, but that’s all about it.
If you are an existing G Suite (paid) customer, you may want to consider looking at Hangouts Meet. Meet allows a few additional features like real-time captions and support for up to 250 participants and 100,000 live stream viewers. The video conferencing service is part of the company’s G Suite subscription that includes several other features.
Google Meet
G Suite starts at $6 per month per user and includes access to Gmail for Business and also up to unlimited cloud storage space, as well as access to all of Google’s other services such as Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc. for your business. Thus, Hangouts Meet gives you all the business-centered tools you need to hold online meetings. You can record and then save them to Drive, easily invite people to join in via a link, and much more.
Key Features
Free plan available: Only Google Hangouts
Free trial: 14 days
Meet Pricing: Starts at $6 per month
Number of participants: Up to 250
Gives access to all of Google’s services like Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc
Another Zoom alternative is Microsoft Teams. In 2017, Microsoft replaced its Skype for Business tool with a new service called Microsoft Teams that combines messaging as well as video conferencing into one. It allows you to host online meetings for up to 250 people. You get all the business-focused features expected from a tool like this including screen sharing, instant messaging, and the ability to record meetings.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams pricing starts at $5.00 per month, per user. Microsoft’s video conferencing tool is just one part of the Google Teams subscription plan. You also get access to all Office apps, 1TB of OneDrive storage, and more. The exact features depend on the plan you go with.
Key Features
Free plan available: No
Free trial: No
Pricing: Starts at $5 per month
Number of participants: Up to 250
Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting is a nice alternative to Zoom app. It is a great tool for online meetings as well as webinars and comes with lots of features. You can share your screen, mute the mics of the participants, and record your group chats & calls among other things. And you can easily import documents, spreadsheets, and presentations since the service is integrated with Zoho’s Office suite. Zoho Meeting pricing starts at $8 per month.
Zoho Meeting
The open-source video conferencing service allows you to host end-to-end encrypted video meetings and calls for up to 100 people. Participants don’t need to sign up for a login; they can access the meetings through a link or a dial-in via web browsers, desktop clients, or mobile apps. Zoho has even provided a handy chart comparing its product to Zoom.
Key Features
Free plan available: No
Free trial: 14 days
Pricing: Starts at $8 per month
Number of participants: Up to 250
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is a feature-packed Zoom alternative and one of the first video conferencing services out there. The entry-level plan allows for 150 participants, while the enterprise plan can include up to 3,000. GoToMeeting pricing starts at $12 per month. It also offers a free 30-Day Trial.
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting offers all the standard tools, like the ability to record meetings and share your screen. You can also have multiple meeting facilitators. And the service is accessible on web browsers, Mac, PC, Linux, iOS, and Android. Whether you’re a small business or a large company with thousands of employees, GoToMeeting has you covered.
When you want to offer a special member or audience the opportunity to learn from you or share the news with your fans who are excited to attend, you need to host seminar-like event. With your topic and materials on hand, all that’s left is setting up a webinar to broadcast the workshop. For this Crowdcast is a great tool.
Crowdcast is the most engaging and easy-to-use live streaming experience on the market. It is a browser-based solution for creating interactive webinars, live Q&As, workshops, and online summits that meet your needs. Crowdcast offers a simple platform to engage with attendees via live chat, polls, time-stamped Q&As, and face-to-face calls. Beyond collecting emails, Crowdcast provides advanced data and analytics around your event and audience and much more!
Crowdcast
Crowdcast tries to simplify that by making webinars a teaching tool to connect with your audience. Teachers, thought leaders, and professionals can use Crowdcast to reach out and share their knowledge with their fans and followers. Whether you’re hosting a workshop or a 3-day digital conference, you can create events where interaction and conversation are necessary.
Crowdcast costs little more due to its features at $49.00 per month. Managing live events successfully requires careful preparation and hard work. With multistream, built-in engagement tools, and quick payments for paid events, Crowdcast makes sure you only need to focus on bringing high-quality content toyour audience.
Key Features
Pricing: Starts at $49.00 per month.
Free trial: 14 days
Number of real-time viewers: Up to 3,000
Lets you hold digital conference up to 3 days
FAQs
What is Zoom app?
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars.
Is Zoom secure?
Yes, it is secure.
Who are zoom competitors?
Competitors and Alternatives to Zoom:-
Microsoft
Google
Cisco
247meeting
TeamViewer
BlueJeans by Verizon
Zoho
Are there safer alternatives to zoom?
Yes, there are safer alternatives to zoom.
What is the safest way to use zoom?
To maintain the security of your next meeting, our recommendations are below:
A Virtual Assistant provides support services from a remote location. This means you will offer clients services on a day to day basis, as a contractor or as a self-employed. The job scope of a virtual assistant varies from one business to another. Small business owners, solopreneurs, busy professionals, and bloggers all use virtual assistants. A virtual assistant is anyone who offers services to other business owners in exchange for upon fee. After become a virtual assistant you have a happy life, a business that gives you money but also… time for yourself to do what you want.
Some traits that a virtual assistant must include:
Patience
Honesty
Discretion
Personable
Professional
Organized
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants consist of individuals as well as companies who work remotely as an independent professional, providing a wide range of products and services both to businesses as well as customers. Clients pay for 100% productive work and can work with virtual assistants.
Services provided by a Virtual Assistant:
Customer support
Community management and moderation
Project management
Processing online orders and refunds
Website design
WordPress maintenance
Graphic design and layout
Calendar management and travel arrangements
Social media management
Editing videos
Lead generation
Content creation for blogs and ghostwriting
Editing proofreading
Transcription
Content research
Keyword research
Performing outreach
Managing product launches
Creating sales pages
Data entry
Email management
Bookkeeping
Steps to Become a Virtual Assistant
Choose Your Business Structure
According to Small Business Law, there are different ways of starting a business. Which one of the small business structures are right for your Virtual Assistant business is an important part. You will consider the following points before starting a business:
Your physical location of the business
The types of clients you will be working with
The type of Virtual Assistant work you will be doing
Your risk tolerance
The different business structures available in your area
After considering these points you must decide on one of the small business structures. The small business structures you choose will depend on the nature and size of your business and should suit your needs.
The types of small business structure are as follows:
Sole trader or sole proprietor – A sole trader or sole proprietorship means one person owns the business. A sole trader does not have to register the business.
Partnership – A partnership is a business that has between 2 and 20 partners. The partners own the business together. If two or more people want to start a partnership, they should sign a written agreement. The agreement will contain three things: (i) what happens to the assets of the business if the partnership ends,(ii) how the partners will share the profits, (iii) what happens if one of the partners wants to leave the partnership
Company – Companies have to obey all the rules of the Companies Act, which is a long and complicated law. A company has shareholders and directors. Shareholders can be people or other companies. Shareholders put the money into the business and are the owners of the business. Directors are the managers of the business.
You should consider those services where your skill and area of interest matches. Then you gather your knowledge and find those services on the web. After you become expertise in those services if possible try to learn your services. By doing this you will get more clients and become an expert. The more specialized your services and the more experience you have, the more you can charge.
Decide on Your Pricing Structure
After focus on services you will give attention to the pricing strategy of your services. Also keep in mind that from the point of view of business owners, there are perks to hiring a freelance virtual assistant instead of a part or full-time employee.
Types of pricing types:
Hourly rate pricing – Hourly rate pricing is where you set a particular hourly price for your services, keep track of your time, and bill your client after the work has been completed.
Project-based packages – A Project-Based Package can be used when a client has a one-time project to complete, and you will charge them a flat rate fee for the project.
Retainer packages – A retainer is a monthly package for those who need reoccurring help in their business.
Usable hours packages – With this type of pricing method, your client will pay for a certain amount of hours, to be used at their discretion.
Advertisement for Virtual Assistant Services
Business owners have realized that social media are a great way of starting advertisement. Virtual assisting and social media management are growing bigger every day as a legitimate way to make money online. To find clients, social media marketing alone is not enough. The first step is doing some keyword research. This helps you develop a list of the words, phrases, questions, and topics your clients are thinking and asking about so that you can use them in your marketing.
The various ways of advertisement:
Have a well-designed website
Offer educational media opportunities like YouTube videos, Google chats Facebook live sessions, live webinars, and podcasts.
Blog about online business and your own experiences as a business owner
Advertise — online and offline
Create your freelance service site
Make connections on LinkedIn
Let others know about your services on social media
Remote working and work-from-home is a convenient trend that’s gaining traction since the global pandemic has struck all our lives. Many tech companies like adobe, and Facebook have gone WFH at least till June of 2021. Twitter and Square has announce Work From Home Forever Option.
It’s high time for employers to learn different ways to keep your remote employees engaged motivated and happy. This includes activities such as fostering personal connections and gamifying the team work, encouraging wellness programs and celebrating your workers to keep their spirit high!
We spoke with top executives from 15 companies across the country, speaking up and endorsing their views on how they are keeping up the employee engagement and well-being. So here we present different ways to to take care your “family” remotely.
Khushboo Solanki – Founder, Zero Gravity Communications
While technology and product companies could easily swift into work from home creative fields where the output comes from interaction and stimulating discussion with different creative disciplines.
We used to do Monday morning team meetings. There used to be a quick presentation on last week’s issues and problems team-based while working from. We also made sure we discuss mental health and keep everyone’s spirit high since WFH can be demotivating at times.
We aren’t working remotely now, but we are working with all safety protocols in place. We are testing the team every week to make sure everyone‘s health is in check. There is proper health guidelines maintain from our management side.
Companies are trying many innovative ways to keep their employees motivated and in good humour in these trying times. Employee engagement activities like Town Halls, where people discuss the developments happening in the company and share information work as good breakout sessions.
A comprehensive and consistent internal communication strategy ensures that there is a flow of information all along and helps keep employees engaged. Several organisations are also using innovative rewards and recognition policies to appreciate the hard work that teams are putting in. Trainings are being organised to upskill/reskill employees – that has a higher signaling value
The pandemic has been hard on every individual, especially on those working in digital agencies as we work with hard deadlines. As a company, we have taken a policy to put employees well being first. We started more employee happiness initiatives. The primary one being giving off to everyone every alternate Friday! We have started other initiatives as well such as no meeting Friday, weekly fun catchups where we just chit chat, sing and talk for an hour over a video call. We have a lunch break and tea break where no meetings can be scheduled across the organization.
We started being very mindful of taking aggressive deadlines. Overall, this pandemic has taught us to become employee-centric and become policies that are employee-friendly.
The one thing that we figured is that the pandemic may lead to reduction in work performance and that is why right from the beginning we made sure that the weekly routines for all the employees are not focused only on the tactical work like accomplishing the concrete plans one need to execute. Rather half of the week we made sure that all the employees focused on adaptive performance, where there was no plan to follow, but instead, one is free to experiment and focus on problem-solving. Like on Monday a performance cycle meeting for the team was held that covered the result of the previous week, the commitments of the present week and what areas to experiment on to improve the performance. From Tuesday-Thursday we make sure that we have at least one individual meeting with each of the team members. By which we motivate them, help them focus on tackle challenges that are a slight stretch.
Along with that all the managers are asked to coordinate small group meetings in which their team members can collaborate on the week’s experiments and tackle problems together. And on Friday’s we focus on reflection. Help the employees showcase and gather input on the experiments of the week. Because It’s important for the employees to check in on each other’s motivation and progress. And as a leader, I feel it is really important to set the example by asking people how they are feeling: Where did they face struggle with their motivation, and where did they thrive?
Sumit Garg – Co-Founder, Luxury Ride
At Luxury Ride, we believe our employees are our pillars, we stand with them and they are our extended family. At Luxury Ride, we want our employees to be financially stable and be high on morale and thus there are no salary cuts or layoffs of employees. We have introduced the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), promoted our employees, have given them incentives in cash.
We are organizing informal social connect session, emphasizing the need to balance family and household, online training on wellness, fitness, and learning sessions. We are also organizing various training programs for our employees which will add value to them both personally and professionally.
We believe in working together and combining all our strengths together as one. Amidst this pandemic we have continued to keep the morale and engagement of our employees high by keeping the communication game strong, formally & informally. Here is what we do for the same – Slack– Invested in an effective communication tool to connect with all on the same portal. Daily Scrum– To check with all the employees daily to do tasks and address the problem, if any. Virtual Celebration– Sending virtual cards for birthdays, anniversaries, new joinee or farewell along with calls with the team. Ice Breaking sessions to help new joinees open up to the team and make new friends. Flexible Work Timings– Each team has its own style of working and the main focus is only on the output. Mandatory Video ON calls at least twice a week to ensure teammates are more connected with visual contact.
Mr. Prasad Rajappan – Founder & CEO, ZingHR
Often, employees work beyond their shift timing, they are ignoring the fact that it will ultimately affect their physical and mental well-being which indirectly affects the business outcomes of the enterprises and also the health of the employees. The employees need emotional connect in tough times which we are all going through right now.
Many of our client organizations are reaching out to us to enable HR Tech tools like Online Surveys to understand the pulse of the employees, their wellbeing and engagement level, timesheets to track the daily activities, help-desk management through which any employee can reach out to the respective departments in the organization for urgent needs, mobile- learning to ensure contactless knowledge and information dissemination with Multilingual mobile-based Learning.
A critical virtue that will beat the Work-From-Home fatigue is Ownership. Topline lays huge emphasis on this capability in its resources. We train our employees to build ownership from the time of their induction with periodic reviews and goal setting. It hugely takes away the stress of micro-management faced by over 40% of managers in most other companies.
For the Emotional Quotient, we ensure our resources are sensitized and practice empathy. We break up the goals to give ourselves shorter snackable targets to keep the efficiency and momentum high. Each achievement and development are celebrated together as it boosts team’s morale, creates belongingness and raises the spirits. Our team is our strength and with them, our vision and mission to become a global organization strengthen even more.
Normally, the employees might feel zoned out or they may start feeling isolated and may lose their interest in work. Moreover, the pandemic is still not over, so this is the time when they will need counseling the most. Many organizations have started to realize the importance of having a corporate wellness program in the workplace. These initiatives are specifically designed to help the employees or staff members to take a break from their sedentary lifestyle and set their foot into a healthier lifestyle. Asking for feedback is another way to increase employee engagement in the workplace. However, it is a two-way process. Feedbacks should be given by both employers and employees. This way, the employees may feel that their opinions matter and it plays an important role in the company.
Pankit Desai – Co-founder and CEO, Sequretek
While we at Sequretek, ensure that communication within the organization is frequent, transparent and consistent, Zoom fatigue is very real. We make sure that meetings don’t overlap with employees’ personal days and timings, with a dedicated login and logout time. There have been other communications from our HR around safety and security, reinforcing the message of maintaining hygiene and staying safe.
A daily state of affairs newsletter is shared by our COO, that basically sheds light on the current Covid-19 situation: how things are getting impacted, what are the things we should be watching out for, what opportunities hackers would use, the scenarios to look out for, basically keeping our employees abreast with information but backed from a data perspective than rumours.
There is no doubt that difficult times and interacting with your team and keeping them engaged can help ease some tension and boost morale. There are a number of ways for the companies to engage with their employees.
The first thing to do would be to prune the grapevine. And the best way to stop rumors from spreading is to be transparent and update your team about the challenges that the organization is facing. Rumors often start whenever there is lack of communication. The organizations need to inform their employees about the safety measures they’re putting in place to reassure their teams that their safety would not be compromised. Any policy or workflow changes should also be conveyed at the earliest.
The second thing to do would be to not get embroiled too much into the tragedy of current scenario. Obviously, the employers need to acknowledge the present – which does seem gloomy – but they should look beyond it and make their team visualize the same. As devastating as Covid-19 has been, much like all other natural disasters, it would eventually pass away, and those who are preparing for the future – for the new normal – would have a competitive edge over others, who are only looking to survive. Also, by placing a bigger goal for the organization, the employers can motivate their teams and usher in a much-needed wave of positivity.
Finally, the normal that will come after the pandemic subsides would be a new normal and instead of trying to revert to the old way, it would be prudent to adapt to the new. Adapting though is easier said than done. This is why business owners must take their employees into confidence, make them feel like an integral part of the business and encourage them to devise strategies for the new normal. Thus, you will be able to create a way for the employees to collaborate, create and contribute to the change”.
Shivani Sanwal – HR Business Partner, Moglix
Lack of community belongingness is a significant downside of working remotely. Human resource leaders are leveraging technology to re-imagine their internal communication strategy, stay plugged into business, and check on employees’ general wellbeing.
Many enterprises have hired psychologists to address people’s woes and facilitate online counseling sessions for employees to seek expert assistance on emotional wellbeing. Moreover, people managers are encouraging employees to share their psychological issues without worrying about social taboos and ensuring that employees do not have to suffer silently.
Dr Malini Saba –Founder,Saba Group&Anannke Foundations
Dr Malini Saba, Founder & Chairman,Saba Group & Anannke Foundations
As our employees began working from home, we implemented a systematic approach for their engagement that has eight pillars – occupational, social, physical, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, financial and emotional. These pillars are aimed at the holistic development of our employees – both at a professional and personal level.
Our employees have been happier working from home & have yielded better results as they save commute time & get to spend more time with their families. We conduct sessions remotely and focus on the specific requirements of the individuals, the first 10-15 minutes of a virtual meeting is discussing business and then we have Leadership sessions, Motivational talks on self-care and parenting, moderate discussions, book summaries, psychological counselling etc. Teams connect over a cup of coffee, play Online games, bring pets & children during video calls, share picture streams, celebrate birthdays & festivals and more. These conversations have seemed very effective in preventing potential burnout, isolation and boost discipline among our employees.
Rashi Agarwal – Co-founder and CBO, ZYPP Electric Mobility
Zypp has given the option to work from home till December 2020 to function areas like Tech, Finance and Marketing. Zypp has got all its team insured for any kind of health concerns including Covid-19 too.
Also, to know the pulse of the team, Zypp is using eNPS and SSK surveys to understand the employees’ requirements and act on it.
We also work on some remote team-building activities through google meets to keep teams motivated remotely. We are also working on KPI’s and job scorecards to give better direction and action plan to teams to get better productivity. Also, we have a monthly way of celebrating happiness either via party or cake cutting, and all hand events rewarding the best performer too from time to time.
Mr. Dinesh Kumar TK – VP(HR), Aspire Systems
Our HR Partners and managers connect with Aspiriansregularly to discuss and resolve any concerns. The senior leadership team connects with managers to give regular updates and gain understanding about what is happening with the teams.
Due to the unprecedented lifestyle changes that have been thrust upon us now, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. Through our mental health and wellness initiative, MindSpa, our employees can reach out to our in-house counsellor when they require support and guidance. We also conduct Online yoga classes by partnering with a professional trainer.
As a trust-building measure, we have also taken steps to ensure Aspirians receive adequate care if they are affected by COVID-19 by supporting them with a leave of 10 days and providing them with an exclusive Covid insurance cover of 2 lakhs per head for the individual and their families.
Dinesh Kumar, Vice President at Aspire Systems
Conclusion
While working remotely has its fair share of benefits, like saving time and money commutes and encouraging better work-life balance, it also has some downsides. Because they’re not in the office with their team, remote workers often feel less engaged and connected to their company, which can hurt productivity and performance.
We hope the the above ideas will surely help you with for your own employee engagement programme.
Whether you are someone who does the entirety of the job from home or you just need somewhere in your house where you can catch up on work when you need to, having a home office is an invaluable tool. Setting aside a dedicated space in your home for you to work in is both a powerful psychological trick for enhancing your productivity as well as a worthwhile practical undertaking for using the space in your home more efficiently.
Instead of letting your work spill out over the entire household, you can keep it all contained within a single space. More importantly, you can keep everything you need for your work organised and together. When you design it right, your home or office can be an invaluable partner in productivity. Below are some top tips for upgrading your home office.
5 Great Tips to Upgrade Your Home Office
1. Set It Up For Productivity
If you want to be as productive as possible when using your home office, then you need to design its layout with productivity in mind. First and foremost, you should choose a location for your home office where you can be sure that you won’t be disturbed for most of the day. You want to minimize the number of distractions around you – keeping yourself far away from the hustle and bustle of your own home will help a great deal in this respect.
Set It Up For Productivity
But it isn’t just the location of your office that matters. The way that you decorate it and lay out the furniture inside will have an impact on how productive you can be when you are working there. Some people advise that you stick to neutral colors, so as to avoid creating an environment that is too stimulating or sedating. However, in practice, whatever kind of environment you personally find most conducive to your productivity is fine. Some people prefer to work surrounded by color, whereas others prefer a more mundane backdrop.
2. Get Yourself a Coffee Machine
Anyone who has ever had to work an office or retail job will understand the importance of caffeine in creating an ideal work environment. There is evidence to show that caffeine can improve our concentration and memory, to an extent. Of course, if you overdo it with the coffee, then you are going to have a bad time. But in moderation, coffee isn’t just a tasty refreshment; it is also a genuinely useful tool for improving performance and concentration when you’re working in your home office.
If you are a habitual coffee drinker, it is worth considering investing in a coffee machine. You can compare commercial coffee machine prices online. If purchasing one of these machines is out of the question for someone on your budget, then you can always consider renting or leasing a machine as a more cost-effective alternative.
3. Don’t Deprive Yourself Entirely of Distractions
Creating a productive environment means that you’ll need to keep the number of distractions present to a minimum. However, even the most dedicated workers can only focus on their work for so long before they need a break. Many people also find that it helps to take regular short breaks from their work in order to give their brain time to refresh and avoid becoming fatigued.
If you try to spend an entire day working without taking a break to even glance at your phone or briefly check your social media, you will be setting yourself up for failure. It is much better to work out which of your preferred distractions are the least damaging to your productivity and keep these nearby.
For example, if you find that strumming your guitar for a while clears your mind and enables you to work through any mental blockages that you are having, then, by all means, keep a guitar in your home office. On the other hand, if you are incapable of working productively when there is a games console within reach, make sure that you keep your home office free from any traces of games consoles.
5 Great Tips to Upgrade Your Home Office
4. Keep It Comfortable
When it comes to striking the right balance in terms of how comfortable you make your home office, you want to create an environment that is comfortable enough that you can happily work in it for extended periods of time without feeling the strain, but not so comfortable that you are tempted to fall asleep every time you sit down. No one can work at their best when they are physically uncomfortable. If you don’t consider this when you are designing your home office, you may well end up with a space that is unpleasant to be in for the duration of a full working day.
Enhancing the comfort of your office is not difficult, nor does it have to be expensive. Investing in good quality furniture will certainly help. That might cost you more money upfront, but more expensive and higher quality furniture isn’t just more comfortable, it also has a significantly longer lifespan than the cheaper alternatives.
Another important aspect of your comfort to consider is the temperature. If your home office consists of a small enclosed room, a laptop or computer that is working hard can generate a surprising amount of heat, essentially acting as a small radiator. You should consider the ventilation and airflow in your home office, and if necessary, consider getting a fan or air-conditioning unit in order to keep the temperature comfortable.
5. Add Some Exercise Equipment
Lots of people who regularly work from their home office find that they are more productive if they aim to take lots of small breaks throughout the day, rather than trying to power through the whole day with as few breaks as possible. If this sounds like you, then we would strongly recommend that you consider investing in some exercise equipment for your home office.
You don’t need to go overboard and buy yourself an expensive treadmill or exercise bike, any simple piece of exercise equipment will do. The goal is to give you something to occupy your downtime that will not distract you from the work at hand. Exercise equipment is perfect for this as it can keep you completely occupied while you are using it, but will not generally tempt you away from your work when you are trying to remain productive.
Anyone who regularly works from home can benefit from having a dedicated home office space within their home. If you already have such a space, or you are looking to create one in your home for the very first time, you should design its layout in order to maximize productivity.
To achieve this, you need to strike the right balance between creating a space in which you can be comfortable and relaxed while working, and one that is free of distractions and discourages you from allowing your mind to wander.
The ideal home office is one in which you feel comfortable, but eager to work in. It should also be a space that you can comfortably spend a number of hours in, potentially even an entire day. The right home office can make an enormous difference to your productivity, so it is well worth investing in creating the right kind of space.
Upgrading Your Home Office – FAQs
What should every home office have?
Check out these items that every Home office should have.
Monitor
High-Speed Internet Access
Adequate Lighting
Comfy Chair
Printer
An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Storage Needs
What are the useful 5 ways to upgrade your home office.
