If you’re a beginner, get off to a good start by following these remote working tips:

1. Get fast and reliable internet
2. Set up a dedicated workspace
3. Invest in a webcam and headphones
4. Over-communicate with coworkers
5. Use collaborative software
6. Use video during meetings for social connection
7. Take time for self-care
8. Schedule time for exercise

Instead of commuting to a central office, remote work can happen anywhere. This can mean workers are working from home, from a coworking space, a library, a park bench, or all of the above. It can span different time zones, and times of day. Anything not in a main office can be considered remote.

• Communicate! Communicate clearly and constantly
• Get the tech. Make sure you have the equipment and software you need
• Be transparent. Set clear goals and give updates often
• Know thyself. Find your best working style and let others know what it is
• Be transparent. Set clear goals and give updates often
• Enjoy the perks. Take advantage of the benefits while you can.

There are many ways to share information and reach decisions without slowing work down for an official meeting. Check out this article on how Hugo runs on the 10 Percent Rule, having just 4 hours of meetings per week.

As a manager of a remote team, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Use video calls for meetings instead of phone calls that are just audio
• Overcommunicate the company vision and how employees fit into the larger picture
• Demonstrate sensitivity to remote-specific issues

As a rule of thumb, follow your W-2s. In the US, in most situations, you will only pay taxes for the state you live in, even if the company you work remotely for is in another state. The W-2 you receive will reflect that. Note that getting this set up correctly when you’re first hired may require your employer to do some paperwork to set up a business in your home state.
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In rarer cases, you will need to receive a W-2 form that also lists a state other than your resident state. In this case, you’ll need to file a second tax return for the state listed. Know that any dollar you make can only be taxed in one state or the other. There will be no double-dipping.

Remote employees work 1.4 more days per month than their office-based counterparts, says a 2019 study by Airtasker. The study also showed remote workers tend to have less unproductive time (27 minutes) than those in the office (37 minutes) each day.

Here are the most effective ways to stay productive, according to remote workers:

• Dont forget to take breaks
• Follow a schedule to stay focused
• Keep your to-do list up-to-date
• Work in the same location(s)
• Listen to music
• Eliminate distractions, such as texts, calls, and social media
• Get exercise and fresh air
• Invest in your relationships with co-workers

Pros of working remotely:

• No commute
• Flexibility to plan your day
• Ability to live in a city of your choice
• Opportunity to wear comfy clothes
• Less stress
• Higher morale
• No office distractions
• Cost savings for employers on rent and furniture
• Access to a larger pool of talent

Cons of working remotely:

• Lack of reason to go outside results in less exercise
• Increased risk of loneliness and depression
• Increased distraction, such as from kids
• Limited visibility into your work which can limit opportunities for advancement
• Less side-by-side collaboration
• Difficulty staying motivated
• Letting work take over your life

Finding the right fit for a remote hire may require asking some extra questions to get a sense of how they work. Below are some examples:

1. How do you balance your work and your home life?
2. How do you organize your day?
3. What do you need in your physical workspace to be successful?
4. What types of communication tools do you use for various situations?
5. How do you prioritize your work?
6. How do you prepare for meetings? How do you run them remotely?
7. How would you manage a project that involves many other people?
8. If you have a problem and nobody else is online, what do you do?
9. Why do you want to work remotely?

With remote work, employers have less control over security. This goes for both physical security as it applies to a home office, coffee shop, or public space. It also applies to public and home networks that other users may be able to access. Still, a little training goes a long way in helping remote workers understand their role and responsibilities as far as security is involved:

• Use strong passwords and 2-factor authentication when possible
• Create written guides for security procedures, including what to do if a device is lost
• Make sure devices encrypt data at rest to protect information if the device is lost or stolen
• Limit work with sensitive information when on public networks like coffee-shop wifi

1. Calendar, Docs & Email: G-Suite
2. Chat: Slack
3. Video Conferencing: Zoom
4. Meeting Collaboration: Hugo
5. Project Management: Trello

All working from home is remote, but not all remote work is from home. Just because remote work doesn’t take place in a central office, doesn’t mean it’s all from house either. Remote workers can work from cafes, coworking spaces, libraries, even fast food restaurants. In order to break up the monotony of being home all day, not to mention get out of the house, remote workers often split their time between more than one location.

For your health, remote work is a two-way street. On the one hand, you have much more flexibility, which can help lower stress and increase morale. On the other, without the commute to a central office, there is less reason to get up and move around, which can lead to worse physical health. Remote workers are also at increased risk of loneliness, depression, and other mental health problems.

Ultimately, whether working remotely impacts a person’s health is very dependent on their habits, needs, and unique situation. The one requirement, though, is that remote workers be more proactive about their health — making sure to take time to exercise and be socially active.

There are many misconceptions about remote work. Here are some of the reputations that remote workers have a hard time shaking:

• Remote workers are bad communicators
• Remote workers are always working
• Remote workers are not productive
• There is no work-life balance
• Remote workers have no social skills
• Working from home makes people lonely
• Remote teams have no culture