Welcome To Work @Home

If you’re lucky enough to have a job that can be done from home, here’s how to make your house a productive, happy workspace

In just a few short weeks, we’ve become used to a whole new set of buzz words. Social distancing. Elbow handshakes. Self-isolation. And WFH – the acronym for work from home, something many of us are finding ourselves doing in these strange and troubled times.

Ever since President Cyril Ramaphosa instituted stringent measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, people are being told to WFH if they can.

And the truth is, while there may be some positives (no more traffic jams, for instance, and saving on travel costs) this is no walk in the park.

Employees are expected to be productive while adjusting to a whole new way of doing things – and if you have young kids thrown into the equation, it’s all the more challenging.

HOW TO COPE

STICK TO A ROUTINE

Try to do things in a similar way to when you used to go in to work every day. Set your alarm for a certain time, make coffee, catch up on the news, eat breakfast, sort out the kids. And although it may be tempting to stay in your pyjamas all day, don’t, says Chelsea Rivera, who works for a 100% remote company.

“Get dressed, put on makeup and do your hair,” she says. By getting ready for work – even if your new office is only down the passage – you’ll be in the right headspace for a full day of productivity.

SET YOURSELF UP

Jan du Toit of labour law company Labour Guide South Africa says your employer is obligated to provide tools, such as laptops or desktop computers, that allow employees to do their duties at home in the case of an enforced WFH situation.

“If it’s not possible for the emp­loyer to do so, the parties may agree that the employee uses their own equipment and the company com­ pen sates them in some way,” he says.