Remote working has been around even before the COVID-19 pandemic, with a number of 4.7 million people or 3% of US workers. When the pandemic hit, companies mandated employees to work from home. Hence, an increase of 30% hybrid workers and 35% remote workers.
What are the benefits of working remotely?
Many people find that working from home appeals to them for various reasons. Some people feel they are more productive working from home because of the following reasons:
- It allows you to work anywhere. Thus, you’re not confined to a cubicle or an office table beside your co-workers. Depending on your job, you can choose your working area, whether it’s your living room, garden area, or even in a coffee shop—the options are limitless.
- It offers a flexible work schedule. Hence, you can take a break whenever you want and not feel guilty because you can just make up for it later.
- You can save resources. Daily expenses can be costly, from transportation fares or gas to your daily meals. Remote working can help minimize your costs because you don’t have to spend money on fares or gas.
- It increases productivity and reduces stress. Any work can be stressful. However, when working in an office, there are other factors to consider, such as distractions, interruptions, politics, and the environment. Remote working allows you to manage all these and may result in better productivity.
What are the main struggles of a remote worker?
Remote employees witnessed the many advantages of remote working, but there are also some challenges that come with it. One of the challenges is being prepared for emergencies. Emergencies come in different forms, such as power outages, bad weather, or even personal emergencies.
When working in an office, your company usually has a plan in place for emergencies. But when you’re working remotely, you’re on your own.
So, what do you need to do to be prepared for emergencies when you’re working remotely? A remote work emergency kit is a great way to prepare for any unexpected circumstances. While you can’t control everything, there are some steps you can add to your list to minimize the impact of an emergency while working remotely.
Here are seven essentials of a remote work emergency kit that you should have:
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A backup power source
Working remotely often means relying on technology to get the job done. But what happens when there is a power outage? A backup power source can be a lifesaver in this situation.
Losing power can mean losing access to your work, which can be a disaster if you’re on a tight deadline. According to PowerOutage.US, consumers in 2020 experienced over 1.33 billion outage hours. That’s a lot of time spent in the dark. For remote workers, this can be a big problem.
A backup power source is a necessity as it can keep you working even when the power goes out. There are a few different options for backup power sources. A generator is a good choice if you need a lot of power for devices like laptops and printers. Moreover, you can invest in a solar power generator for home use in case of a prolonged power outage. A battery backup or a portable charger is suitable for smaller devices like cell phones.
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A spare phone or laptop
Remote workers rely on their devices to do their jobs, so losing access to them can be a major setback. If you haven’t acquired a backup power source yet, and your primary device runs out of power or breaks, it’s crucial to have an alternative. Among the essential items in your remote work emergency kit should be a spare phone or laptop, as these can be a lifesaver in an emergency.
There are plenty of options for laptops and phones that won’t break the bank. A good option for a spare phone or laptop is a Chromebook. Chromebooks are lightweight, inexpensive laptops that run on Google’s Chrome operating system. They’re designed for people who primarily use cloud-based applications, which makes them ideal for remote workers.
If your primary working device is lost, stolen, or damaged, having a backup can help you stay productive and connected. Make sure to keep your backup charged and in a safe place so you can access it quickly in an emergency.
A good tip in case of power or internet outages, personal emergencies, and other common emergencies is to have a plan B. For instance, if you’re working on a project and the power goes out, have a plan for how you’ll finish the project.
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A backup internet connection
Aside from having a backup device, you should also have a backup for your internet connection. If your primary internet connectivity goes down, you’ll need another way to stay connected.
There are a few options for staying connected in an emergency. You can get a mobile hotspot to use your phone’s data plan as a backup internet connection. You can also invest in a satellite internet connection, which can be used even if power and traditional landlines are down.
Nowadays, remote workers opt for a redundant internet connection, which means having two separate internet service providers (ISPs). ISPs eliminate the risk of losing your internet connection entirely if one ISP goes down. If one ISP goes down, you can still stay connected with the other.
Preferably, remote workers have more than one backup internet connection to ensure they’re always online. Most people have at least two phone lines and can use their mobile data as a backup, but it’s always good to have a contingency plan.
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A USB data drive
A USB data drive is a small, portable storage device that you can use to store files and carry them with you on the go. They’re often used to transfer data between computers or to make a backup of important files.
In an unforeseen event such as a power outage, a USB data drive can be used to store files and take them with you to another location. They’re small and lightweight, so you can easily carry them with you. Plus, they don’t require a power source to operate.
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An off-site backup of your data
In addition to regular data backup, you should also have an off-site backup in case of an emergency. It can be a cloud-based storage service or an external hard drive that you keep at a friend or family member’s house.
Off-site backups are essential because they protect your data in case of a fire, flood, or other disasters that could damage or destroy your primary storage device. They also protect against theft since thieves are less likely to target more than one location.
There are several cloud-based storage services to choose from. These services typically offer a certain amount of storage for free, with paid plans that provide more storage.
Off-site data backups are necessary because they can help you recover your data if your primary device is lost or damaged. Be sure to update your off-site backup regularly so it always has the most recent version of your files.
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An emergency communications plan
In a crisis, you must be able to reach your team or clients. Having an emergency communications plan can help you stay connected and coordinate a response.
Your emergency communications plan should include a list of contact information for people you need to reach in an emergency. It could consist of your boss, co-workers, clients, family members, and friends. Make sure to include both phone numbers and email addresses to reach people even if power or landlines are down.
It’s also good practice for a remote worker to plan how you’ll communicate in an emergency. For example, you might use a group chat service to communicate with your team. Or, you might use a project management tool to coordinate a response to an emergency.
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A cyber security plan
Lastly, cyber-attacks can happen anytime, and they’re often difficult to recover from. That’s why remote workers need to have a cyber security plan. This plan should include steps for protecting your devices and data from being hacked.
Your cyber security plan should start with creating strong passwords for all your devices and accounts. Creating a password with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols makes it difficult to guess as possible. You should also avoid using the same password for more than one account.
In addition to strong passwords, it’s best to enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. This provides you an additional layer of security by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password, making it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your accounts.
Moreover, using a VPN can help protect your data from being intercepted by hackers. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it more difficult for anyone to snoop on your online activity.
Conclusion
Nobody likes to think about emergencies, especially when working remotely, but it’s necessary to be prepared. By putting together a remote emergency kit, you can ensure that you have the supplies and resources you need to stay safe in an emergency.
These are just a few items you should consider including in your kit. Be sure to tailor your emergency kit to your specific needs and the scenarios you’re most likely to face. And, don’t forget to review your kit regularly to ensure that all of the items are up-to-date and in working order.
