Remote working is such a blessing. You can now work-from-home (or anywhere) with just a stable internet connection and a laptop. And a lot of people are adapting to it because of the current pandemic.
But still, there are some relatives or friends who aren’t well-versed in this setup. And they can, intentionally or unintentionally, spout some harsh statements that can ruin your day. So if you have friends like this or if you’re that friend yourself, better read up. Here are 7 cringeworthy statements you should not say to your remote working friends.
You Have So Much Free Time
“Friend, you are so lucky working-from-home. You have so much free time! Can You do this for me?”
Really?! Do you think we’re not doing anything? It’s a common misconception that if you’re working-from-home, you have all the time in the world to slack off. That’s not the case. Even if we have time flexibility, we still have to follow specific schedules and beat deadlines. So please, stop with the incessant requests.
Can’t You Find a Real Job?
How do you define a real job? Most think that you should be in corporate attire, taking meetings in conference rooms, and the like. But it’s the era of internet connectivity. Even if people aren’t in an office, you can still find jobs that pay the bills.
And most of these jobs don’t just pay the bills. They can earn a lot of money, even over their office counterparts.
Please, stop undermining remote work because you don’t wear office clothes when working. You’ll never know; they might be even earning more than you.
Don’t You Like a Job with Career Growth?
Who says we do not have career growth? A lot of people think that remote working is just side-jobs or “rackets,” which aren’t sustainable. But today is quite different. There are high-level jobs like engineering and accounting work in the remote working field.
There are even astronaut remote workers. So don’t ever say that you can’t have career growth in this industry.
Isn’t It Lonely Working Remotely? Don’t You Have a Social Life?
Well, loneliness is one glaring problem in remote working. But it’s too harsh to say that we don’t have a social life. Even if we don’t meet our teammates in-person, companies are coping up with different strategies to build a more connected team.
For example, there are video meetings. There are also fun activities and online parties to foster camaraderie. And as Filipinos, we do have more time now for our family at home. Can you actually bring your children to work? In remote working, you can!
With the right setup, remote working can be more sociable than traditional work.
Why Are You Working for a Scam?
Well, with all the online work scams before, you can’t blame yourself for thinking that way. But right now, remote work is more streamlined than ever. It’s easy to find information for specific clients.
You can also scour reputable freelancing and remote working groups like Online Filipino Freelancers and Filipino Freelancers with Australian Clients for sound advice. But mostly, it’s quite safe.
I Can’t Do Remote Work. It’s Only for Millennials.
A lot of remote workers are from the millennial generation. It’s understandable because the technology was ready in their time. But it doesn’t mean that it’s only for them.
A lot of Gen X and baby boomers are coming out of retirement to do remote working. What’s good is that there’s no age discrimination in remote work. You just have to deliver what your clients need, and you’re good to go.
How Can You Manage Accountability When You Don’t Meet in Person?
Traditional employment needs supervisors and managers to make sure everyone is working. After all, when the cat’s away, the mouse will play.
But then it’s a new era. Most remote workers are independent enough that you don’t need supervision. And it’s output-based. One Harvard study even found out that knowledge workers are more productive when they work-from-home.
If you’re not convinced, there are tracking software that an employer or client can use to assure one’s productivity. So with the proper tools, accountability is still observed.
Conclusion
With the above example, I’m sure you understand remote working better. So if you don’t want to offend your friends, keep it in mind. And maybe, you can even try the beauty of remote working yourself. Check these following high-paying jobs for possible careers in your field. Cheers!
