Get the key ideas from
Remote
Office Not Required
In Remote, you are given an inside look at a new kind of work relationship made possible by modern technology, called “remote work.” The book details companies’ common fears about allowing employees to work remotely and in contrast, outlines the many benefits of remote work. Importantly, it offers practical advice to managers who employ remote workers or are considering introducing remote work options for their company.
- Managers who need to find solutions for employees
- Anyone who is considering trying out remote work at their company
- Anyone looking for a better way to organize their workforce
Jason Fried is one of the co-founders of web application company 37signals, where David Heinemeier Hansson is also a partner. (As of February 2014, 37signals changed its name to Basecamp.) The duo has co-written a number of best-selling business books, including Rework and Getting Real.
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Get the key ideas from
Remote
Office Not Required
- Read in 15 minutes
- Audio & text available
- Contains 9 key ideas
Synopsis
In Remote, you are given an inside look at a new kind of work relationship made possible by modern technology, called “remote work.” The book details companies’ common fears about allowing employees to work remotely and in contrast, outlines the many benefits of remote work. Importantly, it offers practical advice to managers who employ remote workers or are considering introducing remote work options for their company.
Key idea 1 of 9
Allowing employees to work remotely is a great way for companies to keep the best and brightest.
Recent technological developments have cut the strings of workers tied to their cubicles in an office, day in and day out. Employees can now choose remote work, or work done away from an office.
Remote work is immensely popular with both employees and their employers. For employers, hiring remote workers gives them access to a larger talent pool, helping them to find the best person for a certain job.
Even if you don’t live in a major metropolitan area, you can still access world-class talent if you consider hiring people who live elsewhere, allowing them to work from home.
Technology has made it easier to work with someone on the other side of the world. For example, a basic (and free) Skype account allows you to videoconference with co-workers, regardless of where they are.
But what about the employees you already have? Should they work remotely, too?
Because people often switch jobs for personal reasons, offering your best employees the option to work remotely can help keep them on your team.
Even workaholics have a life outside their job – the needs of family, friends or other interests outside work sometimes require an employee to move to a new location.
Rather than simply firing workers who need to move, employers can instead offer the option to work remotely. After all, it’s better to hold on to a good, trained employee than to have to manage a new employee who needs extensive training and time to get up to speed.
Media production company Jellyvision considered remote work options when a skilled employee needed to move with his spouse to another state. The company didn’t want to lose him, so they offered the employee a remote position, and since have opened up the option to all employees.
Key ideas in this title
- Allowing employees to work remotely is a great way for companies to keep the best and brightest.
- Remote work gives employees the freedom to be productive and have a life outside the office.
- Working remotely improves the quality of work done by eliminating common office distractions.
- “Face time” doesn’t equal productivity; neither does desk time. Give remote work a chance!
- Test the waters and take it slow to see whether remote work really works for your company.
- Make sure that effective collaboration is nurtured between employees and with clients.
- Don’t forget there’s a person behind that email address; personal relationships need to be nurtured.
- Some remote workers can get caught in the trap of working too much, and then burn out.
- Final summary
