Nicole Carver’s Post

Fun Facts About Working From Home 1. Pajamas are the New Office Attire: One of the perks of working from home is the freedom to work in your pajamas all day long! 2. Furry Coworkers: Pets make great coworkers! They're always around to provide emotional support, occasional distraction, and plenty of cuddles during breaks. 3. No Commute, No Problem: Say goodbye to rush hour traffic and long commutes. Working from home means reclaiming those hours spent stuck in traffic for more productive activities or extra sleep. 4. Customizable Workspace: You have the freedom to create a workspace that reflects your personality and boosts productivity. From standing desks to cozy nooks, the options are endless! 5. Flexible Schedule: Working from home allows you to tailor your schedule to fit your lifestyle. Early riser or night owl, you can choose the hours that suit you best. 6. Endless Snack Options: Forget vending machines and office cafeterias. Your kitchen is just a few steps away, offering an endless supply of snacks to fuel your workday. 7. No Office Politics: Bid farewell to office politics and water cooler gossip. Working from home means focusing solely on your work without distractions from office drama. 8. Global Collaboration: Technology makes it easy to collaborate with colleagues and clients from around the world. Distance is no longer a barrier to effective communication and teamwork. 9. Increased Productivity: Many find that they're more productive when working from home due to fewer interruptions, quieter surroundings, and the ability to focus without office distractions. 10. Work-Life Integration: Working from home blurs the lines between work and personal life, allowing for seamless integration of both. You can take care of household chores, spend time with family, and pursue personal interests without sacrificing productivity. There you have it, our top fun facts about working from home and why you should consider it! Share and follow us for more. #workfromhome #freelancinglife #funfact101

How many different places do you work? And where do you feel most productive? With a plethora of options available to the working population, how do you choose? Personally, I find different workspaces quite stimulating. For example, sometimes I’ll work from a car or coffee shop, particularly if I’m out and about meeting a client. Other times I’ll work from my home or garden office. I’ve even been known to send an email from a ski lift whilst on holiday! The first question to ask, of course, is what you need. Do you need somewhere with few distractions, to aid focus? Perhaps somewhere quiet, so you can take calls? Or the opposite, somewhere with a background hum of activity to motivate you? Take some time to consider what environment helps you get into work mode and also whether your needs vary, for example, do you need different conditions for deep work vs more low-effort admin work? Check out my latest blog for a round up of the pros and cons of a few of the most common options: https://buff.ly/3xlMjoQ #productivity

We've heard much about the demise of full-time office-based jobs as workers demand more flexibility after the pandemic. 🏢➡️🏡 But have you considered the fact that those "fun activities" of a "cool" office culture (think ping pong 🏓, office happy hour 🍻, etc.) have never been experienced by younger employees who may only have entered the workforce during the pandemic itself? And their take on them could be quite different! 🤔 In this new office culture, it's important to differentiate between a perk and a benefit. Perks are great, but they should be backed up with tangible benefits. 🎁✅ If you'd like expert support and guidance around improving your company culture, call the team at Corinthian. 📞👥 #HappyEmployee #Employer #Benefits

As several companies reintroduce in-office working, it prompted me to reflect on why I value a hybrid working policy…     Perks of working from home:  🧊 Icing injuries picked up from Sunday football 💤 Longer morning gym session (realistically, an extra hour in bed) 💰 Not living near St Nick’s food market is a saving scheme in itself  🧺 Doing my washing while my housemates are out  🚗 I have a bit of spare time to complete things I’ve been putting off e.g. car insurance    Pains of working from home:  🧁 Snacks talk to me from the fridge, the cupboard and are even loud enough to be heard from upstairs  🖥️ Poor office setup, meaning my slouch game is hella strong ☕️ No matter how many times I’ve tried to make a latte at home, it’s just not the same as the office coffee  🫶 Can easily get stuck in a rut, miss out on office chat and socials  💧Not sure if anyone else finds this but I drink way less water, meaning I’m prone to headaches?!    We all have our own personal perks and pains of WFH. As companies reconsider in-office working, it’s crucial to reflect on the value of having options⚖️   What are your perks and pains of working from home?    #hybridworking #employeebenefits #worklifebalance 

Ways to get your team back into the office: 💰 Pay them more. On average, flexible working is worth 10-15% of salary. 🤗 Create "moments that matter". There's nothing worse than going into the office to find that you're the only one of your team there. Office visits should have a benefit to the individual as well as the company. 🪴 Make your office a nice place to spend time. Break-out spaces, plants, fancy decor, good snacks, easy hybrid meetings... all of these make office visits a nice experience. 🎉 Prioritise and facilitate in-person connection. Sitting in the same room, all on different calls is frustrating. 🪪 Cover commuting costs. Have you seen the cost of train tickets lately? ⏰ Bring in flexible hours. This means your team aren't commuting during the rush hour cram and use quiet train time as work time. 🤝 Offer genuine office perks. Not 'free tea and coffee', but free lunches, happy hours, a swanky gym membership, or wellness classes and benefits. Being pro flexible working doesn't mean being anti-office. Flexa #FlexibleWorking #Commuting #FlexibleHours

As organisations continue to grapple with the complexities of post-pandemic work arrangements, many face a significant dilemma: whether to mandate specific in-office days or allow true flexibility. This issue becomes even more pronounced when companies subtly criticise employees who choose remote work, or in some cases limit individuals career progression over a colleague that is more "visible", despite not having explicit office mandates. It makes sense to have clear policies and respect for choice. For me, an office day is worthwhile when it fosters in-person connections, planned team updates (looking forward to yours tomorrow Daniel Worrall) and brainstorming sessions, with spontaneous knowledge sharing from impromptu chats. Without these elements, I find I can be more focused and productive working from home. What are you thoughts on this? #flexibleworking #GDAW #gooddayatwork

⁉ To RTO or not to RTO? Not a day goes by without encountering a debate about Return-To-Office mandates. I certainly heard it this week at #SHRM24. As a working mom, I understand the challenges. Returning to the workplace means sacrificing time and flexibility, which impacts my ability to juggle responsibilities at work and home - while also working in a little self-care! 💡 Smart leaders are investing in practical amenities to ease the demands of on-site work. This is where Best Upon Request makes the difference! Our employee concierges help alleviate time demands for employees, regardless of their work location, and provide especially valuable support for on-site employees. The result? Happier, more engaged employees. More on the blog! 👇👇 #RTO #returntooffice #humanresources #HR #Benefits #SHRM24 #worklifebalance #workingparents #retention #recruitment

🌸 Embracing the Work-From-Home Garden Vibes 🌼 Just a little peek into the work-from-home setup! 🌿 Who says you can't bring a little bit of the outdoors inside? Working surrounded by flowers and greenery definitely adds a touch of inspiration to the day. 🌺Creating a comfortable yet inspiring remote environment has been key for me in staying motivated and productive. It's amazing how much your surroundings can influence your mindset and work ethic. Plus, getting up and getting dressed like heading to the office helps kickstart the day on the right foot. 🌟While the temptation to stay in pajamas all day is real, adopting an office attitude even at home can make a world of difference. A comfortable workspace combined with a professional mindset not only boosts productivity but also enhances overall wellbeing. 🏡 💼So, here's to finding that perfect balance between comfort and productivity, whether working from a home office or your very own garden oasis! 🌸 #WorkFromHome #Productivity #EmployeeWellbeing #OfficeAttitude

Mandatory office days? The latest workplace trend is Coffee Badging ☕️ A friend shared that her colleagues at a large corporation are turning mandatory office days into extended coffee breaks. She said it's hard to focus on deep work with so many distractions at the office. This new habit is called: Coffee Badging. Coffee Badging is when workers show up to the office just long enough to grab a cup of coffee and “earn” an imaginary badge for their attendance, only to head back home to do their actual work. 58% of hybrid workers are participating in coffee badging. In my eyes, this highlights a disconnect between what employees value and the policies companies enforce. Employees are driven to use their time productively, achieving their goals. In our team, we've decided to make the most of our office time: We have collaborative in-person meetings We share insight and best practices We run strategic discussions and workshops We connect on a personal level during coffee breaks and lunch Instead of enforcing rigid attendance, we should create environments where employees feel valued and engaged. After all, a cup of coffee can be more than just a drink; it can be a catalyst for meaningful connections and productivity. What are your habits on mandatory office days?

A hybrid balance of work from home and work at the office may be the answer... Working at the office provides the opportunity for employees to collaborate with colleagues, enhance their professional network, and provide routine and structure around their work hours. Working from home allows employees to benefit from the features mentioned in this article such as doing laundry and using their own bathroom. A hybrid work environment can provide the benefits of both, and happy employees make for more productive employees and better business outcomes.