With so many people working remotely, companies have had to embrace “flex time” in a way they never planned. Employees with small children might be getting the majority of their work done at night when the kids are in bed. Others may be working early, hoping to quit early. While still others may be starting late and working late. This creates the possibility for communication at all hours. “Flex time” is starting to feel like “working all the time.” The author offers four concrete ways to tackle this problem: 1) Define “communication hours” 2) Address the problem head on 3) Provide guidelines for communication channels 4) Use technology to your advantage 5) Model the desired behavior.
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Remote work, especially in a world affected by Covid-19, naturally leads to “flex time.” Employees with small children might be getting the majority of their work done at night after the kids are in bed. Others are working early and hoping to quit early. Still others are starting late and working late.
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