Category Archives: Remote Working

How remote work helps the environment



Remote working helps the environment.

If you want to save the planet, why not start at your desk? Below are several reasons why remote working helps the environment based on statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Global Workforce Analytics report (and if you want a handy infographic summing it all up, we have that too).

Remote work saves gas



Remote work uses less energy


Remote work decreases wear and tear



How to optimize productivity in meetings with remote workers



Use video instead of audio-only meetings 


Keep it action-oriented 


Share materials seamlessly 



What can I use webinars for?





Share vital information with remote employees


Position your company as a thought leader


Enhance user training



Fact-checking common misconceptions about remote work

Even just a decade or two ago, having a remote workforce was probably seen as the stuff of science fiction. How could a company have employees all over the world that are not only effectively managed but productive in their work?

Well, times have changed. New technology like unified communications that enables seamless connection and collaboration between far-flung individuals has changed the nature of work and human relationships. Despite these innovations, however, old fashioned and outdated views of remote work remain popular.

Let's bust the myths and fact-check some common misconceptions about remote work:

Misconception #1: Remote workers are not productive – they're too distracted by the TV.

Fact-check: Sure, a house has distractions like Netflix, video games and a fridge full of food, but an office has its collection of time-wasters, too, such as the watercooler, social-butterfly co-workers and that universal foe to focus, the internet. The reality is that many remote employees find they're actually more productive doing work at home. This may sound counterintuitive, but it makes sense – telecommuters are able to buckle down and get work done in the comfort and quiet of their own home office. In fact, a survey by employee engagement firm TINYpulse found that 91 percent of respondents say that they're more productive working remotely. 

Misconception #2: Remote workers are easily forgotten by corporate.

Fact-check: With tech tools like unified communications, video conferencing and hosted voice, employees in-office can efficiently and productively connect with remote workers, ensuring they are valued members of the team. Remote work arrangements have also been found to reduce employee turnover rates, according to a study published by Stanford University. And when it comes to including remote workers in social office events, companies are getting creative, using video conferences to enable telecommuters to "attend" holiday parties and all-hands meetings. 

Misconception #3: Remote workers are unhappy and isolated. 

Fact-check: They may be located hundreds of miles from the office building, but home-based employees are pretty happy with their arrangements. The survey by TINYpulse found that remote employees are happier at work than their in-office counterparts. And the top reason that employees choose to work remotely was that they "enjoy having the freedom of choosing when and where to work." 

It's time that companies embrace the exciting opportunities that remote work arrangements bring to their organizations' productivity as well as their employees' happiness levels. With this attitude, they can go forth and prosper in the 21st century. 

3 surprising ways people are using video conferencing

Goodbye geographical boundaries. Video conferencing enables face-to-face communication regardless of location. Some creative individuals take this basic premise and run with it, coming up with revolutionary new uses for the technology. Their ideas would have been unbelievable and impossible even five years ago – and they inspire us in our belief that the sky's the limit when it comes to video conferencing. 

Below are three surprising ways people are using video conferencing. They're all awesome, hey-I-wish-I-thought-of-that ideas – but the best thing is that any group can get the tools they need to use video communication in cool new ways. 

1. Face time with celebrities 

Many people dream of being able to spend 15 minutes chatting with their favorite celebrities – but video conferencing is now making these dreams a reality, while also raising money for charity. A new slew of apps are enabling high-quality live-streaming sessions with celebrities, such as Chatter for Charity. The startup holds raffles for the chance to win a 5-minute video chat session with a star – Chatter for Charity's celebrity roster includes DJ Khaled, Leonardo DiCaprio and Diddy. The proceeds from the raffle then go toward a charity chosen by the star. It's an innovative way to make it possible for people to spend some one-on-one time with their idols while supporting a good cause. 

2. Holiday office parties for remote workers

More and more companies are building teams of remote workers. While telecommuting can enable greater productivity and quality of life for employees while allowing companies to hire the best talent, no matter where they're located, it also means that remote workers are typically unable to take part in office camaraderie. That's all changing, however, with video conferencing. Some companies, such as Xerox, are hosting "virtual holiday parties" for their remote workforces, as The Atlantic detailed in an article. Employees dressed in festive outfits and then signed into the video conference, sharing stories over drinks and snacks just as if they were in the office. Some companies have taken things even further, having employees sign into a video conference from a restaurant while enjoying a meal paid for by the company dime. 

3. Educational connections

Video conferencing is also being used to expand access to education and enrich learning for students all over the world. For example, students at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School in Alaska work on projects with students in Ghana and Palestine through video conferencing platforms, as THE Journal reported. The technology is also being used to enable students in remote communities or at schools with limited resources to take classes at larger institutions, as well as making possible "virtual field trips" at museums, zoos, government offices and other locations. 

Video conferencing forges connections. Embrace it at your company to unite workers and enhance engagement.