Top Tips for Mobility in the Workplace

By: Patricia Roehling

For employees:

• Have clearly defined times during which work life does not intrude into family life

• Arrange your remote office so that you are not vulnerable to outside distractions during your identified work hours

• Set up regular times to connect with managers and co-workers, either in the home or the office, or via phone or Microsoft Windows Live Messenger

• Check in regularly with your supervisor and keep your employer up-to-date about the work you have produced

• Have reliable, high-speed connections to the Internet, preferably using virtual private networking (VPN) to connect to company servers more securely

• Consider using a Windows Mobile-powered Smartphone, which allows you easy access to all of your critical business information while away from your home or office PC

For employers:

• Clearly define roles and functions, and set guidelines for regular communication between flex workers and supervisors

• Have clear expectations around starting and ending times

• Require new employees to work from the office initially so that managers and coworkers can get to know and trust each other and so that the employee can learn about the company culture

• Clearly identify the expected work outcomes and evaluation criteria