“The more you have on your plate, the more you can actually achieve.” – Marissa, A Designer at Klingit
At the beginning of 2020, only a mere fraction of people worked from home (3.4%, to be precise). Interestingly, the concept of remote work had been well in motion for many years, but only a handful of organisations seemed to leverage its usefulness. Come COVID-19 pandemic, and everyone – including the sceptics – was forced to switch to virtual operations amidst the lockdowns. Organisations that went ahead with this model started to reap its benefits. Many professionals who never even knew of this concept before were able to experience and enjoy it, particularly workers who were also parents.
Many people may find it hard to believe, but more than 60% of work-from-home parents claimed that working within the premises of their home where they could juggle other responsibilities more easily made them more productive at work. How is that possible? Perhaps, it’s because they saved time and energy that would have otherwise been spent on commuting to work, getting ready for going to the office and making arrangements for parental or domestic duties, among other tasks associated with going out to work. This helped them focus better on their personal and professional lives, enabling them to do better at both. Also, working at home also seemed to save energy because it involved fewer distractions such as long meetings, office gossip, problems with the work environment or culture, and so on. Remotely working parents therefore found that it often took lesser time and effort to get work done when working at home. It also provided them with something that is of utmost importance when they were simultaneously pressurised by office work and parental duties – flexibility.
First-time mom Marissa has had a similar experience. She’s a designer at Klingit, a Stockholm-based creative tech company. Things weren’t easy for her during the pandemic as she was looking for a new job in that situation. While she wanted to put her skills to use along with being a full-time parent, it seemed daunting to take on two full-time duties at one time. “When I first applied to be a designer at Klingit, I did not expect much of it. Most people know what a time-consuming job and big responsibility being a mom is. As much as I wanted to work, it was a great challenge to maintain a job while caring for a baby,” says Marissa.
However, her experience at Klingit felt like a dream come true. The company carries out its entire operations virtually, allowing its workers to work easily from the comfort of their homes. Marissa feels that this business model is very productive as the flexibility it allows helps bring out the best in the workers. Furthermore, it allows them the opportunity to be with their loved ones while working, which means that they don’t have to miss out on any personal responsibilities or important life moments due to being physically absent because of work. This was game-changing for Marissa as it allowed her to be with her baby while doing what she loved. Mom guilt is a real hurdle for working mothers, and working remotely was a sure-fire way to experience less of it.
Although the flexibility really helped parents like Marissa out, working from home in the presence of children and other responsibilities came with its own set of challenges. Distractions were not entirely absent at home and were of a more personal type than those experienced at the office. For instance, if your child is in the mood to throw a tantrum, they would not hold back if you tell them you have an important online meeting to attend. When asked about how she dealt with such challenges, Marissa suggested that discipline and time management were key. Regardless of how hard it could become to follow a set routine at home, particularly with a tiny baby that seemed to follow her own clock, she made it a point to plan out each day and stick to it to the best of her abilities. She feels this helped her make the most of the opportunity that she is so grateful for.
The plus side of the remote work arrangement is the positive impact on a person’s lifestyle and emotional health. Using the time saved, one can allow themselves to exercise more or pick up activities with their loved ones, leading to better mental and physical health outcomes. Also, working spouses may often find it hard to make time for each other because they have to use their non-working hours for their children or household tasks. Having more time to themselves, remotely working parents can have more control over their lives and spend quality time with each other to reconnect and find ways to bring more joy into the household. The benefits of remote work also include being able to strike a better work-life balance and avoiding burnout, which may force a person to give up work. Marissa feels this is of utmost importance because, for most people, both work and family are important, and they shouldn’t have to choose between the two. “I love my work as much as I love being able to have a family, and I would not want to give up any one of them,” she says.
Organisations like Klingit aim to provide their workers with precisely this – the freedom to work and enjoy personal life simultaneously. Unfortunately, many employers make decisions based on their proximity bias – the belief that employees will only be productive when they are physically present in the office where their bosses can see them working. This is a form of micromanagement and implies that only working in an office cubicle would deliver results. However, business owners like Klingit have experienced great results with a remote workforce. Not only do they get the work done, but they also come across as great places to work at. Moreover, a company like Klingit seems to be an ideal workplace because it cares for its employees, treats them like humans, and understands their circumstances.
Marissa highlights that the management of Klingit is very accommodating when it comes to family. However, she knows that she must pull her weight to get the job done. She feels deeply grateful for the opportunity provided to her by the management and wishes to honour it. For her, it’s a chance to be an inspiration for not only other working mothers but also for her child. This is what a supportive management can achieve – a culture that motivates the employees to do their absolute best, not just at work but in also other spheres of life. Moreover, it also encourages them to become loyal to their organisation because they are convinced it cares about them. Marissa thinks that Klingit is one of those few organisations where the leadership helps the employees become better by continuously encouraging them. For this reason, she and other working parents are thrilled to be a part of it. This is a great lesson in people management for organisations looking to expand as a motivated, satisfied and strong workforce is the main prerequisite for business growth and success.
