This book looks at remote working from a number of angles, namely some of the issues facing managers who employ remote workers, and also from the position of the remote or home‐based workers themselves. As such, the text is written by two authors who have experience of home working, as freelance workers, one as a business trainer and the other as a consultant. The introduction highlights that, resulting from research for the book, evidence soon showed that for those in a conventional employer/employee relationship the “ideal” that for some may appear attractive presents many challenges and inherent problems for others. The authors point out that whilst remote working can work very successfully for all involved, it needs careful thought and potential investment in new or different skills, business processes and equipment. Additionally, the remote worker may need managerial and operational support which is over and above that of a traditional or on‐site employee. As a health warning for those working from a remote base, the authors point out that one of the main problems is that of tending to work too much rather than too little. A home or remote worker for the purposes of this text is anyone who is based at home and using it as the main place of work for more than two days per week.
In considering this book for review, I was aware that an increasing number of people involved in training, learning and development consultancy are now working outside organizations rather than in them, sometimes as remote workers themselves. The book may therefore present some useful approaches either for them as individuals or for the learning populations that they serve.
The main text consists of 11 chapters and is essentially subdivided into three parts. The first of these (chapters 1‐3) considers the context, concepts, scope and implementation of remote working, and sets the scene for the reader.
The second part (chapters 4‐7) explores the general management skills that anyone managing remote workers will require and how managers can approach feedback to, appraisal and control of such staff. Issues such as trust, suitability of employees for remote working, communication, motivation, creating a sense of belonging, and development are all dealt with very practically. Identification of key points, case studies and success stories help the text to flow, posing questions and providing answers for the reader. Part two also examines logistics including patterns of work, meetings, transport, policies and procedures, induction and cost considerations as well as technology. The chapter on technology looks very practically at the technology which will be needed for remote workers to communicate with their organization, their client base and vice versa. Key headings include – information technology, communications, training, technical support and operating procedures. The summary to this chapter includes some useful questions to check that everything that might be needed is in place.
Part three (chapters 8‐11) starts by looking at the personal skills needed by the remote worker. Whilst many of the skills required are exactly the same as those for office‐based employees, the authors point out that those of particular importance are time management (to which a large section of this chapter is devoted), self‐ organization, self‐motivation, communication and problem solving and decision making. Key considerations regarding the setting up of a home office, space requirements, working environment, home conversions, insurance, health and safety and security are dealt with very pragmatically, with advantages and disadvantages being identified. Allied to the summary chapter on risk management the reader is left in no doubt about the potential implications of this as compared to traditional forms of practice. The penultimate chapter considers the more personal implications as they may affect the children, partners and spouses and significant others (including pets) of remote workers.
Words that would describe this book are comprehensive, well structured, realistic and above all, very practical. As an employer considering implementation or as an individual thinking about working remotely and possibly trying to achieve a better work/life balance, the powers, perils and pitfalls are all available to the reader in full measure. The text is very simple in approach – outline an area for exploration, detail the pros and cons, identify case studies and best practice and summarise key learning points. The reader can gain much by dipping in and out of the text, and the writing style of the authors and structure of the book are very amenable to encouraging this. Theory (if there is very much on the topic area currently) is noticeable by its absence.
This book is placed firmly in the “how to” genre in that it both poses and answers questions for the reader. As a text which has obviously been researched in terms of identifying current best practice the book has many merits. However I would guess that the main challenge for a book of this nature in the medium term would be that technology in particular can change so rapidly as to render relevant comment on today’s “knowns” obsolete over a very short timescale. The quality that a potential reader may find from the book is that it anticipates possible questions and, in suggesting approaches and answers, creatively provokes further thought in the reader’s mind.
