Remote work challenges and how to overcome them

20% of the workforce is working remotely, but that doesn’t mean remote work isn’t without its challenges. From communication barriers to time zone differences, distributed teams can struggle to reach their full potential due to common struggles in remote work. 

Fortunately, you can prepare yourself for a remote work environment to stay productive. As global digital jobs are expected to grow by 25%, embracing remote work will help employers and employees alike stay competitive. 

In this article, Remote shares the most common remote work challenges‌ — ‌from isolation to career growth to communication misalignment — ‌and provide practical solutions to help both employees and managers thrive in a remote setting. 

What are the challenges of working remotely?

The benefits of remote work are clear, including a more flexible schedule and increased productivity. But it’s important for employers and employees to be proactive in building a remote-first company culture for a remote setting to work.

Here are some common challenges of working remotely for you to be prepared to create a strong workforce.

1. Poor time management

Effective time management is one of the biggest challenges remote employees face. Working from home requires a higher level of self-discipline — you are responsible for setting your work schedule and staying productive. A disadvantage of scheduling flexibility, however, is a lack of structure and routine, which is something many people need to perform efficiently. 

Predictably, if your work takes longer to complete than it normally would, you may also find yourself working longer hours than normal. Working over time can cut into your personal life and interfere with work-life balance. This can even lead to burnout, which almost 50% of remote team members experience.

2. Isolation

Nearly 94% of remote workers say that they feel lonely at work. Even if you’re not a person who needs a lot of social contact, remote work environments can make you feel isolated. Without meaningful relationships and social interaction with colleagues, remote employees often feel disconnected from their company, which can intensify feelings of isolation.

Isolation can even affect work productivity and lead to mental health issues. Loneliness is emerging as a public health crisis, associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and even cardiovascular health issues. Prolonged loneliness can also lead to burnout and disengagement, affecting both personal well-being and professional productivity.

3. Career advancement

Nearly 37% of remote workers struggle to gain recognition from their managers, and 28% feel that remote work makes it harder to receive promotions. In fact, 90% of worldwide CEOs link in-office work with rewards. Remote employees can feel undervalued if their managers consider physical presence as a sign of dedication and reliability, or favor people who work from an office.

Another hurdle for career growth in remote work is limited access to skill development and mentorship opportunities. Organizations often fall short of integrating effective development policies for remote employees, leaving them at a disadvantage for career growth.

4. Ineffective communication

The shift to virtual communication tools like Slack and Zoom has also changed how teams connect, with roughly 50% of remote workers primarily using messaging apps and only 19% relying on video meetings. While asynchronous communication offers flexibility, it can limit real-time problem-solving, which is important for team cohesion and responsiveness. 

Further, despite digital tools for remote work, 36% of employees report that remote work negatively impacts their collaborative efforts. Time zone differences and reliance on written messages sometimes complicate the decision-making process and cause delays.

How to overcome remote work challenges 

Fortunately, you can take proactive steps to overcome common challenges in remote work. Here are some ways that both employees and employers can do to build a strong remote workforce.

1. Use tools to build structure 

22% of remote employees struggle to unplug after work, often leading to extended work hours. If you are struggling with time management when working remotely, set structured work hours and plan regular breaks to create a boundary between work and personal time. Marking your break times on your digital calendar and using time-tracking apps can help you avoid burnout and focus on priority tasks.

Employers, on the other hand, need to set clear expectations and structured workflows to help their employees stay productive during work hours. Offer your employees the right tools to collaborate and finish their tasks efficiently. You can also provide training on time management strategies and encourage setting realistic daily goals, which helps remote employees maintain a balanced workload without feeling overwhelmed.

2. Make time for social connection

It’s easy to feel isolated or get immersed in work in a remote environment, especially if you’re working on a task by yourself. Make time for regular coffee chats with peers and colleagues, or reach out to other people to brainstorm ways to collaborate. It’s important to remind yourself that staying connected is a way to improve your well-being and productivity.

As an employer, support community-building through online and offline activities. For example, you can schedule team-building activities, offer a co-working budget, and pencil in regular private check-ins with your team members. A mentor or buddy system also helps your employees feel connected, especially for new hires during their onboarding period.

3. Focus on results and impact

If you wish to advance in your career while working remotely, stay visible and focus on delivering high-quality results. For example, actively participate in virtual meetings (when it’s in your timezone, of course), and showcase your accomplishments through monthly or quarterly progress updates to your manager.

40% of remote employees say that their companies do not offer remote career growth opportunities. As a manager, implement regular one-on-one check-ins with team members to discuss career goals and upcoming project opportunities. 

It’s important not to discriminate against your remote employees, so focus on performance results and productivity when considering promotions. This practice reduces the risk of proximity bias, where in-office employees are perceived as more dedicated simply because they are physically present. By promoting people based on results and contributions, companies can create a more equitable environment, which in turn strengthens employee engagement and retention.

4. Choose how to communicate

Establishing clear communication tools and guidelines‌ — ‌like using video calls for complex discussions, messaging apps for quick updates, and email for detailed information‌ — ‌can help prevent misunderstandings and increase clarity. 

Employers can support effective communication by organizing regular team syncs and encouraging a blend of synchronous and asynchronous communication styles. This helps employees stay aligned without feeling overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, employees can be more proactive to overcome remote communication gaps. To make sure team members are on the same page, document discussions, ask clarifying questions, and follow up on conversations to avoid any misinterpretations. Consistently updating team members on progress and challenges can help maintain a sense of transparency, even in an asynchronous setting.

Master the remote work environment

With many employers switching to remote work arrangements, adapting to remote work is relevant for both employers and employees. Knowing how to navigate time management, isolation, career development, and communication barriers are some of the many challenges that people face while working remotely.  

Luckily, with the right tools and strategy, remote teams can not only meet productivity goals but also build a resilient and connected workforce. You can even stay ahead of remote work challenges by learning how to master asynchronous work from Remote’s CEO. To get insight on remote work management from global HR experts, sign up for the masterclass today.

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