Joys and sorrows of launching a remote work career

As a student I had a summer job as a journalist for a local newspaper. Back then I sat at the newspaper's offices and meeting people face to face was a significant part of my work. I started my actual career at a time when many professional experts are working in their own homes. Starting a new job from one's own desk feels both pleasantly safe and terribly frightening. Will I learn all that I need to learn? What if I do not get to know my new workmates? How do I know if I am doing the right things during my workday? Can I constantly bother my colleagues with my questions if their Outlook calendars are full?

I cannot know for sure what starting work at the office would have been like, but I think that getting to know my colleagues would definitely have gone more smoothly face to face than through separate Teams meetings. Uncertainty of what to do feels difficult, at least at the start. The breaks would certainly also be more pleasant and more refreshing if it were possible to speak with workmates over a cup of coffee instead of browsing through social media feed. Starting a new job online requires plenty of personal initiative. Nobody is overseeing you, and from the first day the tasks and organising them must be handled independently. Sometimes it feels quite detached never to have seen one's workmates.

Although the work has been remote work, I have nevertheless received help and encouragement from my colleagues. I have been told that it is always possible to send messages, despite the full calendars. Even stupid questions have been answered helpfully. Chatting freely is possible at the beginnings and ends of work meetings. It is always possible to learn something new about one's workmates and about the working methods of the community.

The feeling and atmosphere of a good working community is also discernible through electronic channels. Coffee breaks and afterwork activities are possible on Teams. When convening for these less formal events there is plenty of conversation, and shared interests bring people together. I find it very important that our Teams team has a team of its own for free time where we discuss many kinds of topics. It sounds like a minor detail, but it says much about the culture of work. Although people work hard and show professional skill, it is also possible to laugh together and occasionally to go off-topic. This welds people together, and work goes more smoothly.

When cooperation in a work community functions well, it can be seen both at the office or in remote work. When people want to work together and to help colleagues, it certainly can be done through Teams. Even though it is obvious from the way everyone is speaking that they miss meeting each other face-to-face, it is also possible to build and maintain a sense of community remotely. And at the same time, it is quite possible for new employee to become part of the working community.

Krista Herranen
TE-digi project, internal and external communications 
KEHA Centre