Communications of the ACM
The Challenges of Being a Modern Employee
Credit: Web Worker Daily
Today's 24/7 digital economy is creating a fresh set of challenges for the modern workforce. Thanks to the mass adoption of high-speed communications and advances in hardware and software, the office can be wherever your Internet connection and digital device — whether laptop, smart phone or tablet — is. For Web workers, this presents three primary challenges: knowing when and how to switch between personal time and work; finding new ways to optimize productivity and motivation; and dealing with potential security issues created by a remote workforce.
With 24/7 access to information comes the challenge of switching off. One of the advantages of Web working is the fact that you can work when it's convenient for you, but this doesn't mean you should be working all hours. Long hours aren't healthy: arrange to see people and get out of your home office so that you do not fall into the routine of continually working. Especially if you're a freelancer or entrepreneur, you can get caught up in your own Web worker bubble and forget about the world beyond your home office. Find out what events and meet-ups are in your local area. Whether you want to meet like-minded people, build your network or just go out for a few drinks, sites like Plancast can be a great place to get started.
Web workers also need to deal with the perceived security risk of working remotely. A recent study found that almost nine in 10 IT managers fear the security risks caused by remote working practices. As laptops, smart phones and tablets holding company data venture beyond the office walls, this concern continues to mount. Intel's Billion Dollar Lost Laptop Study revealed that 329 U.S. businesses had collectively lost more than 86,000 laptops, worth $2.1 billion. To keep information on devices safe, there are numerous options, such as hard disk encryption and data backup. Another option, which avoids people needing to carry around USB sticks or notepads, is using the Cloud.
From Web Worker Daily
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