In the post-pandemic digital age, remote work has become an increasingly common reality in business. But as companies have adopted this modality to promote flexibility and improve employee productivity, a distorted image has also emerged around the relationship between remote work and vacation, the "teleplaya."
We are all tired of seeing such images, but it really is surreal.
Imagine the scene: a worker with his laptop, sitting on a beach chair with an umbrella, desperately trying to read the screen under the glare of the sun...
Aside from dealing with sand getting into your keyboard and internet connection problems, there's the risk of ending up with an uneven tan: one half of your body tanned and the other pale from constantly turning to escape the sun.
But, let's be serious, this is what the Real Academia Española (RAE) tells us about remote work: "Work that is performed from a location outside the company using telecommunication networks to meet assigned workloads". This definition makes it clear that remote working is about working, regardless of the physical location from which it is performed, but that the important thing is to cover the assigned workloads.
The common misconception of associating remote work with vacation is due, in large part, to that misleading visual representation often portrayed in the media and related images. The image of a person working at a vacation destination or on the beach can convey the misconception that remote work is an opportunity to combine work and leisure.
However, this image distorts the true essence of teleworking and generates unrealistic expectations.
It is critical to understand that remote working requires similar discipline and commitment as working in a traditional office. While it provides greater flexibility in terms of physical location, it is by no means a period of rest. Remote work involves fulfilling assigned job responsibilities and maintaining productivity in a non-face-to-face environment.
It is essential to banish the misconception that remote working is synonymous with being on the beach with a computer.
Teleworking is work in itself and should be treated as such.
Both employees and employers need to be educated about the importance of establishing clear and realistic boundaries between work and leisure time. Only then can the benefits of remote working, such as flexibility and improved quality of life, be maximized without compromising productivity and occupational health.
Despite erroneous associations, many companies, including us at Servitalent, have implemented remote work as a natural way of working that has shown excellent results in the medium and long term.
These organizations have understood the importance of establishing clear boundaries between work and free time, thus fostering a healthy and productive work environment.