In the era of remote work, the line between “home office” and “home” blurs more than ever. A space dedicated to working from home can rapidly outgrow a desk and device screen — and, at that point, an entire living space is seemingly game for work.
Work gradually seeping into life has become an unwelcome reality for many remote professionals. In 2021, a NordVPN Teams study found that those who switched to remote arrangements saw their workdays increase by an average of two-and-a-half hours.
Meanwhile, according to a 2022 Gallup survey, 83 percent of Americans keep their smartphones on them at all waking hours. Sixty-four percent check their phones as soon as they wake up.
Many have grown disillusioned by this imbalance in their work lives, but it doesn’t have to be that way. For employees who feel tied to their virtual workplace, sometimes a simple reassurance that the incoming off-the-clock Slack messages and emails can wait is enough to resolve the healthy boundary between online and offline.
To address a broader problem that accompanies remote work arrangements, the solution needs to come from the top down, and expectation-setting is a must.
“I empower my team by letting them know that saying ‘no’ is okay. We don't say no outright — we open the door for support at another time that is mutually agreed,” said Senior Manager of Claims Operations Ryan Boyce, who works at Healthcare Management Administrators.
“We all have priorities and at times they are competing, and we have to be able to remain focused while supporting one another because, at the end of the day, we have a common goal: winning together.”
Below, Boyce shares how he protects remote team members’ time and the benefits they’ve gained by providing safeguards in their work-life balance.
Healthcare Management Administrators leverages a data-driven approach to help employers in the Pacific Northwest identify customized, cost-effective healthcare plans.
When it comes to leading a remote team, what are some of your best practices for ensuring you protect your team members’ time?
As a leader of a remote team, it is important to protect your team members’ time and this is achieved with a combination of best practices. It is key that my team feels connected with their peers and with myself, and I find that efficient daily huddles help to keep everyone informed and aligned. I highly encourage the use of chat tools or a quick call in place of emails to drive quick resolution and communication. I ensure that my team knows that I am available to them throughout the day and chat is a great way to support them in real-time.
Meetings can be a significant time commitment during a week and having clear agendas and appropriate attendees is important. I ask my team to evaluate their contributions in meetings and the value delivered to ensure we have the right attendance and support.
It is key that my team feels connected with their peers and with myself, and I find that efficient daily huddles help to keep everyone informed and aligned.”
What role does technology play in helping you protect your team members’ time?
Technology is important for the team as it enables efficient huddles and sets clear priorities day to day. We utilize a few different tools to manage work and they allow our teams to quickly and efficiently monitor work queues and visualize data while providing optics for leaders. We also utilize technology by way of our recognition program which gives all team members the ability to recognize one another across the organization and encourage these shout-outs and kudos for recognition each week.
What benefits have you seen by taking a thoughtful approach to protecting team members’ time?
There are many benefits for the team when we as leaders show them support by protecting their time. Everyone wants to know they have support from their leader and that they are mindful of their time and their daily work experience. When we as leaders set clear realistic expectations as well as boundaries our team knows they can work with a level of predictability.
I have found that when team members are clear on our direction and have alignment on our goals and expectations, they are committed to one another and the organization. This all promotes work-life balance, commitment and willingness to go the extra mile, understanding and compassion for one another, and belief in our culture.
