A Fully Remote Team of Engineers & Concerns About Work-Life Balance?
As Chill-Chain’s technology evolves, so does the team behind it. The success of Chill-Chain’s marketplace is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our software engineers.
However, what tends to draw attention is that the team achieves all of this, from their own homes. Our fully-remote team currently works collaboratively across six different countries.
In contrast with hybrid working, which many now favour as the best of both worlds, an exclusive work-from-home approach can often be criticised.
Some critics argue that remote employees are not as motivated, that there is less team collaboration, and that it blurs the lines between work and home life. But is that actually true?
Answering our questions today will be some of our senior software engineers, Achraf, Erman, Tahla and Tom.
Do you think it is hard to stay motivated when you’re working remotely as opposed to when you’ve worked in an office setting?
“Actually, it is easy to stay motivated, I have a dedicated and personalised workspace in my house which allows me to be productive during the day. Remote work also eliminates the distractions and interruptions that can occur in a traditional office setting, allowing me to manage my workload better”.
“There is the flexibility and freedom to work anywhere - you are not confined each day to one type of working situation, but instead, you can use the work set-up that will allow you to perform the best and be motivated on that particular day, be it a coffee shop, a co-working space or a business centre, for example”.
“I think you just need to have responsible and serious employees on your team, who don’t take working from home for granted - it will quickly come to light if they do. Being fully remote means having the freedom to work anywhere and everywhere, but not the freedom to be slack and unproductive”.
“Being autistic, I find it quite difficult to go into an office every day, along with all the social difficulties that brings, so having the ability to work remotely has really benefited my career”
How do you think your remote role has impacted your work/life balance as opposed to your office-based roles in the past?
“My overall work-life balance has really improved and having a remote role has allowed me to lead a better lifestyle. I’ve removed the stress that came with commuting to an office and have gained back significantly more time in my day-to-day life.
Being at home also makes things like lunch more convenient and healthy, removing the stress of having to find something near the office, or spend more time preparing food the night before”.
“I have the ability to work from everywhere and without having to relocate to a new city in order to get the job I want. This adds to my work-life balance incredibly. I am able to be near family and friends when needed, which is a real positive”.
Do you find it hard to switch off after work because you are working from home?
“I believe this is more based on company and culture than it is a fact of working from home. I have been fortunate to work from home in previous roles and was distance learning during my degree - so I’m used to ‘switching off’ after work.
I have struggled though in past roles - as they set the expectation or requirement to always be contactable and that was tougher on my work-life balance. I am fortunate now to work in this role where everyone is appreciative of others' time, both inside and outside the workplace”.
Has remote working had an impact on team collaboration?
“I don’t feel remote working has made a difference in how much I collaborate with my team, just in the way we do it. There are a lot of digital tools and workflow technologies nowadays that make it easy to share work.
I think the way we work and collaborate makes us more productive - I can set up my day easier to include uninterrupted focus time and then time for collaboration or sharing. In my experience, the lines in the office are more blurred, meaning at times it can be less productive”.
Some have said working remotely can be lonely, do you agree?
“I have a good relationship with my colleagues, the way we communicate is just adapted to our style of work and we are all in the same position so there are no issues. We’ve found alternative ways to catch up that replace the traditional quick chat at the kettle”.
“As much as I enjoy working remotely, I do miss face-to-face contact sometimes, but my aim this year is to find ways around that - like making a trip to the London office to meet everyone, not through a screen!”
“I do think it improves my social life outside of work. I'm not exhausted after hours of commuting or getting home late. I have more energy and time to see friends and family outside the workplace”.
In conclusion…
Is remote working right for everyone? It really depends on the individual and the type of work they do. But for Chill-Chain's software engineering team, it has been a positive experience, providing increased flexibility and better work-life balance. Despite being spread across different countries, our engineers work seamlessly together to deliver high-quality results, every time.
