Working Remotely In The Workforce- How Nonprofits Are Accommodating
Working Remotely In The Workforce- How Nonprofits Are Accommodating
By Cara Thornton- Marketing Manager
It's no secret that the pandemic has shifted how companies grant their employees to work. The option for employees to work remotely is a rising trend and I do not see it going anywhere anytime soon, if ever. Even after the pandemic, remote work is proving to benefit both the employer and the employee.
According to Forbes, a majority of nonprofits (69%) indicated that they can accommodate working from home for all staff; a similar majority (69%) said they are now contemplating remote work even after the coronavirus crisis passes. The study also drew a distinction between direct service and non-direct service nonprofits: 60% of direct service and 88% of non-direct service organizations can accommodate remote work for all staff, while 67% of direct service organizations and 71% of non-direct service organizations are considering remote work as a long-term option. (Sixty-three percent of survey respondents said they provide direct service.)
Here at Write On Fundraising, we are a fully remote company. We have such a diverse group of team members from really all over. From London, United Kingdom, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Florida to New York, we have fantastic talent all over the U.S. Read on to learn different perspectives from some Write On Fundraising staff and their roles as fully remote employees.
Randi's Experience
A year ago, I was assisting with a commissioned installation for work. It was also the day I decided to invest in myself and start pursuing the type of career and life that I yearned for — to stop living to work and start working to live. It didn't happen overnight….
I'm officially 6 months in my new position at Write On Fundraising as a Relationship Manager. It was the first time in my professional career that I stepped out of the nonprofits and switched to a consulting role. I also switched to being fully remote.
I can honestly say I've never been happier in my work life. I can take my son to OT on Thursday mornings, take care of abandoned rescue puppies, make lunch every day, pick my kids up after school, enjoy a nice view… and allow my introverted tendencies to have a place in my day-to-day, finally.
Check out Randi's story from her LinkedIn page.
Lindsey's Experience
Lindsey recently shared her experience working remotely via LinkedIn.
As I will be coming up on a year of working remotely, I thought I'd take some time to reflect on the lessons I've learned and what's worked best for me.
Volunteer: I regularly volunteer to stay engaged and a part of my community.
Leave the house: I leave the house once a day for my mental health.
Exercise: speaking of mental health, I take a lot of walks outside (when the weather allows). I also attend fitness classes or gym regularly to break up my day.
Flexibility: Being a parent with a flexible work schedule can add stress (sick days, doctor's appointments, I'm looking at you). Make sure also to take advantage of the times the flexibility is beneficial. This Summer, I enjoyed going outside with my toddler or the farmer's market; we even took a vacation while I worked remotely. I enjoy digging into work at night or during nap time, so it all works out.
Remote work is isolating, so be sure not to shrink your world. We live in a world where we can have minimal human interaction by choice. Pick up groceries, drive through coffee, food delivered at the doorstep, etc. I do my best not to take advantage of too many of these services when I don't have to, only to ensure I don't minimize all my human interactions throughout the day.
Cara's Experience
As a huge animal lover, working remotely has allowed me to help other families in my community by dog-sitting. Having that little, or big, I should say, furry friend next to you napping while checking your emails is so comforting. I can get out, go for walks, and enjoy the nice weather, which is a plus for both the dogs and myself.
I can listen to my music (as loud as I want) and be dressed in comfy clothes while working from the comfort of my couch. I eat healthier. I take full advantage of having a slow morning and cooking a delicious breakfast and dinner. Also, something as simple as getting a load of laundry going after a meeting is so satisfying. It's the little things.
One of the best things about working remotely has allowed me to do is care for my dad. Shortly after I took this remote job, I learned about my dad's cancer diagnosis. I have worked from a hospital right by his bedside countless times. I was able to step up and work side by side with him as he recovered at home while also giving my mom the ability to continue to work and not burn all of her vacation days. We had a great system going and my dad is on the mend.
On a more positive note, I have been able to travel so much more. Working remotely also means working from virtually anywhere. I celebrated my 30th birthday in Italy over Fall break. I have visited friends in different states that I had not had the time to see before.
I frequently catch myself saying that the remote life is the best life! I honestly feel that way. It has been great for my mental health while still being able to connect with such an incredible team virtually.
Jackie’s Experience
Working remotely has given me my life back! No more stressful commutes to and from work. I am no longer rushing home from work, only to be late for my son's baseball game again. No more frantic calls to friends to find someone to pick up my son when he gets out of after-school baseball practice early or needs to be picked up from school because he is feeling sick. No more calls to neighbors to ask them to let my dog out when I get caught up late in the office. Goodbye to feeling hungry all day because I forgot to bring my lunch and didn't have time to run out to grab something. Working remotely allows me to visit my elderly mom during the day or have lunch with her, as opposed to only night or weekend visits because I can't get away from the office. The time I take to get ready in the morning has decreased drastically because, let's face it, I only need to look presentable from the neck up for Zoom calls. My wallet is thicker because I am saving money on gas, morning coffee runs, eating out at lunch, work clothes, and makeup; the list is endless! Working remotely has been a game changer for my family, and my dog, Chewy, has never been happier!
Resources:
Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisstrub/2020/06/11/remotework/?sh=7ddbbdb04224
Randi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randijowilliams/recent-activity/
Lindsey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lpetasek/recent-activity/