The Scary Truth About the Temporary W.F.H. Office
While certain sectors of the American economy are striving towards the initial stages of reopening in various phases (due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic), most of those still working from home are realizing their situation might not be as “temporary” as they originally thought. With many employees settling in for the WFH long haul -- told to stay home until at least 2021, or even as a now permanent remote worker (like Microsoft announced this week) -- either way the makeshift, temporary home office is likely starting to look more TRICK than TREAT.
Continuing to work from your bed or a corner of the dining table is unlikely to be very productive, or feel very professional in the long term. But what should you do if you don’t have an extra room for a proper home office, or even an obvious space for a desk? Sometimes it’s just about carving out a space within a space.
On October 14th, 2020 Federal Brace participated in the weekly Kitchen & Bath Industry Design Discussion. A particular question segment of interest from the chat: “As most people continue to work from home, how have you seen home offices and workstations shift from temporary to a more efficient, permanent setup? Answers of interest included:
2020 Spaces (@2020spaces on twitter) “Many homeowners are either implementing or considering a more permanent home office setup, either by converting spare rooms, closet space, or integrating a workspace into more open areas of the house. #KBtribechat”
Lamps Plus (@LampsPlus on twitter) “We'll be working from home for a while so we're seeing home office upgrades. Desk lamps and designing video conference backgrounds (see also @ratemyskyperoom) are more important than ever. Comfortable office chairs and desks are central to home office. #KBtribechat”
Aston (@AstonBath on twitter) “There's a lot to love about home office #design - especially with the 'new normal' of #workingfromhome. People have invested in their #lighting & #decor, making their work area just as comfortable and posh as any room in their home.”
My Fix It Up Life (@MyFixItUpLife on twitter) “Just one wall of glam is needed for video calls. The rest is subject to pandemic rules of ‘acceptable’ unless WFM trends change or virtual learning ends. #kbtribechat”
As most employees (and students!) went home in March 2020 thinking they’d be away from the office (or school) for a few weeks, they did their best to make it work with whatever WFH set-up options they had. Now that this arrangement is indefinitely ongoing, what kind of equipment do you need to make it work for you and your family?
First, think about your location. Do you currently have the space to work well from home? If you don’t have a separate home office, can you create a dedicated space to work from your kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc? Do you need dual desk areas for work needs vs. virtual school needs? After you figure out where you see yourself working in the immediate future, you can turn your attention toward the equipment you’ll need to do your best work. If you see yourself setting up a new home office entirely or simply a new home office area, think about what other items you’ll need to be your most productive, such as an ergonomic chair and mat, printer, fax machine, mobile hotspot, VPN, paper shredder, etc. Maybe your employer is even offering a stipend for workers in need of home office improvements?
Rely on Federal Brace to help take your workspace from frightening to fantastic! Progress productivity permanently with our exclusively Made in the USA product line including our new Floating Corner Desk Bracket System - the small footprint workspace foundation with style to spare. Add our Floating Shelf Systems for clean and accessible organization in a corner option, low profile option, or classic option - finished BOOtifully in your choice of stainless steel, coffee, white, copper, or grey. Check out all the office upgrades and must-haves at www.FederalBrace.com or call toll-free (877) 353-8899, 8:30AM - 5 PM EST for additional ideas & design assistance.
