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Copia de Coronavirus Cancellations: How to successfully work from home while parenting
Coronavirus
How to successfully work
from home while parenting
Prezi presentation adapted from content by Amanda Augustine; original available at: https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/coronavirus-how-to-work-from-home-while-parenting
Overview
How to tackle this new balancing act
At least 124,000 U.S. schools have been closed in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak, according to Education Week.
At the same time, many employers have instituted company-wide work from home policies to slow the spread of the virus.
Overview
Concern
Concern for working parents
Concern
While both of these efforts aim to flatten
the curve, they create another major concern for working parents across the country:
How do you work remotely — and productively, at that — while also parenting effectively?
Here are some tips to help families navigate this uncharted territory.
Communication
Be sure to communicate this development with your manager and HR department right away.
Communication is key
Communication
If you're working from home and there is a school closure in your area, it's important to keep an open line of communication with your employer and your family.
Set Expectations
Have a conversation with your boss
Depending on your children's age and needs, it may be necessary to change your working hours to reflect your current availability.
Have a frank conversation with your boss to understand their expectations while you work from home.
Availability
Share the arrangement with your team
Availability
Once you've both agreed on an arrangement, be sure to share your availability with your team, reschedule meetings if necessary, and block off time when you plan to be offline.
Family
Talk to your family
It's equally important to have a conversation with your family members about your new remote work schedule.
This conversation creates awareness and sets scheduling expectations for children so they know when mom or dad can play, and when they are working from home and should not be disturbed (unless there's an emergency).
Family
Structure
Structure
Create a new structure
Children of all ages thrive on structure, and in these uncertain times, it's never been more important to create a structure for both you and your family.
Schedule
Meal Times
Quiet Time
Schedule
Create a schedule
Based on your child care coverage and job demands, create a schedule for you and your children.
Playtime
Office Hours
Homework
Online Schooling
Routine
Create a routine and standardize your days
While this will certainly be a work in progress, the more you can standardize your days, the easier it will be to keep your children safe and happy and allow you to be productive.
Plan
Organize and plan a schedule with your partner
Plan
If both you and your partner are working remotely, build the family schedule with each other's workloads in mind so that one of you can take a break and reconnect with your kids while the other can spend some uninterrupted time cranking through the to-do list.
Alternative Times
Test unconventional hours
Are you an early riser or a night owl?
Now's the time to take advantage of these natural preferences, especially if you don't have the luxury of child care coverage during normal business hours.
Alternative Times
Mornings
Try getting up at the same time each morning and spend your previously dedicated commuting time in your home office while your children are still asleep.
Mornings
Manage your morning hours
Morning time management works well if you're accustomed to commuting long distances to work.
Evenings
Dedicate the evening for some work
Evenings
If you're a night owl, you may handle the essential tasks that require collaboration with your colleagues during a chunk of your regular workday but dedicate the evenings to handling the bulk of your responsibilities when things are quieter.
Meetings
Reevaluate your meetings
Meetings
Thanks to technology, it's easier than ever to conduct business via smartphone or laptop.
However, it's challenging to participate in a video or phone conference when you have a toddler screaming in the background.
Priorities
Determine the priorities
Priorities
Consider this new work from home (WFH) situation an opportunity to determine which meetings truly need to take place and what you can handle via email or a short Slack exchange.
Blocking Time
Block off dedicated time periods for meetings
Blocking
Time
For communication that must occur via phone or video conference, try to block off one time period a day — when you have some childcare coverage — where you can handle all of your calls or video conferences, one after another.
Time Zone
Take advantage of different time zones
Time
Zone
If your meeting attendees work in a different time zone, take advantage of this fact by scheduling your calls early in the morning or later in the evening when your children are sleeping.
Nap Times
Nap
Times
Utilize your child’s scheduled nap times for short calls and meetings.
Support System
Enlist your village
The whole point of working from home and closing schools during this pandemic is to limit your interaction with others and contain the virus.
Support System
However, if you have to get certain work tasks done and you don't have anyone at home who can help watch the children, you may need to enlist the support of your nearest “villagers.”
Alternative Care
Propose watching one another's children while the other completes essential work tasks in the middle of the day.
Is the teenage neighborhood babysitter available to come over for a couple of hours? Is there another working parent who lives nearby in a similar situation?
Alternative Care
Ideas
Stock up on supplies and activity ideas
If your children are of school age, their teachers may send home schoolwork or other project suggestions to help you keep them busy and learning.
However, you'll want to have a few activities in your back pocket to keep your children occupied while you try to manage your work inbox.
Older Kids
Activities for older children
Older
Kids
For older children, get a head start on spring cleaning and create a list of household chores they can complete to earn more screen time or other rewards.
This type of engagement works threefold: It keeps children engaged, it allows you to get your work done, and it helps rid the home of germs and clutter.
Younger Kids
Activities for younger children
Younger
Kids
For younger children, hit up Pinterest for indoor games and crafts inspiration and then stock up on supplies via Amazon or other online delivery services so you're prepared to keep everyone busy.
Snacks
Have snacks and movies
When in doubt, have snacks and movies at the ready when you need a little quiet time.