Telecommuting: Making It Work

Many of us were forced to quickly adapt to working remotely at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and have been making do as best we can. However, not only has it taken longer than initially expected for workplaces to reopen, both employers and employees have discovered that remote work offers benefits that make it desirable in the long term. 
To make telecommuting work as seamless and effective as possible, both employers and employees may want to hone their skills, bulk up their remote working resources, and formalize remote work policies. Some major considerations are: 
  • IT, hardware, software, and security (including Internet access and speed)
  • Home office set-up (including safety and ergonomics)
  • Remote collaboration methods and meeting protocols (both for internal and external collaboration)
  • Remote management and supervision
  • Boundaries/expectations around the workday 
  • Social disconnection, changes in efficiency, video meeting burnout, and other wellness considerations
We recommend employers and employees start by conducting a home office/telework assessment to determine the needs and preferences of your workplace. Then see below for guidance for Employers and Supervisors and Employees, as well as General Resources.

Back to main Work From Home page

Employers and Supervisors

IT, Security, and Privacy

The following resources help you ensure that employees can access a work computer and related software, their electronic files, a phone, and appropriate internet capacity all while maintaining the security and privacy required by the nature of their work:

Many homes in the Upper Valley have a poor or intermittent internet connection and spotty cell phone service, as well as landlines that may not include unlimited long distance. To compensate employees for the frequent phone calls and video meetings that telecommuting may require, supervisors can consider helping employees pay for additional internet bandwidth or phone service. 

Leadership and Management

Leading and managing a remote team — or a team where some employees are remote and others aren’t — requires some new skills and tools. It also requires special attention to employees’ emotional well being and to maintaining an inclusive, bias-free work environment. The following resources address these concerns:

Employees

Working from home can offer workers great benefits, such as saving the time and money formerly spent on commuting. It also provides an opportunity for people with disabilities, illnesses, or dependents at home to participate fully without leaving home.

But working at home can bring some challenges. It can be hard to build time and space parameters between the workday and the rest of life; to build in, throughout the day, physical and mental breaks that might have come about more naturally in the office; to set up a comfortable and functional home workspace; and to stay connected with coworkers when you aren’t seeing them in person.  These resources may help:

General Resources 

Information Resources for COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) For State Employees and Managers

Compiled for Vermont state workers but useful for any Vermont workplace.

Transitioning Your Business to Remote

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility has many great timely resources and webinars and this one is excellent. 

Teleworking Guidance: Best Practices, Sample Policies, and Cybersecurity

University of North Carolina’s Teleworking Guidance has samples of organizational telework policies, telework agreements for employees, and tech tips to maintain security.

How to Collaborate Effectively if your Team is Remote 

If telework is new to you, you may want to spend some extra time considering how you will collaborate with your coworkers now that you are not sharing a physical space. 

 

Studies Find Workers Prefer at Least Part-time Telecommuting

 

Additional resources useful to both employers and employees: 

 

Get Around the Upper Valley

Calendar

November 2020

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  • Community Resilience Through Local Food Security: Claremont/Newport
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  • Upper Valley Everyone Eats Panel Discussion
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Vital Communities Program News

Special Sessions for VT & NH Legislators

Vital Communities is hosting four virtual meetings for legislators in the Upper Valley region, from both New Hampshire and Vermont, connecting them with key voices and resource people on critical issues. Home Availability in Our Region Wed, ...more

Crowdfunding Available for NH Projects

New Hampshire businesses, farmers, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, community initiatives: Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen? Want to grow your organization, our community, and the local economy, but don’t have access to capital? The ...more

Quest to Refresh Challenge!

Do you need to press the reset/refresh button?  Have you spent too much time behind a screen these days? We have a solution! Take our challenge – Quest to Refresh! Complete five or more Quests ...more

Housing Help in New Hampshire!

Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) include shelters, rental assistance for both eviction prevention and rapid re-housing, security deposit loan program, tenant services, supported housing programs and facilities, outreach/coordinated entry, commodity foods distribution, commodity supplemental food program ...more

Why Bank Locally?

Where You Bank Makes a Difference! When you use a bank or credit union rooted in our community, you're making a conscious choice to support our local economy. Local First Champion member Mascoma Bank is a ...more

Have an Idea That Could Use a Lift?

New Hampshire Businesses, Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits, Community Initiatives:  Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen? Want to grow your organization, our community, and the local economy, but don’t have access to capital? The Local Crowd ...more

Study Underscores the Benefits of Buying Local

A study commissioned by Vital Communities finds that, for every dollar they earn, local retailers and restaurants return a share to the local community that’s up to four times as big as that of chain ...more

Fall Guided Quest in Wilder, VT

Join Vital Communities’ Valley Quest Coordinator Sandy Gmur along with Roy Black, lifelong resident of Wilder and a member of the Hartford Historical Society, on a guided exploration of the historic village of Wilder. Did ...more

Quests Along the Cross Rivendell Trail

Do you hope to do a longer hike before the good weather ends?  Do you enjoy a challenge?  We have a way for you to attain these goals!  Two of our Quests incorporate sections of ...more

Weatherize Webinar, August 17

Weatherize Webinar with NHSaves Monday, August 17 at Noon Did Covid-19 stop your 2020 weatherization plans in their tracks? NOW is the right time to jump back on the weatherize band wagon. Lower energy bills and cozy ...more

Pick Your Own is OPEN ♥

Yes...Local as Usual, Safer than Ever.   Pick Your Own strawberry farms opened this past weekend. Get out there and pick the delish! There is nothing like ripe berries. So good. Each berry that comes into season ...more

Berries: Delicious, versatile and in season now!

The Upper Valley berry season typically ranges from late June to early October. In our short, but fruitful season, we can enjoy raspberries and strawberries (although neither are technically real berries), then move into summer ...more

Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makers

Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked the program’s 14th graduating class, as 31 local leaders completed the 10-month program with a ...more

A Letter To Our Upper Valley Schools

I hope this note finds you all healthy and adjusting to the routines of remote learning and teaching. I know my family and I are starting to feel a rhythm in our days and finding ourselves to be ...more

Five Inspiring Stories

On March 18, Vital Communities held a webinar featuring five inspiring stories from energy committees across the Upper Valley. Stories included: Electric charging stations in Bethel An Upper Valley eBike lending library Energy saving window ...more

13th Annual Roundtable - September 15

You're Invited! The 13th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable will be held Tuesday, September 15, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! This annual gathering of local energy volunteers is open to all, whether you serve on an ...more

Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead

Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration. The following are the event’s keynote remarks ...more

Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley

Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the Upper Valley. In 2019, we are pleased to honor ...more

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Staff

Ana Mejia

Climate Projects Coordinator

Transportation, Energy

 802-291-9100 x114

Transportation, Energy

— Ana Mejia, Climate Projects Coordinator

Ana Mejia is the Climate Projects Coordinator at Vital Communities. She is a Southern California native and first arrived to the Upper Valley in 2018. Ana received her Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and her Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, where she wrote her thesis on solar home affordability and energy efficiency programs for low income families. When she is not actively working towards creating sustainable communities, Ana enjoys swimming, cross-country skiing, birding, and trying out new dessert recipes with her KitchenAid mixer.



Bethany Fleishman

Transportation Program Manager

Transportation

 802-291-9100 x111

Transportation

— Bethany Fleishman, Transportation Program Manager

Bethany Fleishman was born at the old Mary Hitchcock hospital in Hanover, N.H., grew up in West Hartford, Vt., and now lives in Hartford Village, where she can see the White River and the trains from her window. She has a biology degree from St. Lawrence University and has worked in public health outreach, as a line cook in San Francisco, a pastry chef in Hanover, and as a member of the Town of Hartford Selectboard. She serves on the board of directors for both Advance Transit and Upper Valley CarShare and is a lifelong bike commuter.