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: 

 

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Vital Communities Program News

Keynote Speech, Leadership Upper Valley Graduation, June 9, 2021,

The following speech was delivered by Monique Priestley, Chair, Vital Communities Board of Directors, at the Leadership Upper Valley Graduation on June 9, 2021, at the  Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, VT. Hi, everyone! ...more

Hats Off to Our Four Departing Board Members

An earlier version of this post had an incorrect title for Sally Kraft. At its May 20 meeting, the Vital Communities Board of Directors bid farewell to Board of Directors members Bill Geraghty, Sally Kraft, Ronald ...more

Meet Vital Communities' New Directors

An earlier version of this post had an incorrect job title for new Board member Greg Norman. At its May 20, 2021, meeting, the Vital Communities Board of Directors welcomed seven new members, more than replacing ...more

Spring Salad Made From Anything

I made this colorful crunchy salad on the fly on Memorial Day when the grocery stores were closed for the holiday and my parents, siblings, and out-of-town cousin were on their way over for dinner. I ...more

Mastering Perfect Spinach

When my friend Justin opened a restaurant in Maine, I fixated on his strategy to train kitchen staff: cooks would learn the best one or two ways to prepare each vegetable, so they'd be optimally ...more

Kale Pesto

I diligently planted several basil plants a few weeks ago. A few days later a crazy hail storm arrived. Afterwards, my poor basil plants were diminished to nothing but stems. So I replanted. All along, I was motivated ...more

April 8: "Investing in Home Creation"

Investing for Home Creation Thursday, April 8, 5:30 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwM8Z2FD3Q The Upper Valley faces a shortage of housing, particularly in the lower-cost sector, that's affecting our ability to be a vibrant, equitable community. This session discussed how even ...more

April 15, 2021: “Putting Your Money to Work Locally: Investing Clubs 101”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnLZ7akjtGw Interested in investing locally but don’t want to do it alone? Investment clubs pool money to collectively invest in local businesses and bring a social aspect to the process – they make investment fun! In this ...more

Valley Quests Open May 1—including a Guided Event to a Vernal Pool!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 1: It's a big one for Valley Quests! Not only is May 1 Opening Day for Quests—"treasure hunts" that share the natural and cultural history of 160+ special areas in ...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

Free Webinar on Writing Waterway Quests, April 8

Valley Quests are treasure hunts set in special locations around the Upper Valley. Each Quest follows a unique set of clues that teach you about a place’s ecology, wildlife, and history while leading to a ...more

Quest to the Star!

Have you seen the star alight upon Mt. Tom in Woodstock?  Wouldn't it be fun to see it up close?  You can if you follow the clues of the Mt. Tom Quest. The star traditionally ...more

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Save Energy

This week marks the close of Vital Communities and volunteers’ 2020 Vermont Energy Savings project in seven towns in the Vermont side of the Upper Valley. Vital Communities partnered with Sustainable Woodstock (serving Woodstock, Hartland, ...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

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

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

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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Bethany Fleishman

Transportation Program Manager

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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.