Chloe's first 6 months at equimedia

Since COVID-19, hybrid and remote working has become mainstream. This means there is an on-going debate about whether office workers are more productive when working at home, or in the office.

Equimedia has embraced hybrid working, but we listen to our team and are always keen to hear their views. We asked Chloe what her first six months working for equimedia has been like and how she is finding hybrid working. 

Have you worked full time in an office previously? 

I have only ever experienced hybrid working; I have never worked in a role where I have been required to be in the office every day and even my time at university was mostly hybrid as it began in 2020. At equimedia I go to the office once a week.

What are the advantages of hybrid working? 

Home working offers so much more flexibility than full-time office working. I can schedule deliveries for when I am not in meetings, put a load of washing in before starting work and put it out on the line during my lunch break, schedule doctor’s appointments for lunch breaks and have the choice of everything in my kitchen for lunch. One of the biggest benefits is the reduction in travel and the severely reduced fuel costs, but my favourite advantage, of course, is being able to see my cat, Whiskey, at any time of day, having him keep me company and constantly beg for food, of course!

I would definitely argue that I am more productive when working from home. I can get fully absorbed into what I am doing without getting distracted by other people’s conversations. I tend to work with music on in the background, which helps me get my focus but, in the office, I would feel rude if I put in my headphones. I also tend to think out loud when I’m trying to figure out things and like to read new ad copy out loud to make sure it flows. Being at home allows me to do this but I don’t think it would be appreciated by my colleagues if I did this in the office!

What are the disadvantages? 

There are some disadvantages; it is easy to get distracted at home, so to keep my productivity high, I make sure I have a dedicated workspace. Luckily, I have our attic space as my designated ‘home office’. Having that separation from the rest of the house is incredibly important as it is easy to either become unproductive by getting distracted by things around the home, or to fall into a routine of working outside of office hours, as work is always accessible and can invade your thoughts at any time of the day or night.

You lose out a little on the ‘social’ aspect of work. Interacting with colleagues in person is always an advantage and it can be a struggle to form bonds with people who you don’t see on a regular basis. I also find that if there’s a week where I can’t make it into the office, I need to make sure I go for a walk or visit the shops after work to make sure I don’t get cabin fever. Its easy to stay at home and become shut off from the rest of the world.

What techniques have you used to keep your work on track?  

I’ve been scheduling my day in my calendar, whether I’m at home or in the office. This prevents me getting lost in one task and forgetting about other things I need to work on. This includes taking my lunch break! It is so easy to keep working on something to get it finished before going on lunch and then that one task turns into two, then three and before you know it, you have an hour left of the workday and you’ve worked through your lunch! Having the notifications pop up from outlook reminds me to take a second and look after my own wellbeing. Using outlook as a prompt also means that anyone who may want to schedule a meeting with me or wants to see when I’ll be working on a particular task, can have a look at my calendar and pick a time that will work for both of us. 

What has your first 6 months with equimedia been like? 

My first 6 months at Equimedia have absolutely flown by. Each week brings new challenges, but we work together to tackle them, ensure that the workload is fairly divided between us and we can offer help to each other when needed. Collaboration still thrives, despite the lack of face-to-face time. It’s still possible for a team to work well together as long as you make sure to communicate clearly, and frequently. In the office you would just walk over to your colleagues desk and ask a question, so you have to be prepared to make the effort to reach out to people when working at home.

I still haven’t met a few members of the company face to face, as a couple live abroad, and others live quite a distance from the office, but I have chatted to the majority. There’s been plenty of learning, developing my skill set, forming relationships with my clients and developing my understanding of their products and services and how we can best meet their business needs.

There’s no one answer when considering if home or hybrid working is right for the individual or the company.  it comes down to personal preference and the effort the company is willing to put in to make it work. For me, once or twice a week in the office is perfect. I love being able to work in my own space. I find it relaxing and easier to settle into a routine – and the added extra sleep I get in the mornings and reduced petrol bills is a huge benefit!