Going remote can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before — but trust us, there’s no need to worry. We’ve rounded up the five biggest fears of remote workers below and are here to tell you why you shouldn’t be afraid of any of them. Remote work promises a life of freedom and flexibility, so don’t let your worries get in the way of you living your best life.
Worry #1 — Low Retention Rate
When we talk to in-office employees about going remote, one of the most common fears that arises is the idea that they won’t be able to find long-term work as a remote worker. They think that remote work is unanimous with contract work, and that simply is not the case.
Why You Shouldn’t Worry: Remote work isn’t the same as contract work. While you can take on the life of a freelancer while remote working, it’s certainly not the only option. In fact, thousands of companies are hiring remote workers for full-time positions. If you need some reassurance, just browse the full-time listings in our remote jobs database to see for yourself!
Worry #2 — Problems with Payment
Another huge worry that we hear about from employees fearing the plunge into remote work? Problems with payment. Many people fear not getting paid on time for their remote work or being scammed by remote employers.
Why You Shouldn’t Worry: Requiring partial payment before the project is due and not working on future projects until you’ve been paid on all past projects will keep your bank account afloat.
Worry #3 — Lack of Communication
Believe it or not, many people fear lack of communication when it comes to talking about remote work. Whether it’s screwing up an assignment or not being able to get ahold of a team of coworkers, this can be a major fear of those who are new to the idea of remote work.
Why You Shouldn’t Worry: If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times: thanks to technology, you can talk to just about anyone, anywhere, at any time. A steady wifi connection will keep you and your coworkers on the same page no matter what day of the week it is and how many miles apart you may be.
Worry #4 — No Career Advancement
This fear is one that’s perhaps tied to the first fear we listed. Many employees are afraid that remote work means bouncing from gig to gig, and subsequently, no major career advancement.
Why You Shouldn’t Worry: This fear is totally unwarranted. Career advancement exists in the remote world just as much as it does in the office world. Whether it’s making vertical jumps between remote positions or climbing the ladder in one full-time remote position, remote workers often advance in their careers faster than those who get stuck in real-life cubicles.
Worry #5 — Being Lonely or Isolated
Working remotely usually means working alone, which makes many fear becoming lonely and feeling isolated. This is a reasonable fear, but it’s also one that’s very easy to keep from happening.
Why You Shouldn’t Worry: Coworking spaces, online communities, and local meetups mean that even if you don’t work in an office, you can still find in-person and digital communities every day. Need somewhere to get started? Check out this guest post that features seven communities for remote workers.
Did we miss anything? Let us know on Twitter!
Originally published on Remote.com