1. Always choose wired ethernet connection over Wi-Fi when possible.
Wi-Fi signals are susceptible to interference from common household appliances such as microwaves and can add significant delay to live voice and video calls as well as to web conferencing experiences.
2. Limit use of non-essential streaming services or downloading large files while working.
On demand video streaming (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) can consume a large amount of the available bandwidth on your residential internet service, if not all of it. Online gaming and downloading of large files do the same. Limiting these activities for both yourself and other members of your household when you are working is essential to ensure you remain as productive as possible when working from home.
3. Reduce the number of open applications on your device.
Everyone's home setup is different so mileage may vary but we suggest only running the applications required to perform your job function. If much of your work involves answering the phone or email stick to those apps and close anything unnecessary. Your PC has a finite amount of resources and running a dozen browser tabs or spreadsheets eats up a lot of horsepower.
4. Take short breaks often.
Get up and move regularly to keep healthy and prevent fatigue. Pet your dog/cat, wash the dishes, make a cup of tea, or help the kids clean up their toys... Several short, five minute, breaks throughout the day will break up the monotony of sitting in front of a screen. Everyone has their job to do and your employer trusts in your ability to manage your own time during business hours. So, take a breather regularly then focus on tasks when you return to your desk.
5. Commandeer the best chair in the house.
This doesn't mean the LazyBoy or sofa. Make sure you have the most comfortable, ergonomically suited, seating at your disposal in your home office setup. Be mindful of posture and keyboard height. Please reference the Government of Ontario Computer Ergonomic Guidelines for details.
6. When using a corporate laptop at home be sure to launch the AnyConnect VPN prior to using Cambrian applications.
A VPN connection on your corporate laptop replicates the connectivity you would experience when working on campus. Before starting applications such as Outlook ensure that you are first connected to the VPN via the Cisco AnyConnect Security Mobility Client. Be sure to connect your network drives before you get down to business.