New terms, phrases and jingo are constantly being conjured up in the remote work world. We’ve created this remote work glossary to help you navigate your way from your BYODs to your Dematerialization:
Annualized Hours:
Annualized hours involve calculating work time on a yearly basis, providing a comprehensive overview of an individual’s or team’s productivity throughout the entire year.
Asynchronous Communication:
Asynchronous communication allows individuals to interact without the expectation of an immediate response, fostering flexibility in response times and promoting efficient, non-real-time exchanges.
Blended Team:
A blended team comprises members working in a physical office and others remotely, creating a dynamic work environment that accommodates diverse preferences and needs.
Brick-and-Mortar Business:
A brick-and-mortar business operates from a physical location, enabling face-to-face interactions with customers and providing a tangible presence in the community.
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Allowing employees to use their personal devices for work purposes.
Cloud Storage:
Cloud storage facilitates access to up-to-date data from anywhere, ensuring seamless collaboration and eliminating the constraints of physical storage locations.
Co-Located Team:
A co-located team primarily operates from a central office, fostering strong in-person collaboration, camaraderie, and streamlined communication among team members.
Co-Location:
Co-location emphasizes shared facilities, in-person meetings, and a centralized office location, promoting a cohesive work environment and strengthening interpersonal relationships.
Collaboration Tools
Software and platforms that facilitate teamwork and communication, such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom.
Co-Working:
Co-working involves freelancers and remote employees sharing resources and facilities in a mixed office setting, fostering a collaborative atmosphere and providing networking opportunities.
Co-Working Space:
A co-working space offers a shared office location where freelancers and remote workers can access facilities based on subscription tiers, promoting a flexible and cost-effective work environment.
Compressed Working Week:
In a compressed working week, employees condense their 40-hour workweek into longer but fewer days, providing greater flexibility and extended periods for personal activities.
Conference Call:
A conference call enables multiple participants to join a call simultaneously through telephone or online voice services, facilitating efficient and inclusive discussions.
Conference Room:
A conference room serves as a dedicated space for calls, meetings, and project planning, providing a quiet and secluded environment for focused work discussions.
Cybersecurity:
Measures taken to protect computer systems, networks, and data from cyber threats. Discover more – Remote Work Security
Dematerialization:
Dematerialization in a work context signifies the ongoing digitization of work processes, reducing reliance on physical documents and embracing digital tools for increased efficiency.
Digital Etiquette:
Guidelines for polite and professional behaviour in online communication.
Digital Nomad:
A digital nomad is an individual who works remotely while frequently traveling to different locations, combining work with a nomadic lifestyle.
Digital Work:
Digital work involves utilizing online tools and software solutions to complete tasks, emphasizing the integration of digital technology into various aspects of professional activities.
Digital Workplace:
A digital workplace constitutes an ecosystem where cloud-based or digital tools manage everyday processes, communications, and tasks, promoting streamlined and collaborative work practices.
Digital Workspace:
A digital workspace provides a platform or integrated set of solutions that allows teams to manage, complete, and access their work from any location, ensuring flexibility and accessibility.
Dispersed Team:
A dispersed team is characterized by members geographically spread out rather than centralized in a single office, necessitating effective virtual collaboration and communication.
Distance Work:
Distance work involves completing tasks with team members located in different physical locations, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of remote collaboration.
Distributed Company:
A distributed company operates beyond a single centralized office, embracing a decentralized structure and leveraging technology for effective communication among employees in diverse locations.
Distributed Team:
A distributed team comprises members working from various locations, requiring robust communication tools and strategies to maintain cohesion and productivity.
Distributed Work:
Distributed work refers to an environment where some employees operate away from a central working hub, emphasizing flexibility in work locations and a reliance on digital communication tools.
Distributed Workforce:
A distributed workforce is characterized by employees not all based out of a single office location, reflecting the growing trend of remote and flexible work arrangements.
Ergonomics:
Ergonomics is about designing workspaces and equipment to optimize human well-being and overall performance.
Explicit Communication:
Explicit communication involves clearly stated or written messages, leaving no room for ambiguity and promoting a shared understanding among team members.
Face to Face Meeting (F2F Meeting):
A face-to-face meeting entails individuals meeting in person, fostering direct communication and the building of personal connections that may be challenging in virtual interactions.
Flextime / Flexitime:
Flextime, or flexible time, allows employees to choose their ideal work hours rather than adhering strictly to a 9 am to 5 pm schedule, providing greater autonomy and work-life balance.
Freelance Work:
Freelance work is undertaken by self-employed individuals without formal, long-term contracts, allowing professionals to work on diverse projects for different organizations.
Freelancer:
A freelancer is a self-employed individual who works on various projects for different organizations, offering specialized skills and expertise on a project-by-project basis.
Fully Remote:
The term all-remote, or fully remote, refers to an organization that does not have a physical headquarters for its employees to attend in person
Future of Work:
The future of work encompasses trends and patterns that will likely shape how, when, and where people work in the years to come, reflecting the evolving nature of work environments and practices. Discover more: Remote Work Trend Statistics
Garden Office:
A garden office refers to a studio or workspace set up in the yard or garden of a home, providing a tranquil and separate space for focused work away from the main dwelling.
Gig Economy:
The gig economy describes a labor market where independent contractors undertake short-term jobs or “gigs,” offering flexibility but often lacking traditional employment benefits.
Global Employer:
A global employer is an organization that operates or hires across country borders, navigating international regulations and fostering a diverse workforce.
Home Office:
A home office is a workspace adapted within a domestic dwelling, allowing individuals to work long term from the comfort of their homes. Discover more – Home Office Essentials
Home Office Deduction:
A tax benefit for individuals who use part of their home exclusively for business purposes.
Hot Desking:
A flexible office seating arrangement where employees don’t have assigned desks and can use any available workspace.
Hybrid Company:
A hybrid company embraces flexible work arrangements, with employees attending the office on some days and working from home on others, striking a balance between in-person and remote work.
Hybrid Teams:
Hybrid teams feature members with diverse office attendance patterns; some work fully remote, while others may have scheduled days in the office, promoting flexibility in team dynamics.
Hybrid-Remote:
Unlike fully-remote companies, a hybrid-remote organization maintains one or more office locations that some employees attend regularly, combining the benefits of in-person collaboration with remote work flexibility. Discover more – What Is Hybrid Remote Work?
Implicit Communication:
Implicit communication encompasses the unsaid elements of interactions, including tone, facial expressions, and body language, influencing understanding and relationships in the absence of explicit verbal communication.
Inclusive Remote Culture:
Efforts to create a workplace environment that embraces diversity and ensures everyone feels included, even in a remote setting.
In-person Meeting:
An in-person meeting takes place in the same location, enabling direct, face-to-face interactions without relying on phone or video conferencing, fostering a personal connection.
Instant Message:
An instant message is a quick text-based communication sent over a chat platform, allowing colleagues to communicate in real-time and facilitating swift exchanges in a work setting.
Internet of Things:
The Internet of Things describes the interconnected ecosystem of devices via the internet, encompassing a wide range of internet-connected devices globally.
Knowledge Worker:
A knowledge worker primarily engages with knowledge and information to solve problems and perform strategic tasks, distinguishing them from those following routine professional duties.
Live Receptionist:
A live receptionist service provides businesses with an answering service, offering a professional front without the need for full-time front desk staff, thereby reducing costs.
Off-site Meeting:
An off-site meeting is a professional gathering or meetup conducted away from the usual office environment, providing a change of scenery and fostering creativity and collaboration.
Office Environment:
An office environment is a designated location where professional standards are maintained, providing a conducive space for workers to fulfill their responsibilities.
Offshoring:
Offshoring involves reallocating in-house duties and responsibilities to overseas workers, often to leverage cost advantages and specialized skills.
On-site Meeting:
An on-site meeting occurs in the same location where regular work is carried out, allowing for face-to-face discussions without the need for travel.
Online Password Vaults:
Online password vaults serve as password management tools, enabling users to securely store and organize login credentials for various platforms, enhancing security.
Online Storage:
Online storage refers to platforms where users can store and access important files, documents, and assets, promoting centralized and easily accessible data management.
Outsourcing:
Outsourcing is the practice of hiring a third-party vendor external to the organization to handle specific tasks or provide goods/services, allowing companies to focus on core competencies.
Productivity Apps:
Applications designed to enhance efficiency and organization in remote work.
Real-Time Communication Apps:
Real-time communication apps facilitate quick and timely conversations, supporting instant exchanges and collaboration among team members.
Remote Desktop:
A remote desktop allows users to access or control another device located in a separate location, providing remote access to files and applications.
Remote Employee:
A remote employee works for a company but does not attend an in-person office location on a daily basis, relying on virtual communication tools for collaboration.
Remote Hiring:
Remote hiring involves recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding employees for remote or temporarily home-based positions, emphasizing the need for effective virtual hiring processes.
Remote Job Board:
Online platforms where companies post remote job opportunities.
Remote Onboarding:
The process of integrating new employees into a company without physical presence.
Remote Work:
Remote work is an arrangement where an employee works outside a traditional centralized office location, utilizing digital tools and communication platforms for collaboration. Discover more – What Is Remote Work?
Remote Worker:
A remote worker operates away from a centralized office location for the majority of their work, enjoying the flexibility of choosing where to work.
Remote-First:
Remote-first refers to a company whose employees primarily work away from a physical office location, with remote work ingrained in the organizational culture and processes.
Remote-Friendly:
A remote-friendly company is an organization that, while primarily office-based, allows employees significant flexibility in working from home, promoting work-life balance.
Retreat:
A work retreat is a gathering for employees and management, offering an opportunity to bond, build rapport, and strategize outside the formal office setting.
Satellite Office:
A satellite office is a separate office location or branch of an organization situated outside its main office or headquarters, serving as an additional working space.
Side Gig:
A side gig refers to a secondary job, project, or freelance work that individuals undertake in addition to their primary employment or main source of income.
Side Hustle:
A side hustle is a supplementary business, project, or job that individuals engage in alongside their primary source of income, often driven by personal passion, skills, or entrepreneurial ambitions. Discover more – Top Ways To Make Money From Home
Single Source of Truth (SSoT):
A single source of truth is a system that ensures consistent, up-to-date, and accurate documentation, providing a reliable reference point for organizational information.
Software as a Service (SaaS):
Software as a Service describes licensed software accessed through the cloud via a browser, eliminating the need for users to download and install the software on their devices.
Solopreneur:
A solopreneur is a business owner who has founded their own venture and manages various aspects of the business independently, showcasing self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
Staying in the Loop:
Staying in the loop means actively participating and remaining aware of the current state of plans or activities, promoting engagement and informed decision-making.
Synchronous Communication:
Synchronous communication involves real-time interactions that rely on continuous back-and-forth dialogue, ensuring immediate responsiveness and collaboration.
Team Retreat:
A team retreat is an offsite gathering designed for team members to bond, build connections, and strategize collaboratively outside the regular office environment.
Telecommute:
To telecommute is a flexible work arrangement where employees can complete their work responsibilities from a location other than a centralized office, providing flexibility in work locations.
Telecommuting:
Telecommuting involves carrying out work from a location other than the main office, allowing employees to choose a suitable environment that enhances their productivity. Discover more – What Is Telecommuting?
Telepresence:
Using technology to give the appearance of being present at a location other than the physical one.
Telework:
Telework is an arrangement between an employee and their employer that allows them to work away from the main office site, offering flexibility in work locations and schedules.
Telework Agreement:
A formal agreement between an employer and employee outlining terms and conditions for remote work.
Time Management Apps:
Time management apps are applications that assist remote workers in handling workloads efficiently, providing tools for organizing tasks and optimizing productivity.
Time Tracking Software
Tools that help monitor and record the time spent on different tasks.
Video Chat:
A video chat is a conversation held via video conferencing software, allowing face-to-face communication and visual interaction when physical presence is not possible.
Virtual Assistant:
Much like an in-person assistant, a virtual assistant is a person who uses organizational talents to help with administrative and support-related tasks, providing remote assistance.
Virtual Machine (VM):
A virtual machine uses a “host” machine to test operating systems and run programs it may not be able to run otherwise, enabling developers to simulate diverse computing environments.
Virtual Meeting:
A virtual meeting is a meeting conducted via video conferencing software, especially useful when participants cannot meet in person for logistical, health-related, or geographic reasons.
Virtual Office:
A virtual office is an arrangement that allows businesses to enjoy some benefits and facilities associated with a physical office space without being based out of commercial premises, offering flexibility and cost savings.
Virtual Phone System:
A virtual phone system is a cloud-based service that allows users to field calls over the internet from laptops or mobile devices, providing flexibility and mobility in handling calls.
Virtual Private Network (VPN):
A virtual private network allows individuals to establish a private, encrypted connection over a normal or public internet environment, ensuring secure and private communication.
Virtual Receptionist:
A virtual receptionist is a remote professional who performs the role of an in-person receptionist, managing calls and providing a professional front for businesses from a remote location.
VoIP:
VoIP, or voice over internet protocol, describes a method of placing phone calls over the internet, offering a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional phone services.
Work From Home:
Work from home (WFH) describes an environment where individuals can perform their jobs from inside their own homes, providing flexibility and eliminating the need for a centralized office. Discover more – What Is WFH?
Work Management Software:
Work management software refers to digital solutions that enable users to efficiently perform their work-related tasks, providing tools for task organization, collaboration, and project management.
Workation:
Workation is a blending of the words “work” and “vacation”. As its name suggests, a workation involves working while on vacation or on a trip.
Zoom Fatigue:
Tiredness or burnout specifically associated with excessive use of video conferencing tools like Zoom.