The workplace is changing, specifically driven by technology. There’s a leaning towards mobility, which has seen computers swapped for laptops, not to mention the increase of custom developed apps. Employers and staff alike can work from various locations as the physical office is no longer a necessity. In such a landscape, WiFi struggles can be debilitating. Indeed, some of the biggest trends courtesy of digital transformations are flexible and remote working, with businesses able to hire those from different countries and still maintain contact and efficient corporate productivity. And while the local coffee shop has become a staple office alternative, many choose to carry out their job from the comfort of their homes. For such individuals, the office layout is easy to replicate, with Sack, email, Skype and in-house apps helping staff and employers get the job done. But a large factor in this is WiFi, which we know hasn’t always been of good standard. As was
revealed in the Daily Mail, Post Office Telecoms director Meredith Sharples, who led recent research on the nation’s WiFi struggles, explained: ”The public suffer from a slow connection and have had their connection drop at random times.”
Working together with Opinium Research, the company quizzed 2,000 Brits, finding that 12 per cent went out and bought new equipment in the hope of boosting WiFi speed. There was no need for such measures though, Sharples opined, as five specific factors could ensure an optimised home working environment – ones which could be remedied without the help of a provider. For starters, electronic devices close to the WiFi router caused interference, and with it being so close to December, Post Office Telecoms suggested the same could be said of Christmas tree lights. The best thing to do is ensure your WiFi router is far from the TV and phone. Placing it near a fish tank is similarly ill-advised. It’s a concept we often file to the back of our minds, with the research claiming 27 per cent of respondents never gave it a thought. There is also a chance that your WiFi router has been the victim of poor positioning. By that the company means on the floor or window sill – don’t place it on either. Some 24 per cent of Brits situate it on the top floor when working at the bottom, a no-no. Having it too close to the neighbours’ walls can also prevent you having a good signal. Hiding it behind a thick wall is just as bad. Instead, think of using your main power socket, which the Daily Mail says “is usually found where the phone line enters the premises”. This ensures the house’s wiring leaves your WiFi signal alone. Another piece of advice is making sure others aren’t sneakily using your WiFi by having adequate password protection.
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