Working remotely has always been associated with flexibility, not only in terms of location but in schedule, as well. Virtual assistants tend to have more convenience in blocking a time dedicated for their work. However, flexible time may be favored by most of your peers, but it does not mean it may work for you. You could start with the fact that not all tasks or projects do not require constant coordination with your team members.

Concerning the said matter, it should not be overlooked that a fixed schedule in remote work has its advantages, which may be ideal for your current job. Here are a few:

Better Understanding of Operations. If you are new in the team, it is best you work on a fixed schedule following the operational hours of the company. This would provide you a better understanding of how things work. Through this, you would be able to figure out your role in the organization better. Furthermore, you may be able to identify what other things you could contribute to the team to make the operations more efficient.

If you work on a flexible schedule, you would probably be simply focused on your tasks alone. You may not even comprehend the significance of other co-workers’ corresponding works. This may in turn cause you to delay others or not even consider helping out to accomplish a project as a team.

Having a projection of how the entire company works will make you a more considerate employee rather than just a productive one.

Seamless Coordination. There is no assurance that working flexibly could offer you seamless coordination. Indeed, tasks may be relayed via e-mail or messaging applications, but there would always be clarifications involved. Particularly, if an activity would need a team of people for accomplishment.

If you work on a fixed schedule, your employer would be able to reach out to you at the right time without worrying about waiting for your response. This goes the same if you have issues to raise. This is more advantageous if urgent retort is often needed for your task.

On the other hand, should you work on a flexible schedule, it is most likely that you would not even have a chance to catch up with your employer or team member. There would definitely be instances that it would take hours before a reply can be expected. Things could go amiss if this is the case.

One good example is when your employer would often require your assistance whenever a meeting is to be set. For instance, he or she would need to meet up with clients. In order to do this, he or she has to check his or her schedule with you from time to time. If you are not working on a fixed schedule, your employer may find it difficult to reach out to you. At the very least, if you work on a set block of time, more so alongside his or her working hours, confirmation of his or her available time would be done swiftly.

Personal Interaction. It is not healthy to have limited personal interaction when working. At times, it also helps if you are able to coordinate with your team members regarding various matters. Working on a fixed schedule enables you to do this.

If you are a remote worker based in another country than that of your team members, working alongside their schedule will make you feel one with them. This would allow you to ask questions, clarify confusions, share ideas, or even simply chat while on break. 

Working with people instead of individually in a remote setting will help you grow. If you interact, you may learn from your team members’ work ethics. Furthermore, they may be open to giving you guidance as you carry out your tasks, and vice-versa.

With the benefits of working on a fixed schedule provided above, you may now be able to consider it as an option in your remote work setup. You may ponder giving it a try, particularly if you are encountering issues with your flexible setup, such as limited understanding of your tasks, miscommunication, and poor engagement among your co-workers.