Hi Lakshmi,

Thanks for the questions. I’ll do my best to answer.

1. It’s quite likely that in my brother’s case they wouldn’t have hired him if he was a remote employee right from the start. I’m certain they were more confident it would work after already having him work alongside them in the office for a while first. However, he also has a boss that appreciates responsible, autonomous employees, so I imagine that’s the type of management that’s naturally more open to hiring remote workers.
2. I set very clear work hour for myself, which happen to be close to a normal 9–5 day. I communicate as much as necessary during those work hours, but NEVER feel obligated to answer the phone or reply to an email outside that time. Sometimes I do by choice. The importance is in setting the right expectations with your clients or employer so they know when you are contactable. It’s not rude to decline instant communication outside the time window so long as the expectation has been previously wet. Being a dependable remote worker doesn’t mean being available 24/7. It means being available when you say you will be. Set reasonable work hours for yourself and stick to them. Having a strong routine makes remote work easier anyway.