Research suggests that about 50% of employees typically work from home at least once a week, and about 33% even work full-time remote jobs. This is a significant adjustment and has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at what those are right now.
Communication
Face-to-face communication is the most preferred communication as this is best for team building and creating a rapport with other employees. Remote communication involves video calls, short conversations, slack messages, and a barrage of emails from which there is no escape.
Commuting
Almost everyone hates commuting. But, work-life balance is also essential. Daily commuting is a significant time suck, but it is also challenging to separate business and personal time when working from home. This is why co-working spaces are becoming so popular for people who work remotely.
Flexible Schedule
Working from an office usually means you have a set schedule. With remote working, you have the flexibility to wake up when you choose and tailor your day to your needs. While many employees struggle to disconnect when working from home, it allows you to take on more side-projects making it a more lucrative option than being stuck in an office or rush hour traffic.
Costs
When working at an office, you pay to commute, park, and incidental purchases like coffee and lunch. But working from home has its price. Besides paying for broadband internet, think about costs like electricity and home office expenses like furniture, technology and more.
Productivity
Office spaces can be loud, busy, and very disruptive. Working remotely means you have a better chance to focus and get the job done without distractions.
Workforce Management
Many offices are now trying remote working, making managers rethink the way they do things. They have to figure out how best to check-in daily and make sure everything is happening on schedule.
Ultimately understanding what working remotely or from an office means for your employees and your business is critical. And to realize all the benefits, you might need to try out various patterns that result in either one or a mix of both that works well for all concerned.
