The concept of working from home has been present in forward-thinking businesses for some time, but its widespread adoption was accelerated by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. With the pandemic receding and virus-related restrictions all-but removed, the question of whether remote working remains a viable model has reared its head. What are the advantages and disadvantages of remote work, and should employees embrace change or return to the office?
The Advantages
Less Commuting
Working from home offers a significant advantage, mainly the elimination of the daily commute, which can be quite stressful. Many individuals have experienced the negative impact of their daily journey to and from the office. If you’re looking for a way to enhance your daily routine and reduce stress, you might want to explore opportunities like opening a dog training franchise or launching an online store. These ventures offer greater flexibility and a smoother start to your day.
More Time for Oneself
A survey by booklet printers instantprint references the average daily commute being 59 minutes in total, representing an additional hour of free time for every remote worker in the country. The survey found that 26% of UK workers spend that time reading, while a fifth get to spend more quality time with family and friends as a result of no longer having to commute.
Less Expenditure
The elimination of the daily commute naturally results in significant savings on transport costs, whether public transport or fuel. But money is also saved on other small purchases, such as morning takeaway coffees, snacks, and lunchtime meal deals – all of which add up to a costly amount each month.
Safe from Illness
Coronavirus aside, working from home allowed employees to avoid making one another ill with seasonal viruses or the common cold – resulting in less sickness-related absences from work and hence less workload-related stress for remaining workers.
The Disadvantages
Increased Isolation
Working from home removes the social element of working in an office and relegates collaborative work to proprietary software, message boxes, and video calls. The lack of direct face-to-face contact can have an alienating effect on employees, making for a sense of isolation and potential deterioration of mental health.
Reduced Team Bonding
Another effect of this isolation is with regard to team bonding – especially where the onboarding of new staff is concerned. Collaborative projects and teamwork can suffer when carried out digitally, and the literal distance between team members can frustrate departmental cohesion, slowing progress as a result.
Working While Sick
While infections are no longer being passed around the office, employees are still getting sick – and, because they are not commuting into the office, they are often weathering their illness to continue working from home. With three quarters of employers noticing this phenomenon in remote workers, it is a serious problem and one that could detrimentally affect work as well as individual health.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision to work from home should remain with the employee in question. While remote working has its disadvantages, its effects on productivity are not detrimental overall. In some cases, it can even result in improvements to productivity, owing to greater employee satisfaction.
