The 5 Pros and Cons of working Remotely

These days working remotely has become the “in-thing”. To some, it may be a style statement, where people feel that it’s “Cool” and “Fancy” to be able to take a “Workation” and work from any destination. While on the other hand, some find it “Challenging” and “Unconventional”. For those peoplework should stay at the office and leisure at home or elsewhere with friends and family.

But with the 2020 global pandemic at bay, remote working has taken the forefront in the work field. Both professionals and organisations all over the globe are driven towards the “work from home” culture. Now like many things in life, remote work also comes with two sides: pros and cons. Here’s 5 of them to keep in mind if you’re planning to make the shift.

Pros:

1. Better work-life balance

Out goes having no time and in comes the “Me Time”. Yes, working remotely gives you the benefit of being able to spend more time with family, or even cultivating a hobby. By creating a schedule, you can achieve the right balance between personal and work life. Avoiding the bumper-to-bumper commute to work daily also helps save a considerable amount of time that can be put to more productive use.

2. Working when you’re most Productive

Working on your own accord can be uplifting, if not peaceful. With no distractions from other employees coming to your desk from time to time, you get to focus on your work. Also not having the boss hover over you to pick up the pace does better your productivity. Working remotely does get that edge off, and gives you the ability to work at your own time when you are most productive.

3. Improved Employee Experience

Now that the daily commute, the excessive coffee breaks and long hours have been taken out of the equation, you get to spend more quality time with family and friends while working remotely. You can also maintain a healthier lifestyle, by avoiding the everyday hustle. As you work in comfort from home, you get to have healthy balanced meals.

No more wasting time stressing about getting ready for office, this means more time to maintain a calm lifestyle. Maybe exercise or meditate? Be it taking calls while enjoying your garden, or choosing to work in a cafe or the library, remote working has definitely improved employee experience. Remember, a  happy employee is an efficient employee.

4. Cost Saving

With remote working, all operations have made a shift from an office to remote locations. Organizations find that a cloud-based operation helps them save a lot of money on rent, utilities and other office supplies. According to Global Workplace Analytics, companies can save up to $11,000 per employee annually.

On-the-other-hand, with no transport expense, parking fees, or even the cost of updating one’s closet, employees can save up to $6,000 working remotely part time and $12,000 working remotely full time. 

5. Ability to hire and retain top talent

Statistics have shown that about 83% of employees feel that the ability to work remotely has become a major deciding factor when considering a job offer. This means that it has become a necessity for organizations to offer remote working perks if they want to hire and retain good employees. In short, working remotely is the key to happy employees.

Cons:

1. Communication Gap

The personal connection when it comes to face-to-face interaction is lost with remote working. That being said, proper communication amongst colleagues is amiss. So if you need to discuss something with a colleague, you have to rely on instant messages or video calls, which can never be as effective as talking to someone face-to-face. 

2. Difficulty to stay motivated

There will be times when you feel less motivated and this could become a challenge. The lack of active supervision and the absence of your colleagues can give rise to a laid-back attitude and a habit of procrastination. This can be a slippery slope when it comes to your productivity.

3. Loneliness and Isolation

Working remotely means working all by yourself. The absence of an office routine, where you get to spend time with people, talk whilst you work, sit down for lunch together with colleagues, or just say “Hello!” in the elevator can make you incredibly isolated and lonely. Thus, at times resulting in frustration and low efficiency.

4. Distractions at Home

As comfortable as working from home can be, it does come with a few distractions. The constant ringing doorbell, your dog barking, household chores, and noise from passing traffic can get annoying and affect your concentration. This could lead to employees burning out and getting stressed. 

5. Management Challenges

Yes, remote working can be fun and interesting. However, one tends to forget the managing and organising involved. From setting up a workstation at home to getting a good internet connection, you have to get it all done. You need to be on top of things like learning about new technology and new apps to stay productive. You have to also make sure to keep yourself organized to manage your work.

In Conclusion

Clearly, there are pros and cons to remote work. However, the pros do outweigh the cons. But with the right remote working strategies and tools, you can stay efficient and productive while working from home.