the Pros and Cons of Working from Home

The covid-19 pandemic has been officially declared over. Does that mean working from home is done too? 74% of companies in the US have decided to implement a hybrid of working from home and in the office. You may be wondering which is best for your employees; to work from home, get back in the office, or have a hybrid of both? Here are the pros and cons of each. 

Pros to Working from Home

1. More opportunities for both employees and employers. Employees have the option to choose jobs from around the world which gives them more options in employment. Employers will also have more options to choose from and can therefore hire the top talent in that role. 
2. Reduced costs. As an employer with a fully remote company, you don’t have to worry about paying for rent of your business and the other business expenses that come along with running an office in person. As an employee, there’s no need to spend money on commuting, work clothes, or lunches. We’d say that’s a win-win situation for both the employer and employee.
3. Freedom to travel and live anywhere. As a remote employee or employer, there’s nothing holding you back from traveling. You can live abroad or move to another state while having your same job. Just be aware of time zones and how that may affect your work.
4. Decreased stress. Daily commutes to the office can be stressful. Without them there’s a huge stressor taken off your back. Working from the comfort of your own home also helps workers to relax more. When employees are less stressed their productivity increases. 

Cons for Working from Home

1. Less social interaction. It’s in human nature to be social. Without seeing your boss and coworkers every day it may be harder to have that same level of social interaction. Finding public working spaces can help offset this.
2. Employees feel less valued. It can be hard for employers to show their appreciation to their employees while working remotely. The employees may also not feel connected to their team.
3. Suspicion of not working. In the office your manager can keep an eye on what work you are doing and can notice if you are distracted. When working from home, employers may wonder if their employees are working the full work hours they are assigned. As an employee, be sure the quality of your work is the same to prove you are accomplishing your tasks as needed. Communication can also help fix this problem. As an employer feel free to schedule check-ins with your workers. 
4. Added distractions. When working at home, there may be added distractions in your work day. Your neighbors are loud, your kids won’t stop fighting, or maybe your pet is interfering with your focus. There are also may be temptations to indulge in things you would do during your downtime like watch tv or listen to a podcast. Coworking spaces can help with distractibility. Some employers offer their employees passes to coworking spaces.
5. Pay cut. With remote jobs may come a pay cut. The added bonus to this is the flexibility for your work. Since the pandemic, more people chose a flexible work schedule over a higher paying job. 

As you can see, there are many pros and cons to each side of working from home or in the office. If you enjoy working from home but also miss working in the office, hybrid work has become more popular. This is where you have an option to work from home but are required to come into the office a couple of days a week. It’s the best of both worlds!