The Pros and Cons of Working From Home – Employee’s Take

Working from home actually started as an experiment in the 1980s. Now, it has become one of the most popular work settings in the world. With the internet conveniently providing numerous avenues for people to successfully work from the comfort of their own homes, the business landscape is evolving with the times.

The pandemic may have prompted thousands of employees to transition into a full-time remote work setting, but even before these unprecedented times, work from home was slowly becoming an option at many progressive companies.

It goes without saying that working from home is advantageous in many ways, but that doesn’t mean that it’s flawless. If you are faced with the unmapped waters of delving into the home-based work environment, then this guide will help you identify the pros and cons of working from home: An employee’s point of view.

Pros Of Working From Home

No More Stressful Commutes to the Office

When you are no longer required to brave the dreaded, and somewhat disconcerting, daily commute to the office, you effectively eliminate a bunch of stress factors. This includes early wake-up times, long drives or bus rides, crowded stations, and standstill traffic. Oftentimes, employees are already exhausted before they even set foot through the door of the office.

When your mind doesn’t have to worry about time wasted hedging to your workplace, then you can channel more of your energy into your tasks and duties, uninterrupted by the stress of the commute.

Increased Flexibility

By working from home, you enable yourself to reap the benefits of flexibility in that you have the opportunity to create your own schedule and work at a pace that corresponds to your lifestyle.

Do you prefer to work at the break of dawn, at nighttime, or on the weekends? It’s all up to you. With the freedom to choose your own work schedule comes a myriad of benefits, both for yourself and the business. This is especially helpful if you are interacting with colleagues and clients who live in a different time zone. You can effectively increase your work presence and optimize your productivity while taking breaks when you need them. A healthier mind will reflect in your work output.

Increased Productivity

One of the most common causes of lost productivity in the office is due to distractions. According to a report, 70% of workers say they feel distracted at work and experience an average of 56 distractions per day. Working remotely allows you to take advantage of quieter surroundings that effectively facilitate elevated work focus, resulting in optimal productivity.

Improved Personal and Professional Life Balance

Working from home is a true time-saver that contributes to a better work-life balance. With your workspace being inside your home, you can easily cook dinner, do the laundry, and clean your house during your lunch break hours, and then go straight back to work afterwards.

This also means that you’ll have more time to spend with your loved ones. Spending quality time with your family is precious, and working from home allows you to do more of it.

More Time To Eat Healthy Meals

When you work in a traditional office, your options for lunch are limited. While a burger and fries may be your favourite go-to meal when you’re feeling burned out or in a rush, it isn’t the healthiest of choices.

When you don’t have fresh ingredients and a kitchen at your disposal within the office, it’s easy to fall into the habit of convenience over quality. On the other hand, when you work from home, you have your kitchen just a few steps away from your office. This is the perfect opportunity to turn your health around with homemade culinary choices!

Improved Communication Skills

Working remotely is an opportunity to put your communication skills to the test and really exercise that virtual muscle. Staying connected with your co-workers via email, instant messaging, and video calls isn’t always easy in order to keep the workflow streamlined and ahead of schedule.

Video conferencing applications, such as Zoom or Google Meet, are blessings for remote workers. Video call meetings are wonderful ways to see your colleagues’ faces while you all work in different parts of the city, country, or the world even.

Cons Of Working From Home

The Tendency To Overwork

With no fixed work hours to follow or official clocking out system, the temptation to constantly work overtime is always lingering in the air. With your bedroom just a few steps away from your workspace, putting off sleep is too easy.

Less Human Interaction

Eliminating stress isn’t the only thing that remote work does; it also eliminates in-person interactions, and this really highlights the cons of remote employees. Aside from impacting vital work-related communications, this factor also affects social interactions.

If you consider yourself more extroverted, then working from home could take a serious toll on your mental health. This facet is amplified by the fact that working from home during the pandemic is no longer a preference, but a safety measure.

Increased Spending on Home Office Equipment

Living the “work from home life” will gradually tell you that whatever you have saved in travel costs will end up being allocated to office equipment, such as a work computer, a desk, a printer, an ergonomic chair, and other office essentials.

Lack Of Exercise

Another downside of working from home is the lack of movement. On average, 4,000 to 18,000 steps a day is the goal in order to maintain your fitness. You usually achieve this from the travel time it takes you to get to and from work.

Working from home, however, can cut your daily step count in half if not less. When you’re at home it’s easy to be glued to your computer for hours, neglecting your need for movement in the process. While it may seem harmless at first, you must not ever compromise your health.

Make it a priority to incorporate some exercise into your daily routine. The internet is a treasure trove for free, low-impact cardio exercises and your backyard is a great place to stretch those muscles while you soak in some sunlight.

Pros and Cons of Working From Home: Benefits for Both Employee & Employer

Now that you’ve finished learning about the pros and cons of working from home, you are prepared to take on the challenge of working remotely. Everything in this world comes with pros and cons; it simply depends on your field of work and how you work. If you work best in a quiet space, working from home may be more ideal to you; whereas if you’re more extroverted, you may choose to work at the office.

At AdCulture, we value both the employee and the employer. For better overall productivity and output of work, the employee must feel understood by the employer, and that can come down to work from home policies. That’s why it’s our mission to connect quality candidates that align high-calibre companies – we thrive on your success. Click here to learn more about our recruitment services.