What Are Advantages and Disadvantages of Working From Home

The pandemic caused an abrupt shift in the way we work and normalised remote working.

But, working from home has its own pros and cons.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?

Let’s find out.

The Future of Work 

In March 2020, many businesses abruptly closed their offices and workspaces, marking the beginning of a new era of remote work for nearly half of people around the UK. 

Two years later, remote working is still a popular choice among many workers. A good number of those who can complete their responsibilities from home say that given the choice, they would want to keep working from home, regardless of the pandemic. Some even say that having to work from an office is a deal-breaker, considering the current advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed.

But, workers aren’t the only ones that prefer remote working. Some companies are considering shifting to remote working or a hybrid-work model.

However, not every industry can afford to send employees to work from home. What’s more, working remotely comes with pros and cons, some more serious than others. 

Advantages of working from home 

There are many advantages to remote working for business owners, organisations, and employees. 

Flexible Schedule 

Having a flexible schedule is one of the most important perks of working from home because it allows you to schedule your work life around your personal life. As a result, it can help better organise your responsibilities, reduce stress, and increase productivity. 

Save money 

One of the biggest benefits of working from home is that it allows you to cut down on many expenses, including transportation and fuel costs. You can also save money on work clothes and childcare. 

No office distraction 

Office distraction is real. From background noises to interruptions from colleagues, customers, suppliers, and micro-management, distractions, regardless of how small or big they can, can easily affect your concentration and productivity. 

Increase productivity and performance 

Several studies have shown that people who work from home are more productive. There are many factors that affect productivity, but, according to the numbers, saving on transit time played the largest role. 

Happier and healthier work-life 

One of the main positives of working from home, according to some studies, is that workers tend to be happier, more satisfied, and more motivated during their working hours. They’re also more likely to stay in the job longer. 

Decrease stress

Working from home can help decrease stress as there are more likely to be fewer distractions and interruptions. Remote working also allows for a quieter environment, and employees and workers have said that this way, they are kept out of office politics, which can be a significant stress factor.

Comfortability 

Another great advantage of working from home is the opportunity to work in your favourite spot in your home, where you feel the most comfortable. You can set up your office to make it fit your needs, get an ergonomic chair, and wear more comfortable clothes.

Disadvantages of working from home

Remote work has its perks, but it’s not for everyone and can negatively impact some employees.

Isolation 

One of the cons of working from home is the lack of socialisation. Employees may feel disconnected from the organisation as a whole, and chatting with your colleagues online and joining virtual meetings may not be quite enough for some workers.

Distractions

Working from home takes office distractions out of the equation, but workers can also get easily distracted at home. Not every worker can afford dedicated office space in their home, and even if they do, they can still get distracted by other household members and noise.

Potential burnout 

When switching from working at the office to working remotely, your work life can easily spill into your private time hours. This can lead to increased stress and irregular sleeping cycles.

Monitoring employee’s performance 

Monitoring employees’ performance and tracking their productivity remotely can be difficult for managers and is one of the biggest disadvantages of working from home for employers. That said, there are a variety of software tools for tracking time and performance for companies that are determined to stick to remote working.

Information security risk 

Security problems are more likely to occur with staff working from home as most employees would have to access the servers remotely. Companies have to put the right measures in place and install encryption software to ensure security.

Bottom Line 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home? Remote working has saved many businesses in the midst of the pandemic and brings a lot of benefits for both employees and businesses. However, working from home is not for everyone, and not every industry can function remotely.