An evergrowing switch in the work environment has been trending over the course of the past few years and while the debate of remote vs office is an ongoing conversation among the higher-ups of many different companies and sectors throughout the business world. The biggest issue regarding the debate of rather it is better to work from home than it is from the office doesn’t necessarily have to do with individual employees but more the upside of how cost-effective it is for the company as well as the productivity factor in both environment types. Here are some benefits of working remotely and in the office.
Two of the biggest advantages of working from home pertain to the higher employment rate due to the fact that there are more prospects available as well as the commute factor. While commuting is no longer a factor when working from home, companies and businesses are able to hire more skilled labor because more people are willing to work from home. Additionally, because there is no longer any commute time there is less stress on the employee to pay for commuting costs as well as time. By working from home absenteeism is also drastically decreased.
On the opposite end of the above working in an office is important because this type of environment provides a home-life balance that can not be given when simply working from home due to multiple challenges that may be faced outside of work. Here, a balanced structure can provide employees with a good work environment that will help them focus on the task at hand without throwing personal matters into the mix that may pull away from staying focused. Furthermore, being around colleagues in a face-to-face setting is better for collaborating and handling various work tasks especially when involving brainstorming.
A couple of additional benefits to working from home involve the overall mental health and likelihood of an employee working for a given company. First, the overall mental health of an employee working remotely vs in an office setting is proven to have improved vs that of any office worker. This is because the comforting environment is less stressful and the setting eases or reduces any anxiety and depression. Of course, this is an added reason as why most future employees opt for the WFH setting instead of an office environment. Of course, ease of access, being close to family, and more play a deciding factor as well.
An additional big benefit, on the other hand, to working in an office setting is that the overall team morale is increased. This is beneficial because the sole focus is based on providing positive energy through team activities and group projects in an effort to boost overall productivity and energy. Morale doesn’t even need to be boosted in a direct office setting but can occasionally be done by attending an event together or meeting up with the staff members for lunch or dinner. The goal is to provide a safe space to share thoughts and socialize.
Flexibility for the employee is a big benefit to wanting to work from home vs in the office. Here, flexibility refers to a time slot that can be carved out in a busy schedule that works toward obtaining a WFH position. Many people look for flexible working hours in an effort to further balance the multiple tasks that are required attention throughout an entire day. Since there aren’t more than 24 hours in a day flexible hours play a big advantage when looking to work remotely. While the same can be done from an office it is a proven timesaver when it’s home-based.
It has been proven that working from home can be more productive than working from an office. This is why productivity is a big benefit to companies seeking WFH agents. Here, amidst any and all distractions that are more than likely to take place, there is more opportunity to complete work-oriented tasks. Of course, problems can, and will probably, arise in the form of tech issues and the like but the fact remains that more is done from home than in an office. This includes an average break time of roughly 20-minutes and less time in reproduction.
The benefit of more efficient team meetings is the experience when working in an office setting vs that of a home environment. While workers can just as easily get meeting content via e-mail and other digital methods when working from home there is a big difference when things are completed in person. When working at a physical company office there is no need to mute audio but instead one can physically communicate thoughts, ideas, and the like with colleagues while enjoying a morning coffee. Here is where company updates and other vital company news are typically shared.
One final benefit that will be discussed here as it pertains to working from home is that more time can be spent with the family. Although the con side of the remote vs work-from-home spectrum may view this as a negative it is actually a big plus. Family-time is a vital aspect of life and as such being available whenever possible is definitely essential. It doesn’t necessarily mean playtime but just being there means everything in the world. Here boundaries will, however, need to be set; especially when the environment must be silent. This also provides a healthy balanced lifestyle.
In conclusion, while working from home can be beneficial the same can be true for an office environment. As discussed in this article there are numerous amounts of benefits that range from saving on time and money, flexible scheduling, and improving productivity the office environment benefits show a different side. Ultimately, it all comes down to the needs and company direction by which the employers wish to go toward but the benefits have to side not only with the company direction but also with the costs involved. This, of course, includes salary, as well as resources needed for remote work.