The Pros and Cons of Working Remotely

Since the Coronavirus Pandemic, the business world has seen a huge surge of remote workers.

People who normally commuted to and worked in an office are now working remotely, normally from their own homes.

According to a recent study, before the pandemic, only 20% of the workforce worked remotely. When lockdown occurred, this jumped to a huge 71% of the workforce that worked from home.

Some people welcomed the chance to cut out the daily commute and spend more time at home. Whilst others lamented the fact that they couldn’t go into the office anymore.

In fact, a fairly even 54% of the workforce in the United States say that they would want to continue working from home. Even after the coronavirus outbreak ends.

But what are the pros and cons of working remotely? Let’s take a closer look at the upsides and downsides.

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

Is It Practical to Work Remotely?

The Pros

The Cons

Key Takeaways

Is It Practical to Work Remotely?

This is a common concern for anyone who has been asked to work from home.

One thing that is clear about remote working is that it can add flexibility to your working day and your life in general.

It’s a great way to avoid commuting and the cost it incurs as well as allowing you to have more control over your work.

But in reality, working from home isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So let’s take a look at the pros and cons.

The Pros

1. Better Work/Life Balance

The average working day is 8 hours long. The average commuting time in the United States is around 45 minutes. That means that by working from home, you’re cutting your time commitment and regaining almost 2 hours of your day.

This time can then be used to spend with your family and friends.

Also, many remote jobs allow you to work outside of the regular 9-5 office hours. This means you can tailor your work around personal life and various commitments. Or you could even schedule your work to when you feel you are at your most productive.

2. Cutting Costs and Your Carbon Footprint

The average cost of commuting to work in the United States is around $2,000 per year. That would be a cost savings of around $150 each month by cutting out your commute.

So by working from home, you’re effectively giving yourself a $2,000 per year pay rise.

You’re also reducing your carbon footprint as you’ll be using your vehicle much less.

3. Healthier Lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle whilst working in an office can be quite difficult. Most people feel so tired at the end of a working day that they don’t want to spend what precious time is left in the day exercising.

There is also the benefit of being able to cook and eat a nutritious meal at home instead of grabbing lunch out when you’re in the office.

The Cons

1. Staying Motivated

As there is no one around you to keep your motivation up, it can be difficult to motivate yourself and meet your targets.

Working from home requires self-discipline. Without the pressures of being monitored, you can easily become prone to a laid-back attitude and procrastination.

2. A Lack of Social Interaction

If you’re a part of a friendly work environment, it can be a great social boost going into the office space every day.

The classic chats around the water cooler don’t exist when you work remotely. Therefore you need to put extra effort into keeping in contact with your colleagues.

3. Communication

When in an office, it’s far easier to communicate with your employees and colleagues. When working from home, what used to be a 30-second walk to your colleague’s desk is now an email or a phone call.

Making sure that you have an effective method of communicating is absolutely essential for any remote worker.

Key Takeaways

After the COVID-19 pandemic is over, it’s generally accepted that we will see more chances for remote working.

It can be considered the best option for people who want to have a better work/life balance whilst staying productive at work.

But as with anything, being a remote employee comes with its own challenges and downsides. But as long as you’re committed to working out the kinks then remote working is a fantastic opportunity for a healthier work life.

Are you looking for more business advice on everything from starting a new business to new business practices?

Then check out the FreshBooks Resource Hub.

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