The Benefits and Drawbacks of Remote Work

Remote work or flexplace refers to the relocation of the typical office workspace to a different central location.

Remote work is typically carried out from an employee’s home, personal office, or preferred location, eliminating the need to commute to the office, particularly in the case of working from home.

These companies, known as “fully-remote workplaces,” even offer this option to all of their employees.

In addition to the advantage of being able to hire excellent employees globally, remote work also has the benefits of reducing commuting time and costs, as well as lowering the carbon footprint of employees.

In this article, we will closely examine the other important advantages and disadvantages of remote work.

Benefits of working from home

You get greater flexibility in your schedule and your day-to-day life is easier to manage

Heather Bostwick, VP of Marketing and Analytics at Education Dynamics, a higher education enrollment growth agency, explains that remote work allows her to have a more flexible schedule. She can sleep in a bit later, ensure her children are getting ready for the day, and go to the gym every morning. Before the pandemic, working remotely was not available to her, but now her company operates fully from home, reserving office space solely for monthly meetings.

Bostwick can handle the never-ending laundry accumulation caused by her children while she works. She explains, “Previously, I had to tackle six to eight loads of laundry over the weekend, leaving me tired for the following work week.”

Flexibility is also a major advantage for me. This is because I can utilize my breaks to accomplish tasks such as doing dishes or preparing dinner by cutting vegetables. These tasks enable me to have more time to spend with my husband and children during the evening.

You can ditch the time-consuming commute

Dealing with factors you have no control over, such as rude passengers, vehicle breakdowns, and traffic jams, can increase your stress levels during your daily commute. Additionally, a lengthier commute can negatively impact job satisfaction and mental health. In fact, for many individuals, the commute can be more stressful than the actual job. Furthermore, if any unforeseen problems arise, they can result in tardiness to work.

Even in the best-case scenario, a commute of just 20 minutes can consume 40 minutes of your day, which amounts to over three hours per week. If your commute is longer, the amount of time lost becomes even more significant. However, if you work from home, you can regain that time and utilize it according to your preferences. While you could choose to use this extra time for additional work, I encourage you to prioritize self-care. Take advantage of this additional time to connect with a friend, spend quality time with your pet, enjoy the company of your family, or treat yourself to a meal at your favorite restaurant.

You can complete more work tasks and assignments

In a pre-pandemic experiment, employees from a Chinese travel agency were randomly selected to WFH. The results of this experiment showed that the group who worked from home experienced a 13% increase in productivity. This increase was attributed to a quieter work environment and the ability to work for longer periods of time during each shift. Additionally, a survey conducted in 2021 found that 6 out of 10 remote workers reported being more productive than they originally anticipated. This increase in productivity was attributed to the elimination of commuting and the potential for better sleep. Remote workers also benefitted from the absence of distractions and interruptions that are typically present in an office setting.

The noise and activity of an open office plan
That chatty coworker who has trouble ending conversations
Those impromptu meetings or coffee breaks that run long

While there may be distractions associated with remote work, many individuals find that the distractions present in an office setting are more disruptive to their productivity.

You spend less money outside of the house

A 2021 Bankrate survey revealed that 57% of individuals reported their finances benefiting from remote work. One personal example is that I used to spend a significant amount on lattes and lunches whenever I commuted to work, but now that I prepare my own meals, I am undoubtedly saving money.

While everyone’s individual spending will differ, these are areas where you could potentially save money.

Commuting: Whether you take public transportation or drive your own car—gas, tolls, and monthly passes for the bus, train, or ferry can add up.

Clothes: A few comfy leggings or joggers, a rotation of relaxed but presentable tops, and you’re good to go. You can get dressed up if you want, but you don’t necessarily have to have a closet full of business garb and professional shoes.
Food: Getting ready for work and making lunch at the same time is great, but not everyone can fit meal prep into their weeks. At home, you’ve got your own fridge with your own favorite snacks and meals at hand. Best of all, you don’t have to write your name on your chow to keep [redacted] from HR from grabbing your yogurt.
Childcare: This depends on your circumstances and your child (or children), but if you’re a parent or caregiver, you might be able to save money on daycare or afterschool programs.

Drawbacks of working from home

Teamwork and leadership can be a little bit more challenging

In order to begin practicing remote work, it is essential to make certain adjustments and acquire new skills.

Employees must acquire the skills to effectively communicate online and conduct virtual meetings, as well as collaborate remotely with others and utilize various IT tools.

Although the transition may be difficult, the acquisition of new skills is always desirable and facilitates personal and corporate growth.

Two of the best tips for remote leaders in facing the challenges of leading a remote team are the possibility of encountering a sense of lack of control and the difficulty in fostering team spirit.

Go from being a time-based leader to being a results-based leader
Be inventive in promoting a sense of belonging

Feelings of isolation

We cannot thrive without human interaction, whether we are talking about employees or bosses, as we are all social beings. Depression and lack of productivity are among the main consequences of isolation.

To prevent feelings of isolation when working remotely, it is important for both remote workers and employers to ensure that they do not feel isolated in a remote work arrangement. Here are a few key points to remember.

Combine remote work and working in the office
Use camera when communicating online
Use traditional means of communication (phone…)
Organize (virtual) gatherings, team building events etc.
Check-in when starting to work
Remember birthdays, have informal work gatherings

Distractions at home and losing work-life balance

While there may be no office distractions when working remotely, a remote worker may encounter various new distractions, especially when working from home, such as children, pets, hobbies, television, and more.

Having a remote working space without distractions is highly advantageous for remote workers.

When working remotely, it can be more challenging to achieve a proper balance between professional and personal life due to two significant pitfalls. One of them is the temptation to work constantly, as the computer desk is always within reach.

For workaholics, this poses a significant risk as constant work without sufficient breaks or achieving a life-work balance results in rapid decline in work productivity over time.

The second pitfall involves dividing your time between work and spending time with family or engaging in enjoyable activities. This may entail alternating between a few minutes of work and then diverting attention to family members, before returning to work intermittently. It is a challenge to effectively manage multiple tasks at once.

When working remotely, it is logical to devote 100% of your attention to work during the designated hours, even if those hours offer great flexibility, and to have complete freedom during non-working hours.