What cons did we encounter during our first weeks of working remotely? 10 pros of working remotely. Vartika Kashyap is the Chief Marketing Officer at ProofHub and has been one of the LinkedIn Top Voices in 2018. There are many studies like the one sponsored by Cisco that supports the fact that remote workers are more productive. The Pros and Cons of Remote Working COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we live and work. While video conferencing can be a solution, it can never be as effective as talking to someone who is sitting right next to you. You’ll learn new skills By getting some extra time daily to manage personal life, remote workers can be more happy and satisfied with their jobs. Sure, working from home has been shown to bring an increase in productivity, but it also means that you can find it difficult to disconnect from your work. The benefits to employees are also clear. Pros of working remotely. Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox. In this blog post, I will try to explain the pros and cons of working remotely. Just stay with us and learn more about the pros and cons of working from home. to stay productive. Today, both organizations and professionals all over the globe are taking this work arrangement quite seriously. Working remotely means that you have to learn and use various technologies, including apps like to-do lists, project management software, etc. This is most likely because employees have more flexibility and are able to get more sleep, maintain a greater work-life balance and ultimately spend more time on their general wellbeing. Although being remote can impact collaboration in negative ways, having a virtual playground for everyone to come together creates fuel for innovative fires. cease to exist. Others are considering starting remote work anyway so they have better job security in times like this. Let’s Talk About The Pros and Cons of Working Remotely. As working remotely becomes more acceptable by the day, companies are increasingly offering positions with flexibility. It’s easy to work in a distributed team by using an all-in-one project management software like ProofHub. and work as a member of a distributed team. However, by investing in the latest technology, employers can rest assured that their teams will be able to collaborate effectively and maintain productivity while working remotely. One such reason is lesser distractions. Copyright © 2020 GovNet. There are a lot of benefits to working remotely, which is why the option to do so is so attractive to modern employees. But for others, working in a busy office is a great way to meet new people and make friends. The type of relationships fostered at work might be great for collaboration. 01 Why go remote - the pros and cons of becoming part of a distributed team. that supports the fact that remote workers are more productive. Only you can decide if working from home is right for your small business. If a business is located in a rural area, it can be really difficult to find the ideal candidate, especially compared to cities where job vacancies usually receive hundreds of applicants. What Is Remote Work? by Barbara Coelho | July 16, 2020 | 0 Comments. Working remotely gives you access to more workers with this mindset. The Pros and Cons of letting your employees work remotely. In other words, the number one advantage to working remotely is freedom and flexibility. Whether employees commute by public transport or in their own car, they’re making savings on travel costs. However, as previously mentioned, the lack of commute has delivered a great deal of wellbeing benefits. While my experiences are singular, I also reached out to other fellow remote workers to get them to share their pros and cons of working remotely (& some practical tips): “After 10+ years of working remote, the pros: I have tons of free time, no L.A. traffic to deal with, and I get to make my schedule. So can a coffee shop or, for that matter, a tropical beach in the Caribbean. Several reasons account for the enhanced productivity of remote workers. Instead, they are working remotely. The absence of proper communication among remote teams is likely to act as a roadblock for, Thus, you need to put more effort to interact with people in your team and even have to take part in. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(5539127, 'b8836e43-fec5-4a0f-951f-ceb405c5049f', {}); Get exclusive offers, insights and learning resources direct to your inbox. The 2020 global pandemic has made remote work more popular than anyone could have ever imagined. She likes to write about productivity, team building, work culture, leadership, entrepreneurship among others and contributing to a better workplace is what makes her click. Want to manage your tasks more efficiently as a remote worker? Things to consider are: To ensure you’re meeting your duties as an employer, we’ve created the Excel at Remote Working Health and Safety course. Let’s Talk About The Pros and Cons of Working Remotely, Just like every other work arrangement, remote work or. Working Remotely: The Pros, the Cons, and How to Succeed. Looking to make the most out of your projects and remote team? Plus, if they continue saving at this rate (around £93 a month), Londoners could be saving an impressive £1,112 a year. Cons. to keep yourself healthy. The best part about working remotely is that you get to work from anywhere. Telecommuting: The Pros, Cons and Risks of Working from Home. Once that starts to happen, it is certainly going to be a downfall in your professional life. Just imagine, all the bills that you pay for your transportation, parking tickets, vehicle maintenance, eating lunch in a fancy restaurant, etc. The Pros. Healthier lifestyle; 4. In fact, most of them can be resolved. Companies located all around the world have now asked their employees to work from home. Many of the innovative software companies like Google, Facebook, Ne... , there were an estimated 4.7 million remote workers in the US at the start of 2020. This has had drastic effects on the environment, with the transport sector in the UK and US being responsible for more greenhouse gases than any other. Our Excel at Remote Working Health and Safety course contains the techniques you need to virtually ensure your employees’ health and safety at home. By not commuting to work, you also reduce your carbon footprint as you will not be taking your vehicle out. Working remotely seems to be all the rage lately, with 37% of respondents. As I mentioned above, working remotely become increasingly common for some employees to work from a remote location, such as their home or anywhere else, thanks to the power of personel computing and internet. For many, one of the biggest cons of working remotely is that social interaction is significantly reduced. For example, startups that can’t afford office space often work remotely. Company Registered Number 3307092 VAT Registered Number 686 2779 74 Partnership Media Group Trading as GovNet Communications, 45% of people spent over an hour commuting a day. So what can we expect to see in work environments post-COVID-19? 2. With remote working increasing employees’ overall wellbeing, it’s better for business. While there are plenty of pros and cons to consider, the downsides don’t outweigh all the benefits of remote working. While this can be considered a pro of working remotely in the short term, it’s a con in the long-term. In this interview with Aleyda Solis, Hamlet goes into the ins and outs of working remotely, why he chose this for RankSense, and why it works so … With no commute, employees have been able to organise their day around their work in a way that suits their needs. Although this may seem like only a benefit for employees, it actually has a variety of pros for employers. Start using ProofHub today! Pros of working from home It … One of the most important things that are missing in a remote work arrangement is proper communication among colleagues. Pros Flexibility. Let’s start off with the benefits of working from a location other than the office. Even if you are an in-house employee, it’s possible to make a smooth. In turn, this is a great benefit to employers - more sleep, less stress equals better productivity levels. Working from home—the place where you also sleep, eat, watch TV, play with your cat or your kids—can be extremely distracting. Pros 1. It’s easier to … CONS 1. Expensive business trips are virtually eliminated, requirements for physical office space are reduced, and employee productivity often increases due to the flexibility that remote working allows. Thus, you need to put more effort to interact with people in your team and even have to take part in remote team building activities. A new study from Harvard Business School says geographic flexibility can save money for businesses and staffers. Working remotely means that you can spend more time with your family. To ensure staff health and safety is maintained while working from home, organisations are proactively looking at ways they can improve it. Arguably, the best perk of working from home is the increase in a strong work-life balance. In fact, this has always been one of the biggest challenges associated with remote work. Better work-life balance; 3. Lack of … The benefits of working from home. So, before you jump in to take the final call, you should take a good look at the pros and cons of working remotely discussed in the next section. Some employees have a one hour journey to work and back five days a week - that’s 10 hours spent purely on a train or bus or in a car. This chapter explores the pros and cons of working remotely. For example, pre-COVID, 45% of people spent over an hour commuting a day. Even if you are an in-house employee, it’s possible to make a smooth transition to remote work and work as a member of a distributed team. It’s essential to answer why you want to work remotely. You can kiss goodbye to the dreaded commute to and from work. Creative people push the innovation envelope every day. The pros and cons of working remotely or from home. Previously, employers believed that remote working would decrease productivity, however, studies show there are a variety of benefits for both the employee and employer. The lack of social interaction will affect you most if you are an extrovert or a social butterfly. As a remote worker, you can easily become prone to a laid back attitude, and a habit of procrastinating. In London, 65% of workers have been able to save money from their commute budgets and have used the extra money to increase savings, pay back debt, pay their mortgage and save for a house deposit. The pros and cons of working remotely mentioned in this article can help you know remote work better and make the right decision to either work as a telecommuter or not. Not only that but as people are no longer in the office, offices aren’t using water or electricity, plastic cups for water fountains or providing printed handouts as the majority of remote work is strictly digital. Is it Practical to Work As a Full-Time Remote Worker? The absence of proper communication among remote teams is likely to act as a roadblock for effective team collaboration. Moreover, many remote jobs allow you to work outside the regular 9-5 office hours. More savings and lesser carbon footprint; Cons. Remote work allows employees to live in one place while working for a company based hundreds of kilometers away. There’s a point in your freelance career (and in your pro… Of course like anything, working remotely has its pros and cons. While remote working sounds fun and interesting, one thing that most people fail to notice is that most of them have to manage everything ranging from their workstation to internet connection all by themselves. Working remotely involves performing regular work outside of the workplace. Remote working is just one of the many ways businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and effect on the environment. Then there are the people who just have trouble working in an office environment anyway. Remote working is the new norm of getting things done. 11/03/2015 11:59 am ET Updated Dec 06, 2017 ... have found that employees who work remotely are often more productive and work longer hours than those who head into the office. Because of the pandemic, many employers have had to embrace remote working and have seen the benefits as a result. When you work from home, you don’t have to do certain things like getting ready for office, commuting to work, etc. Is there adequate lighting levels, ventilation and room temperature. There are fewer chances of office small talk and banter, which is often a nice distraction. Some employers want their remote workers to come in to the office on occasion, which can afford employees the opportunity to travel. In fact, some UK cities saw a 60% drop in nitrogen dioxide levels in the first two weeks of lockdown alone. Although employees are working from home, the employer’s responsibility for staff health and safety doesn’t stop because they’re no longer in office. Thus, you can utilize these saved hours to have some quality time with your partner and kids. You can cook and eat nutritious food and even involve yourself in multiple exercise sessions throughout the day. Expanded Productivity Working remotely eradicates the interruptions of the workplace working environment.On the off chance that you require a controlled situation and restricted human collaboration to be beneficial, you might need to consider going after a remote job. Ensuring employees are happy is key to retention and recruitment. As a result, you save a considerable amount of time and utilize it to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For some, it can be distracting and reduce productivity. If you’ve ever freelanced, you understand this well. With more people working from home now than ever before, we’re already seeing a dramatic decrease in harmful emissions. COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we live and work. Working remotely enhances innovation. But before you make any decision, I want to shed light upon both the good and bad sides of working remotely that you need to know. 12. Also, this is beneficial to organizations in the sense that it’s easy to retain contended employees and thus, maintain a high employee retention rate. When people work from home, they gain this time back, easing the daily stress they would usually face and improving their quality of life. Employers have many fears when it comes to remote working. However, there are some pitfalls of remote work that you need to consider and have to push yourself to successfully overcome them. More savings and lesser carbon footprint. Loneliness, distractions, communication problems and technical difficulties are just some of the issues remote workers face. However, one thing that I want to make clear that it’s true that remote work adds flexibility to the life of a worker, but it is not everyone’s cup of tea and is not suitable for every profession. When working remotely, no one is going to show up on your work desk to discuss trivial matters and have a discussion that is of no interest to you. Globally, it’s responsible for around one-quarter of CO2 emissions. Since its inception 16 years ago, GovNet has produced vital industry magazines and hosted keynote conferences to the highest standards due their unparalleled industry access and by building a platform to encourage industry insiders and delegates to discuss issues in constructive ways. This is a very common question that comes to the mind of most people when they think about remote work or work from home. Additionally, it will not only help you do your bit to save the environment but also save fuel for the future. A lot of typing. Source: Buffer Remote Workers on The Pros & Cons of Working Remotely. As a result, employees have more time to catch up on sleep which lowers stress levels. Remote working has given employees that time back, reducing their working week dramatically. 1. Here are the top 10 pros of working from home: To learn more or to sign up, click the button below. Whether it’s on a train, bus or in their own car, it takes a toll on their life, eating into family time or the time they could spend enjoying hobbies. If you‘re working remotely, you’re missing out on opportunities to work side by side with your colleagues. Try it for Free now! Has electrical equipment been tested and certified? Another key advantage of working remotely is that you can save more money each year. Along with considering the pros and cons outlined here, you also need to consider the type of work that you do, whether to not you will have access to the equipment you need to do your job, your home situation, and your personal character traits.By analyzing these factors, you can make a decision that will work for … From social distancing to remote working, there are a variety of changes that have been introduced to contain the virus and keep people safe. Furthermore, it’s also your responsibility to keep yourself organized and make sure that you have everything that you need to properly manage your work. 60% of homeworkers report feeling happier since working from home. Higher productivity; 2. Instead of appealing only to individuals who live close to the organisation, employers can have the pick of the best candidates. Depending on your job, this may or may not be a pro or con. From social distancing to remote working, there are a variety of changes that have been introduced to contain the virus and keep people safe. Now, if you are reading this article, it’s pretty much possible that you are planning to work as a remote worker either full-time or part-time. Less Collaboration. It is up to you to decide which ones are more important to you and have a bigger impact on your well-being and happiness. Do you prefer to work alone, or you want to travel, maybe you have some health issues which will make it easier for you to work from home or maybe you are a mum who needs some flexibility, or perhaps you have a … It can help teams build camaraderie and get to know each other. So what are your responsibilities as an employer when it comes to health and safety in remote work? All these savings become a reality when you are working remotely. Not commuting to work means that you can save a significant amount of time. Remote work is possibly the best work arrangement if you want to manage your personal life better while staying productive at your work. to one survey reporting they telecommuted at some point. An initial risk assessment must be carried out, although this can be done by the employee. In the office, it’s so easy to approach any colleague whenever you want to discuss something in person. Additionally, it is possible to create a schedule that can help you achieve the perfect balance between work and personal life. They can work during their most productive hours and handle inevitable personal issues with greater efficiency. That may sound a little wordy, but it’s true: rather having to check into the same room at the same cubicle every day, you can work from your home office, in the garden, at the community cafe, at a gathering, from a bus, and so on. It’s obvious that you are going to miss social interaction with the people in your organization. To ensure employees are safe and can work effectively, a variety of requirements must be met. Her articles are inspired by office situations and work-related events. In today’s world, a two-income household is common as the cost of living has greatly increased. As mentioned previously, office workers spend a lot of time commuting. If you want to go for remote work, you should have most or better all of the following characteristics: You need to have A LOT of self-discipline. As there’s no active supervision and your colleagues are not working around you, it can be difficult to stay motivated and meet your targets. This will help them to adhere to the social distancing rules that are implemented along with the global pandemic. From carrying out a work from home risk assessment to learning how to remotely identify and reduce risks, our courses provide you with an interactive, engaging learning environment. Companies that operate solely on the computer are among the most likely to employ remote workers. While remote workers can often be more productive than their in-office counterparts, one of the biggest problems remote employees face is burnout – it is a very serious risk to their health. Keep on reading and check them out! As per the study conducted by Flexjobs and Global Workforce Analytics, there were an estimated 4.7 million remote workers in the US at the start of 2020. Working remotely is becoming increasingly common. In fact, 60% of homeworkers report feeling happier since working from home. There are many different reasons employees embrace remote life, from the environmental impact to having more time to take care of their loved ones. If you are not ready to switch to full remote working, you can opt to have hybrid work practices, that will … However, before deciding on working remotely, you must evaluate and determine if this is the right choice for you. reduces sick days from 2.6 days per year to 2.4 days per year, 65% of workers have been able to save money. Reduced stress for employees Working remotely means that you have to learn and use various technologies, including apps like to-do lists, 4. And honestly, remote work is a great way to avoid daily commuting and accomplish your office tasks in the workplace of your choice. That’s why remote working is ideal for finding the best talent. Pros: 1. This is usually on a personal laptop or computer which is connected to the internet. We all type pretty fast (the Typing Speed Test was a popular break activity at work when it first came out). Switch to ProofHub today! Even employers won’t mind your flexible work schedule as long as you are completing your tasks on time. Here are the pros and cons of working remotely. Communication Gaps; 2. Also, when you are working the whole day without talking to anyone, you are most likely to feel lonely. Is the seating and layout of the employee’s computer workstation correct? Are extension leads and cables for computers and printers safe? Difficult to stay motivated 3. Since we’re a distributed company, here are the benefits we’ve seen from having flexible remote schedules. Although many employees are working from home, employers still have a duty of care to their employees. This course can be accessed from any location. Moreover, it is also possible to take short breaks between work and do some physical activity like taking a brisk walk, etc. Just like every other work arrangement, remote work or telecommuting has its own upsides and downsides. But there are still more benefits to no commute. You can work at different times of the day when you are more productive. As you can see, there are plenty of pros and cons of working from home. Remote working is a great benefit to candidates, making the job appeal to a bigger, better talent pool. But when you have a lot of issues to handle during your … 40% of employees have experienced mental exhaustion from video calls while working remotely. Many individuals believe that the everyday hustle restricts them from having balanced meals, especially in the morning and the afternoon. Pros of Working Remotely Independence Being a remote worker comes with a feeling of true independence. This can include managing different schedules or simply not trusting their employees to do their work while unsupervised. 59% of employees felt more cyber secure working in-office compared to at home.