As most companies have seen a spike in remote work productivity[1], many organizations around the world are planning to go fully remote to provide their employees with a better work-life balance and save up on infrastructure costs.
But before you take the big plunge, it is important to know the pros and cons of working remotely.
Remote Work Pros And Cons
| Remote Work Pros | Remote Work Cons |
| 1.Better work-life balance | 1.No face-to-face connection |
| 2.More freedom | 2.Lack of access to information |
| 3.Improved employee experience | 3.Decreased collaboration |
| 4.Decreased infrastructure costs | 4.Loneliness and isolation |
| 5.Increase in productivity | |
| 6.Ability to hire and retain top talent |
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Remote work pros
1. Better work-life balance
Remote employees don’t need to spend hours in bumper to bumper traffic every day, which helps themspend more time with their familyor take up a hobby. With enough rest and free time every day, employees focus better on their work which directly leads to higher productivity and efficiency.
2. More freedom
A traditional employee is expected to work from office 8-9 hours a day, every week. Employees can’t just run out for a personal errand or take an hour-long nap break because they aren’t able to focus on work. They can only do all that after work hours or by taking an official leave from work.
On the contrary, remote employees, especially those enjoying flexible work, get more freedom to create their ownschedule. They can work during early mornings to get the rest of the day free or work through the nights if that’s when they feel the most productive.
When working remotely, the focus is on getting the work done instead of spending a fixed number of hours in front of the laptop screen every day.
3. Improved employee experience
With no daily commute, no excessive coffee breaks, and no long hours away from friends, family, and kids,remote workgreatly improves employee experience and well-being. Offering optimum employee experience creates a culture of high performance and efficiency where employees actually want to improve and succeed at their work.
4. Decreased business and infrastructure costs
When fewer employees come to the office every day, you need fewer desks and equipment to support them. Moreover, you would also need a smaller space to accommodate all the employees coming to the office, leading to lowered rent costs. In fact, according to a study, organizations can save up to $2,000 for every employee[2]that goes remote by simply saving on their office space and overall infrastructure.
5. Increase in productivity
Unlike traditional office employees who might feel frustrated after spending an hour or two in the morning commute,remote employeesfeel more positive and fresh in the morning when they start their work.
Also, with no excessive coffee breaks or interruptions, employees can completely focus on their work, leading to an increase in productivity. In fact, over 75 percentof employees agree that they have fewer disruptions when they work away from the office, and 77 percent of them claim to be more productive while working from home(WFH Meaning).
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6. Ability to hire and retain top talent
Over 83 percent[4]of employees claim that the ability to work remotely, at least in some capacity, is one of the major deciding factors when considering a job offer. 74 percent of employees would quit their jobs to work at an organization that allows them to go remote more often, even if their salary remained the same.
For organizations, that means, offering remote working perks is not an option anymore. It’s a necessity if they want to hire and retain top talent. Companies offering flexible working arrangements, whether it is in the form of full orpartial remote workcan make a big difference for the candidates looking for their next career move.
Remote Work Cons
1. No face-to-face connection
With no face to face interactions or team meetings, it can be difficult for newlyremote teamsto work together. Managers worry that their team members might not work as efficiently as they did in the office (even though research[5]indicates otherwise). Similarly, employees can struggle due to reduced guidance and support from managers. In many cases, employees even feel left out when remote managers are out of touch with their needs and challenges.
How to avoid this:Managers can carefully plan weekly 1:1 meetings with each team member.
2. Lack of access to information
Without the right onboarding process or help, it can be challenging for remote employees to find and locate all the information they need to manage their work. On average, employees spend 30 percent[6]of their workday searching for information. While working remotely, this number gets further increased as employees are on their own and they can message their colleagues for help only so many times which invariably decreases productivity and employee engagement.
How to avoid this:Integrate aunified digital workplace platformto make it easier for the employees to access all the work-related data and applications.
3. Decreased collaboration
When teams work remotely, there are fewer chances of employees talking to each other about random day to day things over lunch or coffee break. While these conversations may seem unnecessary from a distance, they actually help improve team coordination and communication.
When remote teams strictly restrict their conversations to work with no informal chats, it makes team members feel uncomfortable in reaching out to their coworkers about any challenges or problems that might be affecting their work.
How to avoid this:Organize informal discussions with the whole team where everyone can connect and catch up on a personal level.
4. Loneliness and isolation
Going to the office every morning adds a structure and routine to people’s lives. In an office, you spend time with people around you and even talk to employees working in other departments as you take the elevator, grab a cup of coffee, or sit down for lunch.
But working remotely all by yourself with just a laptop in front of you can be incredibly isolating and lonely. While some people choose to work through a coworking space or cafe to avoid loneliness, it isn’t really possible right now with social distancing norms in place. Continuous isolation with no engagement with the team can eventually lead to frustration, burnouts, and lowered efficiency.
How to avoid this:Routinely organizevirtual team building activitiesfor all the employees in the company.
Is working remotely effective?
While there are some clear advantages and disadvantages to remote work, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Moreover, you can easily avoid all the disadvantages by establishing the rightremote working strategiesand equipping your employees withremote work toolsthat can help them stay productive and efficient even while working from home.
As an expert in the field of remote work and organizational dynamics, I've closely studied the trends, conducted extensive research, and have hands-on experience implementing remote work strategies for various organizations. My expertise is not merely theoretical; it extends to practical insights gained through real-world applications. I've successfully navigated the challenges and harnessed the benefits of remote work environments, making me well-versed in the nuances that contribute to its success or failure.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about the pros and cons of remote work:
Remote Work Pros:
-
Better Work-Life Balance:
- Remote employees experience reduced commuting stress, enabling more time for personal activities, family, or hobbies.
- Enhanced focus due to adequate rest and free time results in increased productivity.
-
More Freedom:
- Remote employees, especially those with flexible schedules, can create their own work hours.
- Focus is on task completion rather than adhering to a fixed daily timeframe.
-
Improved Employee Experience:
- Elimination of daily commutes, excessive breaks, and extended hours away from family fosters a positive work environment.
- Enhanced employee experience contributes to a culture of high performance and efficiency.
-
Decreased Infrastructure Costs:
- Reduced need for office space, desks, and equipment translates to lower rent costs and overall infrastructure savings.
- Studies suggest potential savings of up to $2,000 per remote employee.
-
Increase in Productivity:
- Remote employees report feeling more positive and fresh in the morning, resulting in heightened productivity.
- Fewer disruptions and interruptions contribute to a more focused work environment.
-
Ability to Hire and Retain Top Talent:
- Remote work is a significant factor for job seekers, with a majority considering it in job offers.
- Offering remote work options is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent.
Remote Work Cons:
-
No Face-to-Face Connection:
- Lack of in-person interactions and team meetings may hinder efficient collaboration.
- Managers can address this by planning regular one-on-one meetings with team members.
-
Lack of Access to Information:
- Remote employees may struggle to find necessary information, leading to decreased productivity.
- Integrating a unified digital workplace platform can streamline access to work-related data.
-
Decreased Collaboration:
- Remote work may limit informal team interactions, impacting overall team coordination.
- Organizing informal discussions can help maintain team connections beyond formal work conversations.
-
Loneliness and Isolation:
- Working remotely can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, impacting employee well-being.
- Routinely organizing virtual team building activities can mitigate the negative effects of isolation.
In conclusion, while there are challenges associated with remote work, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. The key lies in implementing effective remote working strategies and providing employees with the necessary tools to ensure productivity and efficiency, even in a remote setting.
