Should You Return to the Office? Working Remotely vs. The Perks of In-Person
Many people have been able to take advantage of the push to work remotely. However, not every business owner is on board; some believe the benefits of maintaining a traditional office environment far outweigh the flexibility and convenience of remote staffing. So, which is better: working remotely or in person?
We’ll let you decide: here are the pros and cons of both options.
Working From Home
In the last few years, remote work has become more widespread than ever. Video Conferencing software and Virtual Private Networks have allowed entire offices to stay home while working, ensuring no wages are lost during quarantine procedures.
Here are some advantages of working from home.
No Commute
One of the biggest benefits of working from home is not commuting to work. Driving to the office is surprisingly expensive, and public transportation usually charges flat rate fees. If you don’t have the spare change for gas or a bus ticket, you’re out of luck.
Also, commuting takes a lot of time. A half-hour one-way trip will take at least an hour total each day, which you aren’t compensated for. That half-hour drive can take up to 20 hours’ worth of your time every month, which translates to a lot of money you’ve lost out on.
Less Stress
Being able to work from the comfort of your home has a profound impact on stress levels. Many offices are crowded, and have harsh lighting, constant noise, strange smells, uncomfortable furniture, and constant supervision.
All of these things add up over time, and you can’t step out if you’re frustrated or overwhelmed as you can at home.
More Time
The lack of a commute, fewer steps for getting ready in the morning, and better access to breaks means that people working remotely generally have more time to do non-work activities.
Being in public for the better part of the day is exhausting, and not having that extra stressor means you can spend less time decompressing at the end of the day.
More Breaks
When you’re working from home, you can take more breaks. Even if you’re still confined to your desk for most of the day, you don’t have the constant supervision of the office environment, and access to your own bathroom, your private fridge, and the outside if you need fresh air.
Working In An Office
While working remotely may sound ideal, there are a select few benefits to working in an office.
Better Technology (Sometimes)
A business with enough money to rent an office building can usually afford better computers and a stronger network connection than you have at home.
Also, if you have technical issues at your home, you won’t be able to work until it’s back on, which may get you in trouble with your boss. Offices usually have some sort of on-site technical support.
Easier to Stay Focused
While working remotely is much more comfortable, the lack of certain distractions at the office may make it easier to focuson working.
At home, you may become distracted by family, pets, things happening outside, and the relative lack of supervision. The advantage of working at an office is that you’re more likely to stay on task the entire time you’re on the clock.
What’s the Verdict?
Is office community better than working from home? Not necessarily. While there are a few benefits to being in an office environment, it’s probably better overall to stay remote if your work can be done from home. Technology has advanced far enough that we can get in touch with anyone from the comfort of our couch in the same amount of time it would take to walk down the hall to another office, and the time and money saved by not having to commute is extremely valuable.
