Pros And Cons Of Remote Work Arrangements
When the pandemic hit, companies had to scramble to come up with a remote way of working for their employees. Each company had to weigh the pros and cons of remote work. Nearly a year and a half later, many places have implemented a permanent work from home strategy (e.g. Facebook, Twitter). Other employers are trying to work out a more hybrid model.
According to a Gartner survey, about 70% of employees want to have some form of remote work. It’s likely that there will continue to be less office time all things considered. Whether you want to continue to stay at home or you’re itching to go back to a physical office, remote work is here to stay.
Pros Of Remote Work
Saves Time And Money
Without the time and costs of commuting, employees can lessen their stress. It also allows them to save money that would otherwise go to gas or public transportation. In addition, companies save money because they aren’t paying rent or energy costs for an office space.
Increased Work Productivity
Many people have found that they are more productive at home because there are no office distractions. A home is a place where you feel comfortable and it’s set up the way you want, so you feel less stressed about things.
Flexible Schedules
At home, remote workers have been able to add more flexibility to their schedules. There’s been an increase in meeting attendance because employees don’t have to think about travel or commute schedules, plus there’s the added benefit of taking some time for yourself without a colleague popping in.
Work/Family Life Balance
While some people complain that working with children at home is hard, studies have found that it’s actually easier to balance family needs when you’re at home. You’re there to care for your child rather than scrambling to get back home.
Decreased Hierarchical Work Models
With remote work, more equality in work is also encouraged. There’s no specific seating order at a meeting table and nobody feels like someone has more power since everyone is communicating through video.
Cons Of Remote Work
Lack Of Communication Trust
It can be hard to build trust between colleagues when you’re constantly communicating virtually. Tsedal Neeley, the author of Remote Work Revolution, said:
“Unlike in person, where the ideal time you spend with your coworkers inevitably leads to serendipitous discoveries about one another, in the remote format you have to make a point of sharing your personal side.”
Harder To Collaborate
Many people who have been working remotely for a while now know how easy it is for things to get lost in translation through email, Slack, etc. Of course, there are tools that can be utilized, but these have a learning curve and will take some time to get used to. It’s important for the team or organization to make sure that these tools work for employees.
Missed Office Interactions
One of the obvious downsides to remote work is in-person interaction. Many leaders have said they “manage by wandering around,” and interacting with colleagues can boost employee happiness and overall well-being.
Decreased Customer Service
While not all jobs require meeting customers in person, some do see an increase in better customer relationships. For example, retail settings pretty much depend on interacting with customers, and without that, customers may be left feeling unsatisfied.
The pros and cons of remote work are all something that companies should be considering. As more people ask for work-from-home options or companies consider hybrid options, it’s important to make sure that the transition and communication with your employees are clear. Signature Source is your resource for recruiting the most highly desirable talent and work as your consultant for organizational development solutions. We can help with some of these remote work questions and concerns. Check out our website for more information. Besides helping with remote work arrangements we also have experience with resume creation, analysis of job descriptions, compensation evaluation, and more!
