Remote Working

Pros

1. Flexibility: Many people have other commitments outside of work, such as needing to do the school run. Having the option to work from home around school hours is one of the most popular reasons for choosing remote working.
2. Time: Battling the train timetable or sitting in traffic for hours each morning is enough to set anyone’s working day off on the wrong foot. Winding down from a hectic commute, making a tea round or catching up with co-workers all eat into the working day. Working from home cuts all of that out; if you need to start at 9 am, you make a coffee, sit yourself down and start at 9 am, simple. Most home workers only need to commute downstairs.
3. Saving money: This is a big one for employers; having the ability to save money is always a bonus and allowing remote working is an obvious solution to this. By doing so, there are fewer overheads and bills and less overall staff expenditure. Homeworkers will be able to save money and become more eco-friendly by reducing emissions from travelling.
4. Productivity: Reed Employment Agency found that working from home can really help to increase your productivity, as the absence of office distractions makes it easier to keep your head down and get your work done. This is an advantage for both employers and employees alike.
5. Exercise: We all know the government initiatives regarding exercise and living well; they recommend at least a 10-minute brisk walk each day to keep a person healthy. Asking employers to encourage staff to get out and about during their precious working hours is not feasible but working from home gives you that flexibility. Taking the time to go for a run or do your exercise regime when you want to rather than after a day at work will ultimately benefit productivity, as well as your health. Children in the UK are now encouraged to run a mile each day at school, as studies have shown that physical activity is known to improve concentration. If children are doing it, then why not adults too?

Cons

1. Interaction with others: One of the cons of home working is the lack of camaraderie, missing out on the interaction with co-workers and having nobody to go out for lunch with. This may seem a trivial point, but loneliness is a big deterrent among people who are looking to work from home.
2. Self-discipline: When you go to work, you are doing exactly that, going to an office space at a set time and leaving at a set time too. Being self-disciplined and becoming motivated to start work when there is no-one around and distractions are everywhere can be very difficult.
3. Space: Physically having the space to work remotely is a disadvantage of remote working for many individuals. Utilising the dining table is all very well, but where do you keep all your documents, laptop and office paraphernalia? These are things to consider if you don’t have an actual home office to work from.
4.  Over-working: Knowing when to switch off can be difficult when working from home. As there are no set working hours, and often no reason to stop, over-working can often happen with no recompense.
5. Inspiration and ideas: Bouncing ideas and inspiration of your colleagues is a great way to both learn and impart wisdom. Skype is a great tool for contacting co-workers in order to get vital information, but there is a definite downside to not being in the ‘buzz’ of an office and getting great ideas from your fellow workers.