Working remotely is one of the raging revolutions taking over workplaces. It’s a concept that seeks to end the traditional working arrangements.
Though working remotely gained popularity after the COVID-19 outbreak that necessitated social distancing, it had existed for over a decade. The pandemic was the catalyst that sparked a steep rise in remote work as businesses opted to work remotely to stay in operations instead of shutting down.
Below are the pros and cons of working remotely. Read on before deciding, especially those aspiring to work from home.
Pros:
Reduces Costly Expenses
Remote work reduces many expenses such as transport, expensive lunches, work attire, among others. Whereas employers reduce the workspace, thus lowering the operation cost. For both parties, this work arrangement is helpful as either side spends less. Meaning, employees have more cash to better their lifestyle while the employee has more resources to invest.
Better Work Flexibility
Since most remote jobs don’t follow regular working hours, an employee can build a favorable work schedule. From which, they can organize themselves to achieve a perfect work-life balance. For instance, parents with small kids who need care and attention can create more time for them. It also makes it easier to attend life events like anniversaries and medical appointments.
Increased Productivity
Remote workers are more productive than regular workers. This is because they can choose their work environment, limit distractions, and have more time. Also, workers can take breaks from work whenever they feel the need. This flexibility enables remote workers to avoid cases of burnout and low motivation.
Promotes Healthy Lifestyle
Office workers find it challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The reason being, they have little time away from office time to engage or sign up for any workout program. On the same note, preparing healthy meals becomes a struggle because of everyday hustles and time constraints. This leaves them with the option of grabbing whatever is on offer from the nearest restaurant.
While in comparison, those working from home can cook balanced food and create time for workout sessions.
Cons:
Lack of Social Interaction and Collaboration
Working remotely denies workers an opportunity to have social interaction with colleagues. For extroverts, it’s discouraging and lonely to work the entire day without talking to anyone. The arrangement limits collaboration and brainstorming of ideas. This makes it hard to effectively and efficiently achieve work goals.
Limited Chances of Career Progression
Data from several studies conducted on remote workers show that employees rarely get promotions or pay raises. Hence, working from home might not be your thing if you are looking to advance your career quickly.
Difficulty in Building Teamwork
Remote workers struggle to build and sustain relationships with other remote colleagues. This arises because of limited in-person interaction. Besides, Remote workers are likely to miss out on spontaneous decisions during online meetings.
Oversight Challenges
Like in usual work arrangements, managing remote teams is relatively easy. Although, remote team managers need online tools and performance indicators to track progress.
Conclusion
Working remotely is possible; in fact, it’s a new reality. It’s also an excellent opportunity to enhance skills for the right people. Again, remote workers should remain focused and work hard. They stand to gain work experience like other regular workers.
