The Covid-19 epidemic caused a significant change in the global work economy in 2020. While working from home used to be a benefit offered by certain organizations, it has now become the standard for most. 70% of the workers will be remote working at least 5 days per month by 2025, according to estimates. While 2020 may be seen as the year of working remotely, we believe it is only the beginning since the trend is expected to continue in 2021.

Let’s head on to the sections below to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of working remotely after the pandemic ends.

What are the advantages of working remotely?

Here is a list of factors that work as advantages of working remotely:

• Flexibility and agility: Working from home gives you greater flexibility and agility in your work schedule. Workers may be better positioned and more ready to work flexible work hours, such as sooner or later in the day, and also on weekends if they are no longer bound to an office. This might assist you in meeting specific company demands, such as dealing with clients in a different time zone.

• Improved employee retention: Employees may be more likely to stay at work if they have the option to work from home since it allows them to fulfill child care demands, minimize travel time, and integrate their work into their personal lives. Allowing workers to work from home builds trust in the company, which may lead to increased employee loyalty.

• Attract new talent: Working from home may be provided as an incentive to continue working for you, assisting you in attracting fresh talent to your company. Allowing workers to work from home can let you have a competitive advantage over companies that don’t allow it.

• Increased productivity: Because there are fewer interruptions than there would be in an office setting. Workers may also work more hours since they can use the savings made from traveling to begin work sooner, later or both.

• Increased staff motivation: Workers will feel more respected by their company if they work from home because the professional relationship isn’t as tightly watched, and employees are given more latitude to get on with their tasks. Employees will also be happier if they can establish a home working schedule that suits them better, which will help them feel more driven to do their best job.

• Better work/life balance: Working from home may help employees achieve a better work-life balance. For example, individuals who would have had to travel can now utilize that time for themselves, resulting in a better work-life balance. Staff may also incorporate home tasks into their workday, allowing them more free time in the evenings, such as loading and unloading the washer or cooking supper during their lunch break.

What are the disadvantages of working remotely?

Here is a list of factors which work as disadvantages of working remotely:

• Doesn’t suit everyone: Working from home isn’t for everyone’s temperament or skill set. Some employees may enjoy the regularity and structure that comes with working in an office setting. Some employees prefer face-to-face connections with coworkers and believe that face-to-face coaching from their boss is highly useful in assisting them in completing duties and achieving their objectives. You must also consider personnel with disabilities. Working remotely may have an adverse effect on the assistance they require to do their duties. Working remotely may not be suitable for everyone’s lifestyle. For example, some individuals may have small children who are oblivious to limits and cause disruptions during the workday. Some may not have the necessary physical space to set up a distinct workplace.

• Staff feeling isolated: People who work from home may experience a separation from their coworkers and the company as a whole, which is natural in an office setting. Employers might solve this issue by ensuring that communications are more consistent. Staff is given additional opportunities to feel connected and part of the team by organizing brief catch-ups via phone or frequent staff meetings via other tools like Skype. More casual and social gatherings may also help to reduce feelings of loneliness.

• Difficulty monitoring performance: It may be challenging to manage and oversee the performance of home employees. Monitoring may have a good or bad impact on distinct characteristics. You may consider creating measurable objectives and targets for your employees so that if they don’t meet them, you can spot and address any performance concerns early on. See how to effectively manage workers who work from home by looking at how to manage organizational effectiveness.

• Home distractions: Whilst working from home eliminates workplace distractions, if a person does not have a sufficiently quiet devoted working area at home, they may be easily distracted by domestic noises or other people in their home.

• Potential burnout: Working from home, where an office offers a clear physical difference between work and family life, might cause employees to lose sight of the divide. Workers may find it challenging to decide when to leave work, resulting in longer hours, higher stress, and, eventually, burnout. Employers should urge their employees to take breaks on a regular basis and remind them of the significance of doing so.

• Cost of working from home: Initial training expenses include the provision of appropriate equipment, such as laptops, cell phones, as well as other IT tools. You’ll also need to think about making changes to fulfill health and safety regulations.

Conclusion

Working remotely was on the rise prior to the coronavirus epidemic, as many firms recognized the perks to their businesses and better work-life balance for their employees. Although if you don’t feel working remotely will benefit your firm, employees with six months of service have a legal right to seek flexible work schedules, such as working remotely, and you, as a supervisor, must seriously review such applications.