Introduction

As the global pandemic hit and shifted the job scene, many people across the world switched over to remote working, and gone are the cubicles, in-person interactions, and roundtable meetings.

The past few years have shown the real benefits of having the ability to work remotely, while also highlighting the many struggles people have faced.

Remote work has become increasingly common in the digital age and is pretty much here to stay, though there are both benefits and challenges associated with this work arrangement. Here are some of the key benefits and challenges of remote work:

Benefits of working remotely

Flexibility

One of the best benefits of working from home is that people get to avoid commuting every day to work. Instead of sitting in constant traffic and wasting several hours getting to and from work, employees can get those lost hours back into their day. This can have several positive effects. An employee could be less stressed knowing they do not have to wait hours to get home, which could help with the general health of the worker.

Instead of sitting in their car for 60-90 minutes every day, people can use that time to potentially go on a walk or spend time with family and friends, doing what they couldn’t previously, as remote work allows people to work from anywhere, at any time, as long as they have access to the necessary tools and technologies. This allows an employee to work around their schedules and can result in increased job satisfaction and work-life balance.

Money Saving

Remote work can save money for both employees and employers on commuting expenses, office space rentals, and other associated expenses as all the work is done at home.

People can save money and not have to fill up their fuel (gas) tanks as often as they used to because fuel prices are rising, ultimately cutting the amount spent on gas, which could help the individual have more financial freedom in their life.

In addition, some people pay parking fees or pay for public transportation to get to and from work, while with remote work, those costs are eliminated.

More rest

Likewise tied to commuting to work, many people wake up early in the morning to ensure they can get to the office on time, and some leave in the dark. Many people go to work dragging their feet, yawning, and on their second cup of coffee.

Thus, with remote work, people get some of their lost hours of sleep back. Instead of waking up at 6 a.m. to make it to work at 8 a.m., employees can get an extra hour of sleep. Not only does this boost the overall happiness of an employee, but it also makes them more alert and ready to work.

Boost in productivity

Remote workers can often work in environments that are more conducive to productivity, free from the distractions of the office.

When employees have more sleep, do not have to commute, and have their workspace in the comforts of their homes, this can result in increased productivity.

Employees (a good number) who spend at least some of their time working remotely have a higher level of commitment as compared to those who do not ever work remotely.

The ideal commitment of a remote worker increased from 20% in 2012 to 60%–80% of time working remotely presently.

Why is this?

An employee has more freedom working from home, as they are afforded the splendor of working in an environment comfortable to them and not having someone constantly checking and looking over their shoulders.

Additionally, an employee does not have to deal with office interruptions and people constantly coming to their desks.

Access to the global talent

Employers can select the best talent from anywhere on the globe, regardless of their location.

Recruiting people from different geographical locations allows employers to widen their talent pool and gives them the flexibility to attract more talent from places they might not otherwise want to travel to. This presents an opportunity to expand the talent pool beyond local borders and recruit the very best candidates from around the world.

Improved Health

Working remotely can reduce the risk of exposure to illness, relieve stress, improve memory, help people sleep better, boost their overall mood, and help them maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Disadvantages of working remotely

Isolation and Communication barriers

Remote workers may experience a lack of social interaction and collaboration with colleagues, which can lead to feelings of isolation and, in the process, create communication challenges in the work environment as there may be a lack of clarity and understanding due to technological limitations.

It is very important to build a great relationship with the manager, as the growth of employees is highly dependent on them. Working remotely causes the manager to lose the ability to go and talk to an employee at their work desk whenever there’s an issue that requires confrontation and ends up having a less organic online conversation with the employee.

This also prolongs the building of relationships between the manager and the employees and puts a strain on the employees because they have little knowledge about the manager’s expectations and fail to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the employees.

When an employee has an issue that requires the manager’s instant attention, they lose the office interaction and switch to sending messages, emails, or calls, which mostly go unanswered.

A company’s office environment captures the true pulse and essence (culture) of work as co-workers become friends, thereby making the job enjoyable. Unfortunately, that tends to be hard when people work remotely. As building relationships becomes more difficult, this leads to a lack of human interaction and individuals working together who do not know each other.

Technical issues

Remote work requires a reliable internet connection, which may not always be available, causing delays and productivity issues. As a result, this has forced people to become more competent with the use of technology, whether it be a video conference call or navigating through the apps needed for communication. For some, this has proven to be a hard task due to a bit of resistance to adapting to the new mode of working.

Nothing is more frustrating than being cut off or frozen due to poor internet connectivity. This thereby requires all employees to have a very reliable Wi-Fi or internet connection, which helps out with the glitches, and a good video and sound feed.

Difficulty in time management

Remote work requires self-motivation and discipline, which can be difficult for some people, especially those who solely rely on social interaction and structure. Some people end up being too reliant on their coworkers to help with even the simplest of tasks and end up with the short straw in a remote work environment, which makes them do things either too slowly or barely anything in the given timeframe.

Distractions

Even though working remotely prevents distractions in a work environment, a new set of distractions takes over. Remote workers may face distractions from their home environment, such as family members, pets, or household tasks.

Being in the comfort of your home, several things could spring up, especially if you have roommates or family members, as they could be too loud, interrupt you while you’re working, and not have any boundaries.

To make matters even worse, if individuals have children, trying to focus on work while having a kid running around the house could prove to be very stressful (especially if you’re in a conference meeting). In addition, if people have animals, their dogs or cats could make it difficult for them to work if they decide to get your attention by all means, cutting your work short.

Aside from human distractions, being at home without supervision allows people to spend more time on their phones, turn on their television, and do other things outside of work. Resisting the urge to turn on the television could prove to be hard for most people.

Conclusion

For the most part, remote work has provided many benefits but also brought its own set of challenges. Employers and employees need to find ways to work on these challenges and aim to maximize the benefits that come from working remotely to create a successful and productive work environment, as time will tell if remote working is a lasting and permanent option for employing people.