Have you ever wondered why individuals would prefer to remain in the comfort of their homes and be productive as opposed to throwing on some clothes and heading out to the office? Let me help you out its Flexibility.

That is what tech workers crave the most, the wiggle room remote working provides can be seen as an incentive in the tech space. Remote working became popular when organizations decided to adapt to the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic forced organizations to look for innovative ways to facilitate productivity whilst not being physically present.

You might be wondering what remote working is. Remote working is the agreement between an employee and an organization that permits them not to be physically present in the workspace but still be productive wherever they are. The success of working remotely has been facilitated by technological advancement. Technological advancements offer the ability to get work done despite the worker’s location and enable communication with coworkers and clients. The use of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, and laptops, has also played a huge role in the facilitation of communication. There has also been the implementation of certain software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and WhatsApp.

Benefits of Working Remotely

There are various benefits of working remotely. I have carefully outlined a few advantages below.

1. Freedom and Flexibility

Employees can plan their day to suit both their work and home life, as long as they put in the necessary hours required to complete the tasks for the day, there should not be any problem. Having the flexibility to attend to family matters and not having to ask special permission when you want to step out can be a load off. This is what anyone would love to have as an option.

2.Cost saving

Going to work can be expensive. You’ve got transportation costs, lunch, and clothes. Some employers even provide refreshments and lunch breaks as benefits to subsidize costs. Remote working helps cut back on these expenses, which can add up to a substantial amount. This means more disposable income for other things.

3.Save time

Having a remote job means employees manage their schedules. As long as the time you’re working does not affect your colleagues and you meet deadlines then you can work when you wish. Technological advancement allows team members can engage in calls or meeting with just a click of the button.

4.Location

Another benefit of working remotely for employees is that they can work from anywhere. People don’t have to reside in the city of the organization to be a part of the team. Working remotely means it doesn't matter if you live at the top of a mountain or down under. As long as you have a good internet connection you can work from any location in the world.

5.Work/life balance

The ability to work remotely offers a better work/life balance. Working away from the office can make you feel in control of your life and give you more time to plan both work and home tasks. Work/life balance gives employees comfort and peace of mind.

Drawbacks of Working Remotely

What would innovation be without challenges. Here are some minor setbacks of working remotely.

1. Home distractions

When you work remotely, you may be distracted by things like cleaning the apartment, video games, noisy family members, and intrusive conversations of all sorts. This is likely to impede the productivity of an employee, and it could lead to more problems if it is not sorted out.

2.Isolation

There is a popular saying “No man is an island”. This is self-explanatory in the sense that humans are social animals and we prefer to hobnob with our fellow workers in a corporate setting. This is just to promote communication and productivity.

3.Decreased team-work and communication

Decreased teamwork. A significant disadvantage of having your team shared across various locations can slowly decrease teamwork. Lack of a daily commute to one another can sometimes lower productivity for remote employees. This is a major issue in the sense that remote working doesn't give room for as much professional communication and networking opportunities

4.Lack of motivation

Procrastination is a disease to productivity. This is because working from the comfort of your home could pose as a threat to personal accountability. The home is a place many associate with leisure, so it is easy to get distracted. The desire to procrastinate grows when you have no time constraints or any work supervision.

5.Blurred work/life boundary

Working remotely can offer flexibility. But it can also blur the line between work and personal life. It can be difficult to disconnect from work and take breaks when the workspace is also a private space. This could be due to the lack of improper schedule arrangements. This lack of separation can negatively impact the mental well-being of employees if not managed effectively.

Conclusion

Some employers might recommend companies not allow their employees to work remotely. This is because productivity is lower at home. Although it saves costs, it harms the company’s performance in general because the lack of office culture slightly affects motivation. It has been established that the implementation of technological tools is cheaper than renting an office. However, it is vital to take care of employees’ mental health and help them keep a work-life balance. Remote work will require some time to get used to, but I believe as time goes on companies will allow workers to implement remote working because of the numerous advantages it possesses over the traditional office space.