The advantages and disadvantages of working from home
Over the past couple of years working from home has become a lot more common across a range of job sectors. In this article we will inform you about the different modern working models that allow you to work partly or completely from home and highlight their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, our guide will also provide your with some helpful tips on how to be productive and stay motivated whilst working from home.
What is a home office? & How does it work?
This working model is also classically refered to as teleworking, but over the past couple of years the term ‘’home office” has become increasingly popular. Home office describes a form of work that you only do or partly do at home and it is an alternative to working in an office. To be able to work from home you need a workspace with a PC or a laptop. In most cases, your employer will provide you with the necessary equipment. However, this will depend on the job sector you work in and you will also need to get permission from your employer.
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Tip:
If you work from home on a couple of set days a week, you will need to make sure that you have set up a workspace in your home. In most cases, you will have to let your colleagues at work know which days you will be working from home and which days you will be in the office. You may also need to let work know if you are planning on working in the office. In quite a few offices there will be no free desks if you usually work from home.
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What is a hybrid working model?
Hybrid work describes working models where the choice of location and certain working hours are very flexible.
If your employer offers you the opportunity to work both from home and in the office this is referred to as a hybrid working model. Hybrid work can sometimes be organised according to fixed schedules, for example, to enable onsite teamwork or for sharing workspaces in the office. However, some employers will also let you choose which days you would like to work from home.
What is remote work?
Remote work is often used as a synonym for home office, but this particular term has a slightly different meaning. Home office refers to someone who works at home, whereas remote work refers more to working in any location outside of work. This could be anywhere, for example, at home, in a different office, in a café or in a co -working space.
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Don't forget...
When you are not working in the office there are often some guidelines from your employer, which you must adhere to in regards to data protection and cyber security. Make sure to find out what the guidelines are before you decide to work in different locations. This is something you need to be mindful of when you are working in different locations such as in a café where there is free public Wi-Fi. Most of the time free public Wi-Fi will not meet the necessary security standards.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?
Whether working from home would be an option for the company depends on the work tasks, corporate culture and the job role. If you have the opportunity to work from home there are various advantages and disadvantages that you will need to consider.
Home office advantages:
Less commuting: you will be able to save money as you will no longer need to pay for fuel costs or public transport. This will also have a positive impact on the environment as there will be fewer CO2 emissions due to less commuting.
Save time: you will have more time for yourself as you will no longer need to commute to work or sit in traffic jams due to roadworks or rush hour. You can then use this time to relax and switch off from work instead of being stuck in traffic or waiting a long time for the bus or train to arrive due a delay.
Improved work-life balance: working from home is a great way to evenly share out jobs around the house. You will also be able to spend more time with your family and enjoy time spent together.
Flexibility: working from home often allows you to be more flexible, which makes booking appointments a lot easier. You will also have the freedom to choose when you would like to start work, however, make sure to discuss working hours with your employer first. This is great as you can adapt your daily working routine to suit you and your needs.
Improved concentration: it is easier to complete or work on work tasks from home which require a high level of concentration. When working from home you will be able to concentrate on your work without any distractions such as colleagues or background noise in an office environment.
Increased productivity: quite a few people are more productive when working from home as they can be more flexible and they are able to concentrate on their work. However, make sure that your personal workspace at home is quiet and free of any distractions.
Home office disadvantages:
Communication and sharing information: meetings and any discussions related to work tasks will mainly take place online, which can make sharing information more difficult. If you often work with your colleagues in a group chat it can sometimes be a bit slower.
Less interaction with work colleagues: you may miss out on the social sides of work such as personal arrangements, conversations whilst making a tea or coffee or interacting with colleagues during your lunch break.
High self-discipline needed: self-discipline and motivation are very important so that you can work effectively from home. Whilst working from home it is important to stay focused on your work and to not get distracted by other things.
No clear boundaries between work and private life: when you don’t have a study or a designated workspace it can sometimes be difficult to separate work and private life. Whilst working from home some people will be more inclined to work overtime or to check emails during their free time.
Getting distracted: when working from home it is easy to get distracted by other family members or jobs around the house. It is important to set clear boundaries so that you can concentrate on your work.
Career opportunities: not working in the office anddepending on the corporate culture could make your progress and achievements at work less noticeable.
A summary of the advantages and disadvantages of working from home
Working from home has both great advantages and disadvantages. Whether home office is suitable for you depends on your position in the company, work tasks, your individual way of working and your home. If you work better in a quiet environment and you are easily distracted by the hustle and bustle of the office then working from home may be a good option for you. If you feel more motivated at work and you know you work more effectively in an office environment with other colleagues, then working from home maybe isn’t suited to you.
There are various ways in which you can improve your work-life balance and concentration. Our guide will provide you with some helpful tips and tricks on how to work effectively from home.
Setting up your home office
When working from home it is important to have your own workspace where it is quiet and you can concentrate on your work without getting distracted. It is also important to have the necessary IT equipment and software. In this article we will provide you with some tips on how to set up your workspace at home so that you can work effectively. The article will also show you some handy tips and tricks on how to get the most out of small working spaces such as setting up your home office in the front room if you don’t have a study.
The importance of having a good work-life balance whilst working from home
By not having to commute daily to work you can save time and money, which is one of the biggest advantages of working from home. Although you will be able to save time and money, it is important to have a good work-life balance as it can sometimes be difficult to seperate work life from private life when working from home. In the following article we have put some helpful tips together on how you can create boundaries. Boundaries will help you to keep your work life seperate from your private life, which in turn will help you to concentrate and it will make you feel more positive and motivated in the long term.
How to set up your home office in an environmentally friendly way
By not commuting to work or travelling on business trips will help to have a positive impact on the environment. This is one of the reasons why working from home and being environmentally friendly in your everyday life can help to protect the environment. By making your workspace enviromentally friendly and making some simple adjustments to your daily work routine you can help protect the environment. In the following article you can find out more about what steps you can take whilst working from home to help you save money and also how to be more enviromentally friendly.
Putting the perfect outfit together whilst working from home
It is important to wear something you feel comfortable in, but always make sure that your outfit still looks smart enough for work. Wearing smart clothes will help you to be prepared for any spontaneous online meetings and this will also help you to establish boundaries between work life and private life. In the following article you will find some helpful tips on what to wear whilst working from home.
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References
https://about.gitlab.com/company/culture/all-remote/remote-work-starter-guide/
(last accessed on 01.12.2022)
https://hbr.org/2014/10/5-ways-to-work-from-home-more-effectively
(last accessed on 01.12.2022)
https://pediaa.com/what-is-the-difference-between-remote-and-hybrid-work/
(last accessed on 01.12.2022)
https://resources.owllabs.com/blog/remote-work-life-balance
(last accessed on 01.12.2022)
https://uk.pcmag.com/speech-recognition/62410/20-tips-for-working-from-home
(last accessed on 01.12.2022)
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