The unprecedented disruption of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to the global economy had led most firms and businesses to temporarily cease operations due to the severe global economic downturn.
In February 2020, during the first pandemic surge, at least 46 percent of American businesses, opted to start flexible work practices such as work from home (WFH) as a health precautionary measure to combat and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus. Thanks to the ever-evolving technology that this has become possible. However, compared to the traditional labor patterns, these practices have its own limitations and considerable influence on both businesses and people. In this article, we will cover everything that you need to know about working from home, how different it is from other labor policies, its pros and cons, and which office set-up is better.
Defining Terms
Work From Home
As the name suggests, work from home or WFH refers to an employee that is working from their apartment, house, or place of residence, rather than working at the office or onsite. Video conferencing, software tools and collaborative technologies allows employees to easily communicate or stay in touch with their co-workers regardless of where they are. WFH employees usually have a home office or designated workstation where they can concentrate on their tasks and be productive.
Work On-Site
Work on-site, traditionally known as office workspace, is a new term for what we used to describe typical full-time work, which is usually inclined with functions being done at the employee’s assigned place or workstation, attending several face-to-face meetings, conducting in-person presentations, etc.
Hybrid Work
This is a much newer and much more versatile work approach that allows for a mix of in-office, remote, and mobile employees. It offers a much more flexible work environment that gives employees the freedom to work wherever they are most productive.
The Pros and Cons
Work From Home
Pros:
Remote workers tend to be less stressed and more focused
No need to experience heavy traffic
Flexible working schedule
Cons:
Communication and Collaboration can be challenging
Risk of lower productivity
Costs more expenses for equipment
Tendency to overwork
Work On-Site
Pros:
Better time management
Much broader networking opportunities
Easy to build company culture
Management is much easier
Cons:
You had to experience long commuting hours
Costs more expenses for equipment
Risk of burnout
Hybrid Work
Pros:
Often results in happy and efficient employees
Offers flexibility and freedom
Lower operational costs
Cons:
Harder to collaborate with full-time remote employees
Difficulties in keeping up with the hybrid schedules
Might not work for every industry
Exposed to illness and diseases – Covid – 19
Risk of burnout
What are the Big Companies and Businesses Doing?
You may request “permanent remote work” for some of the positions at Meta and other firms if your job can be performed at remotely or at home. Due to the limitations of WFH, most employers require their staff to report on site. As CNN reported, Elon Musk told his employee either report on site or leave. On the other hand, we have Twitter and Reddit who allow their employees to work remotely for full-time. At the end of the day, depending on which industry, business, and job position you are in, it is up to you to decide on what kind of career you prefer.
Conclusion: Which Is Better?
So, there you have it.
Working from home has distinct features and characteristics that could be advantageous, or detrimental when compared to other work setups. The Coronavirus pandemic has paved the way for business firms to offer different work trends to choose from.
And when it comes to deciding which work setup option is that best suits you, it is important to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages and consider which work setup will allow you to efficiently perform your tasks and be more productive as an employee.
