While many people found themselves suddenly working from home during COVID-19, working remotely has become more widely accepted. However, there are pros and cons to working remotely. With more offices reopening, employees and employers have choices.

The Pros…

Save Time and the Environment

Commutes are a fact of office life, and the 2016 Candian Census reports that the average is over 24 minutes one way. However, many people may find productive uses for that time. Additionally, not commuting also means that working remotely reduces harmful emissions globally.

Flexibility While Working Remotely

Working remotely offers unparalleled flexibility to employees, especially if their day does not consist entirely of video meetings. Instead, employees build their own schedules. Many employees like having the ability to add 15 minutes for cooking lunch or handling a child emergency without worrying about the boss denying the request.

More Control While Working Remotely

The rise of work from home has demonstrated many office flaws, among them how much control the office environment had over employee scheduling. While working remotely, the employee is more or less in charge of their own time. This decision empowers the employee and generally results in more productivity.

Overall Employee Health

Generally speaking, employees being able to work from home limits their exposure to germs and viruses like Covid-19.  This has been the primary driving factor in the remote work culture of the last few years. A healthier workforce that does not need to choose between work and infecting coworkers can be significantly more productive during the current Pandemic.

The Cons…

Temptation to Continue Working

It’s important to establish and maintain boundaries while working from home.  It’s harder to close your laptop at the end of the day and not check in on projects in the evening. These boundaries are critical for work-life balance, and many employees have a hard time doing it when their work laptop is in the next room.

Cybersecurity Risks

Remote work is a known cybersecurity hazard because technology becomes decentralized and more difficult to monitor and manage. This state means hackers have more opportunities to expose weaknesses in corporate computer environments. While security measures like VPNs can reduce the chances of losing proprietary data, companies must both educate and enforce rules for working remotely to protect their best interests.  A Zero Trust security models can help ensure a more secure working environment for employees that access company resources from personal computers and networks.

Less Cohesion and Team Interaction

Team interaction over electronic methods is not quite the same as in-office. Many employees report feeling disconnected from their coworkers while working remotely. While large technology firms have tried to develop solutions, there is not a universal one right now. Mentoring programs, informal video conferences, and willingness to adapt are helping bridge the gap, but it’s hard to substitute in person interaction.

One of the unfortunate things about working remotely is the difficulty in standing out and forming interpersonal relationships. As these are both factors in whether someone receives a promotion, many people feel as though they are stuck. This lack of advancement can lead them to seek other opportunities.

So, what’s the verdict?

Most companies were thrown into remote work and adapted quickly. Many employees value the control, time, and freedom that this option offers. However, there are many items employers and employees must overcome to reach a successful work from home state. Whether working remotely is successful for you business hinges on:

1. Ensuring that company culture keeps remote staff engaged and feeling like part of the business.
2. Investing in technology solutions to make working from home effective and secure.  Without these solutions productivity and security will be compromised.