The home office is often a highly desired benefit. More and more workers, especially part time students or workers who must care for young children know that flexibility is convenient for them. In addition, it is a valid reason for the above mentioned groups to consider working for a company. When a company enables workers to carry out their tasks from a home office, at least few days a week, the company can also maintain these workers for longer keeping them from looking for some other job. Of course, working side by side may spark creativity and strengthen teamwork, but sometimes it is better to work alone, argues the business2community.com website.
Lower costs
The most obvious benefit of home offices are the lower costs. Working from their homes have financial benefits favorable to the company. It means that less money is spent on office rent and less expense connected with providing company lunches and other necessary refreshment. The company can also save on gasoline and utilities.
Silent and calm environment
Some occupations require an environment with no distractions. Especially web designers or engineers work much more effectively when there is no one to distract them. Technical jobs enjoy an increase in productivity when allowed to work from a home office. On the other hand, there are some jobs that require employees to be present at the site. Legal firms and medical facilities are good examples of this. But when the working tasks require a high degree of concentration and an uninterrupted period of full attention, the possibility of having a quiet home office can be priceless.
Possible shortcomings
It is possible that at home there are the incoveniences of just as many or more distractions. Especially with small children, it can be a problem to have any boundaries that are set respected. Additionally, not everyone can be trusted enough to be given permission to work from a home office. But you can tell by the results if the worker should get back to the company office. Or you can solve this issue by demanding that the work is being done via a company computer. In that case you are able to monitor the activities and performance.
What is your experience with remote working? What particular steps have you found the most and the least effective? What do you think is the main obstacle to a wider use of remote working in companies?
Read more articles on this topic in our Remote Working section.
-jk-