14 Work From Home Pros and Cons

Working from home is a new concept to most people and most people prefer work from home jobs. It can turn out to be a tricky situation for some. There is much work from home advantages and disadvantages.

For employers, performing from home can boost productivity, reduce turnover, and lower organizational costs, while employees enjoy perks like flexibility and therefore the lack of a commute.

To work effectively from home, you need to be sure that you've got a separate workspace, internet service that meets your need, the right remote work tools a workable schedule you'll stick with, and ways to attach with others.

Top fields for remote work include computers and IT sectors, education and training, and healthcare; positions include customer service reps, virtual assistants, marketing assistants, data entry and transcription, teachers, and more.

Work from home means either no office or at the very least, a lot less office space and coworking space. If you don't need a completely remote environment, try staggering your employee's work-from-home days to save on office space. Dedicate the money saved on office space to fund a huge travel budget.

A variety of top firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, Dell, Infosys, Accenture, and Salesforce, offer remote work opportunities, but it is also important to remember scams. We are listing some of the pros and cons of working from home below so you are aware of what you are getting yourself into and can be well prepared beforehand!

Work From Home Pros

There are various advantages to consider if you're looking for work from home opportunities. Below are a few of them.

1. Flexible schedule

One of the most essential benefits of working from home is a flexible schedule. You can take breaks whenever you desire and require. You have tons of flexibility with most telecommuting jobs. As an example, many remote work positions are unaffected by normal business hours, making it easier to attend to life events like medical appointments. Work-from-home roles are often an enormous benefit for folks who work unconventional schedules to accommodate their families.

The idea of work from home can help employees improve their work-life balance e.g. staff that might have had to commute will now be ready to use that point for themselves giving the idea for a far better work-life balance. Staffs are happy to do jobs from home and they are ready to slot in household chores around their working day giving them more free time within the evenings eg loading or unloading the dishwasher or preparing dinner on their lunch break.

2. Custom work environment

When you work from home, you can set up your home office anywhere and in any way you like. Some people do well in a noisy environment and some require pin-drop silence to work. So, you have the liberty to work in a custom environment created by you. 

Employee satisfaction in remote positions could also be higher due to the pliability in performing their jobs. Not only are you ready to make decisions independently, you're also ready to work comfortably without the fear of office-related stress, interruptions, or other challenges you would possibly find during a traditional workplace. This will have an immediate influence on your overall job satisfaction.

The web has made it possible for workers to be continually connected to the office. Tools like Skype have made communication between colleagues and teams much easier and sometimes can cause more efficient and effective meetings.

3. No dress code

The best part of working from home is that you do not have to dress up for the office every day. Just simply put on your favourite pyjamas and tie up your uncombed hair and you are dressed for work! Nothing is better than your cosy clothes.

4. Time to do chores

Along with doing your office work, you can also complete your house stores like doing your laundry for filling up your pantry that you have been putting off for weeks as you have more free time now that you are working from home.

5. No disturbing coworkers

Do you know that colleague of yours who keeps on talking loudly on his phone or the one who would not stop talking about cryptocurrency while you are trying to make your presentation? Well, working from home is the best way to avoid them and get your work done faster. Working from home can provide autonomy and independence in your job which may be absent during a physical workplace. Also, these sorts of roles require self-discipline and enough motivation to manage time responsibly and complete job tasks.

6. No commute

Another thing that will make you feel that working from home is the best possible way to work is that you do not have to deal with the traffic as there is no commuting. You can just wake up, get a cup of coffee and your laptop, and sit at your favourite couch near the window or on the soft mattress of your bed with your pet and start working! 

7. Money saver

Working from home is also a money saver as now you won't have to pay for your commute as well as you can save up on the money you are spending on food that you would purchase for your lunch or snacks when working from the office. You can now cook anything at your home and it could also be a healthy choice of living.

8. More job opportunities

Remote positions can open up additional job opportunities for people with limitations to working in traditional roles. As an example, people with disabilities that prevent them from travelling or working long hours can build their careers remotely. The power to figure from anywhere also can mean a rise in available jobs in industries like technology, healthcare, and education.

Work From Home Cons

Working from home has several disadvantages in addition to its advantages, including:

1. Lack of motivation

When you are working from home it can be difficult to wake up and get the motivation to work with the same energy that you would do in an office. Lack of motivation isn't just a danger to our work, yet can detrimentally affect our emotional well-being and this can add to a general absence of inspiration and efficiency levels start to plunge. You must have a lot of self-discipline to work dedicatedly from home.

2. Loneliness

Working from home can be alone only for a few people who are used to working in an environment where one has to constantly interact with their coworkers. You can become quite isolated performing from home if you spend the bulk of some time by yourself, working independently. The key to avoiding loneliness and isolation as a foreign worker is to schedule outings and events with friends and family. Some remote workplaces offer regular team or recreation events to encourage socialization.

3. Work-Life balance

Another thing that one must keep in mind when working from home is that while you are working you must shut down your personal life and not end up being agitated all the time. you must learn to balance out your personal and work life at home. Although performing from home offers you the chance to balance your home life together with your job, it also can be challenging to make a definite separation between your career and private life. Set clear boundaries between your work hours and private time, and communicate these boundaries with others in your home.

4. Small living space

One thing that most people are concerned about when working from home is that they end up losing their living space as they now have to create a home office. This is a problem that is faced by people who already have a small space for living with pets or kids.

5. Interruptions

Work from home with kids may be difficult sometimes as in between an important video conference or when you are working on a deadline. But, isn't it adorable when a funny friend or a cute kid pops up in the video?! Distractions just like the television or household chores can affect how you perform your job. Too many distractions can cause a decrease in your productivity and motivation. You'll avoid this by limiting anything that you simply find distracting in your home. Use noise-cancelling headphones and play relaxing music to dam out noises like traffic and neighbourhood activity.

6. Miscommunication

Sometimes working from home can lead to miscommunication due to a weak internet connection or maybe because one is not able to express themselves in a better way as opposed to when they converse with someone face to face. This can negatively impact workflow.

Summary on Work From Home

Most people choose work from home jobs due to the pandemic and we have seen the pros and cons of working from home. But it suits better for some jobs than others. Equally, working from home suits some personality types but not others. Some people may like better to contact their colleagues by face to face communication.

The coronavirus pandemic has provided employees with an option to work from home. It has enabled employers to possess first-hand experience of the benefits and drawbacks of home working. This experience is often very beneficial in the longer-term direction of employees' working practices moving forward.

By putting some effort and maintaining work-life balance you can easily adapt to the work from home lifestyle. Also, keeping the above pros and cons in mind you can mould your home office, your work hours, and other things accordingly to overcome any problems beforehand!