Working from home is booming, so we explore the pros and cons – from productivity and mental health to cost savings and surprising expenses
Home working has never been so popular, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the growth in remote productivity.
If you’re thinking about switching to home working (opens in new tab) – whether permanently or as part of a hybrid arrangement – then it pays to weigh up the advantages and potential pitfalls of this innovative new method, especially as they’ll be different for every person and every job.
We’ve explored the significant pros and cons of home working so you can figure out if it’ll work for you. And if you do decide to take the plunge, you’ll want to get properly prepared with our guides to avoiding home working distractions and creating a healthy work/life balance.
There’s no denying that working from home (opens in new tab) works well for many people – and if you need some extra convincing, just look at the numbers. A study by the Stanford Graduate School of Business found that employee performance was boosted by 22% by working at home, and consultancy firm Mercer surveyed 800 employers with 94% of them saying that productivity (opens in new tab) was the same or better since employees began working remotely.
It’s not just about productivity. Owl Labs surveyed workers, discovering that 59% of them are more likely to pick a job where home working is an option, 23% of people would take a pay cut to keep working from home, and that people save an average of 40 minutes daily and $500 per month by not commuting.
In addition, home working can be great for employee happiness: the same Owl Labs survey reported that home workers were 22% happier than on-site staff with lower stress levels and better focus – despite often working more hours.
There are plenty of reasons why people report greater happiness and productivity when working from home.
One of the key reasons why it’s a big boon? The increased flexibility it gives employees (opens in new tab). As long as they get their work done and work the right number of hours, you can allow your staff to work when it suits them – so they can pick and choose hours that fit around the rest of their life, like school runs and doctors appointments.
