CAREERCOLLEGE

Working from Home vs. Working in Office

Some people find they are more productive working at home, while others find going into the office to be a better fit. Which one is right for you?

According to a study done by Pew Research Center, 35% of workers are currently working from home. Another Pew survey found that 41% of workers who have a job that can be done remotely are currently working a hybrid schedule at home and in the office. In a study by Nextiva, more than 52% of employees work from home at least once a week.

Each situation has its own pros and cons:

Working from Home: Pros

• Flexibility: When working from home, you usually have the freedom to work at your own pace without the added stresses of workplace distractions.

• No commute: According to Nextiva, the average American worker spends around 30 minutes on their daily commute to work. Working from home will save valuable time before and after work.

• Work-life balance: Not commuting to and from the office can make it easier to log off and go about your life immediately following closing time. As an added bonus you can enjoy work and life outside of work without leaving the comfort of your own home.

• Independence: Working from home allows you to complete tasks at your own pace and plan your day accordingly without worrying about becoming distracted by other workers.

Working from Home: Cons

• Distractions: At home, there are a lot of fun distractions that could take away from your work. Dogs, kids, laundry and TV are just a few factors that could make it difficult to stick to your work schedule.

• Isolation: Working independently at home could potentially lead to feelings of loneliness or other mental health issues. If you work from home, you may recognize the need to connect with others through workplace chats and during meetings to feel less isolated. For some, that may not be an adequate substitute for in-office socializing and rapport.

• Overworking: The potential to work outside of work hours is higher when your office is in your home rather than a commute away.

• Communication issues: Not being in person can lead to a lot of ambiguity from electronic communication. It can also limit collaborative opportunities where it feels more overwhelming to send a message versus having a casual conversation in the office.

Working in the Office: Pros

• Collaboration: Collaborating while in the office allows for better brainstorming sessions with less of a chance of technical mishaps, which tend to happen more often for those trying to collaborate from home through digital channels.

• Networking: At the office, you may have more opportunities to interact with people in your department, as well as those from different departments and higher-ups across the organization.

• Work-life balance: Leaving your home to go to the office sets boundaries for clocking in and out both physically and mentally.

• Structure: There are set standards at the workplace for how you’re supposed to interact, dress and go about your day-to-day work. If you’re someone who thrives with structure, going into the office may be the best option for you.

Working in the Office: Cons

• Dress code: Unfortunately, you won’t be able to wear those comfy sweatpants to the office. Typically, office settings have a stricter dress code, especially when you consider you may have more opportunities to interact with a variety of people throughout your organization while in the office.

• Scheduled time: As office work environments tend to be more structured, you may have less flexibility with how you spend your time during work hours. Being in the office during a scheduled time means you won’t be able to throw in a load of laundry between meetings.

• Commute: The dreaded drive in or drive home takes time out of your day, whereas if you work from home, you can just log off and go about your personal life without having to worry about driving time.

As you begin your career or start a new job, you may be presented with the option to either work from home or work in the office. Weigh the pros and cons to decide which option will work best for you and help you be most effective and efficient during work hours. If the option is not available before you start your new role, evaluate the pros and cons of your personal situation to see if it will work well for you in the long term or if you would like to consider another position with a different work setting.

Sources:

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/work-from-home-vs-office

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/the-pros-and-cons-of-working-from-home

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/30/about-a-third-of-us-workers-who-can-work-from-home-do-so-all-the-time/

https://www.nextiva.com/blog/working-from-home-vs-office.html#:~:text=Many%20remote%20workers%20report%20higher,lead%20to%20more%20efficient%20workdays.