Flexible and hybrid working has become increasingly popular since the Covid-19 pandemic. Employers have been introduced to alternative ways of working to combat the challenging times that COVID-19 brought adapting was necessary to keep their businesses functioning. However, things are changing back around now that life is returning to pre-covid days.

When talking with employers they understand and need for flexibility around childcare/school pick up and collections for families and will accommodate this. However, they now prefer where possible for staff to be in the office to instill a positive culture and to create an environment of cohesion.

It is not difficult to see why remote working has become popular it offers a work-life balance and additional flexibility. It removes the need to travel to work saving time and is now a common request and often a preferred option before someone will consider moving jobs. However, just like any endeavor, working remotely presents its own challenges, not least loneliness, and overworking. Below, we look at some key points:

Flexibility – Schedule and Environment
The most common benefit that I hear is the need for flexibility. It allows people to adapt their working around based on life schedules, pick up and collect children, go to the gym, and or work in their preferred environment perhaps with lighting and background noise. However, employers are not creating better fit outs to make the work environment more fun and luxurious and having fitness activities as a team.

Blurred Hours Of Working
Working remotely for flexibility can make the ability to switch off hard as your phone and computer are always nearby. When you work remotely the work hours get blurred as you use the flexibility to change the standard workday. It has been found that working remotely leads to overwork, checking your emails late and the unstipulated office routine makes it harder to ignore tasks out of hours.

Saves Travel Time And Travel Costs
Working from home reduces the need for travel, saving time on the train bus, or car therefore also saving some money in this increasingly expensive world. This allows for better work-life balance and more time to spend on fitness, health, and family but what about work friends…

Socialising
Working remotely also has its challenges. For starters, working from home is often a lonely task and isolating, and sometimes you may not talk to someone for hours on end. In line with this, maintaining an employee community and connection to your colleagues can prove difficult. You cannot simply turn to and talk to them face to face. With no way to chat over a cup of tea about casual things or ask a question about a project or simple question that you would not want to bother with online, there are fewer opportunities to connect, engage and build a sense of camaraderie. It also reduces your exposure to the overall company mission and values, as you are removed from the office environment.

Productivity/Motivation
Remote employees are said to become more productive as per the Global Workplace analytics they are less distracted by colleagues, have fewer sick days and stay on top of projects, and are more effective in meeting with better outcomes. However, the longer you work from home alone the more disconnected less motivated you may feel to be engaged with your employer.

Working from home you are separated from your colleagues, and this can force you to become more independent, and resourceful and you solve problems by yourself without quickly asking for help. For example, you might be able to do a quick YouTube or Google search to solve IT Issues or how to do a software task. You might find yourself learning more along the way by watching online guides and tutorials, which can help to boost your professional confidence. On the other hand you may find IT issues frustrating and fall behind with some work.

For some people, working from home also introduces the risk of getting distracted and being less focused. Without your teammates or managers around you to talk to and spur you on, it can become harder to stay interested and engaged, or perhaps that quick home task takes longer than expected, or you are distracted by a phone call or visitor to the house. Working from home also means that you are not seen day to day for performance and, in some instances, this can increase the danger of being overlooked for promotions and career progression. Out of site out of mind

In Conclusion
The pros and cons of working from home are highly influenced by what type of person you are and your personality type; how driven and focussed as some thrive in a quiet, self-motivated setting, while others work best in the buzz of a busy office seeing everyone else working. Remember being in the office you are also front and centre for not only management to see but also your colleagues/friends for the social events. Finding what is right for you is important to feel fulfilled, to excel in your job, and to grow your career.

We are people and people are social beings who thrive when talking, engaging, and feeling part of a community. A work community can also be as important as friends and family as you spend most of your time doing what hopefully you love to do.

Arcadia Recruitment are specialist in Architecture, Design and Planning in Brisbane if you would like help with finding your new role, please feel free to get in touch for a confidential discussion.

Caroline Sanders – Director of Arcadia Recruitment