Imagine a life where your office chair doubles as a couch, with a cup of hot, freshly brewed coffee at your fingertips. You are not required to dress up, spend hours combing your hair, or commute for long periods of time. It’s literally only a few steps to your office.
Do you believe it’s a nightmare? No. Telecommuting is now a reality, and in this article, RisePath shows you that working from home is the way to go.
What is the definition of remote work?
Remote work is a method of working that allows employees to work outside of the typical four walls of an office. Remote working is founded on the concept that work may be accomplished successfully without being confined to a certain area.
Employees that work remotely can do it anytime, wherever, and however they wish. Rather than going to a cubicle or desk, remote workers work from the comfort of their own homes or in a relaxing coffee shop. Some people even take it a step further by working in the tropics.
Remote working appeals to a lot of people, especially the younger generations, because it allows them to be more flexible. It also benefits businesses, thanks to the many cost reductions and productivity gains it provides (i.e. reduced overhead costs, etc.).
What Is the Difference Between Remote and Telecommute Work?
While the terms are frequently used interchangeably, remote working and telecommuting are not synonymous.
What is Remote Work? Remote work is a non-traditional workplace concept that allows you to work outside of your employer’s official office environment. Employees do not need to be micromanaged or work from a single location to complete assigned tasks successfully, according to the idea.
What is Telecommuting? Telecommuting is a work arrangement in which an employee works from home, an agreed-upon location, or a cafe, but remains in contact with other employees by phone, chat, email, and other internet-related communication mediums.
Telecommuting isn’t just a quaint phrase. So, if you’re looking for remote or telecommute jobs, make sure you do your research beforehand. The same goes for firms looking for such employees: set clear expectations and distinctions from the start.
Advantages of Working from Home for Employers
The appeal of flexibility is enough to persuade a worn-out office worker who is tired of travelling for hours to work from home. What’s in it for you as a business owner, though?
#1 Lowering Overhead Costs
Chairs, desks, electricity bills, food, and office supplies are just a few of the expenses you won’t have to worry about if you let your workers work from home. Employers have even requested that their remote workers utilise their home computers and personal phone lines to complete their tasks.
#2 Reduced Turnover
Employee satisfaction rises when they can work on their own schedules, which leads to lesser turnover. This provides your organisation with a pool of people that are becoming more knowledgeable about your industry, more loyal, and more productive. You’ll also save money on recruiting and onboarding.
#3 Increased Productivity and Employee Morale
According to current work-from-home data, remote workers who have greater control over their job are more productive and happier than their office-bound counterparts. Improved morale and productivity can have a significant impact on your company’s bottom line results.
The Most Serious Obstacles
So far in our telecommuting guide, we’ve only looked at the positive aspects of working from home. Remote work is fantastic, and it has many more advantages than the three we’ve mentioned in this article. However, it is not without its difficulties. It’s not all unicorns and rainbows.
#1 Communication Issues
Telecommuting necessitates a high level of communication. Instead of depending just on emails and phone calls, businesses must engage in improving their employees’ communication skills and utilising technology (e.g., video conferencing).
It doesn’t take much for bad blood to develop when the majority of your communication is done by email and the like unless everyone is making every effort to avoid it. Small misunderstandings that may have been avoided with a wink of an eye or a change in voice tone can swiftly escalate into drama.
#2 Loneliness and a lack of social interaction
Working from home can cause you to become estranged from your workplace. You can also develop the habit of sitting at your computer all day and working. Even with the internet and tools like Skype and Slack, most remote employees have the option of becoming “hermits.” People in the office communicate with one another and may even share a meal. Employees who work from home? The majority of them have only houseplants, dogs, or cats to converse with.
Organizing periodic retreats for remote workers can help them battle loneliness.
#3 Concerns About Security
Working remotely allows you to connect from any location. Public internet connections can put your company’s security in danger.
Businesses should require remote workers to install antivirus on all of their devices, use password management services, and use VPN services while connected to the internet to mitigate these risks.
#4 Maintaining Work-Life Balance
The workday for office workers ends when everyone goes home. Telecommuters, on the other hand, may struggle to disconnect from work. As a result, the work-life balance is thrown off. Setting specified working hours every day, with some flexibility depending on each team member’s schedule, can help solve this difficulty.
Final Words
We may conclude from our examination of the concept of telecommuting, as well as its benefits and drawbacks, that telecommuting provides value to the labour market. It has given individuals and companies more flexibility in the workplace, allowing them to achieve a better work-life balance. Companies and employees will be able to gain the benefits of telecommuting and avoid productivity and communication bottlenecks by establishing a proper work from home policy.
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