The possibility of working from home offers a whole new set of possibilities in how companies work and organize their operations. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which began in March 2020 gave employers and employees an understanding of home-based working, as commercial establishments were required to close due to government requirements to safeguard the public health.
Prior to the outbreak of coronavirus the practice of working from home was increasing as more employers realized the benefits it brings to their company and enhanced work-life balance that it offers their employees. Even if you’re not convinced that doing work from home is advantageous for your company employees who have 26 weeks of work experience have the legal right to ask for flexible-working options such as work from home jobs and employers should seriously consider the possibility of such requests.
Benefits of working from home for employees
With more and more employees who work from home – or using their home as a base of operations at least for a portion of the time It’s evident that there are many advantages for companies including:
Flexibility and agility
Home-based working allows more flexibility and flexibility when it comes to working. When employees aren’t restricted to a desk and working from home, they are more at ease and more inclined to work at a variety of times such as later or earlier in the daytime or on weekends. This could allow you to meet specific requirements of your business, for instance when you trade with clients in an area with a different time zone.
Increased retention of employees
Home-based work can aid in keeping employees because the flexibility offered by working from home allows them to accommodate the needs of their children, cut down on their commute , and allow them to manage their work schedule around their lives. When employees are able to work at home, employees will also experience higher levels of trust in their employer and this can be a major contributor to the loyalty of staff.
Attract new talent
Home-based work can be provided as a way to motivate employees to work for you, helping you draw new talent into your company. Offering the possibility for working at home can help you stand out in the competitive job market over your competitors who do not offer home working as an option for their employees.
Productivity increases
There are fewer interruptions that are typical in an office setting. However, working at home can create peace and quiet, which will allow for focussed work. It is also possible that some employees would like to extend their contractual hours since they can are able to cut down on time commute time to and from work.
Staff motivation is increased
Working from home, employees are more likely to be trusted by their employers as the work relationship isn’t so closely monitored , and employees are given an amount of freedom to do their job. The staff will also feel happier having a routine at home that they like and can result in being more motivated to do their the best.
Better health and well-being of staff
The convenience of working from home removes the necessity of a trip to work, which could stress your employees. The time savings allows employees to receive additional health benefits, such as extra sleep or spending more time with their families, exercising and cooking healthy food choices.
Financial benefits
Reduced costs for offices, space for office equipment as well as utility bills and other amenities. Employees may also benefit from the tax-free allowances offered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to work at home.
Convenience
There may be employees who frequently make trips to locations of customers and consequently not at work. The option of allowing them to work at home is comfortable and will result in further cost and time savings.
A better work/life balance
The flexibility of working from home will help employees achieve a better lifestyles, for instance, staff who could have commuted can now take advantage of the time they have to themselves creating the foundation for a more harmonious work-life. Employees are also able to work household chores into their work schedules, which gives them more time during the evening, such as taking the dishwasher out for loading and unloading or cooking dinner during their lunch break.
Technology can make life simpler
The internet has allowed employees to remain connected to their workplace. Tools like Skype allow collaboration between teams and colleagues more efficient and can result in more effective and productive meetings.
Absences due to lower sickness
Employees are more likely to feel more relaxed and happier when they work from home and have less risk for their health being adversely affected by burnout. Additionally, since employees work in a closed environment, it is less likely to be a source of infection spreading, as could be the case in the office.
The disadvantages of employees who work at home
While there are disadvantages when working at home, the majority of them are related to those who work from home for the entirety instead of a portion of their week:
Home-based work isn’t for all people.
The idea of working from home may not be the best choice for every person’s temperament or abilities. Some workers may prefer the structure and routine that the office provides. Some employees might prefer personal contact with their colleagues and find face-to-face interaction from their supervisors extremely helpful in helping them finish their work and reach their goals. It is also important to be aware of employees with disabilities. Being at home can have an adverse impact on the assistance they require to perform their work. It is also possible that working from home does not work for everyone’s family life, for example, some parents have children that might not know boundaries and result in interruptions during their working day. Other people might not have the space needed to set up an appropriate working space.
Staff feel isolated
People who work from home might be unable to connect with their colleagues and their organization in general, which workplaces naturally permit. To overcome this issue, employers can make sure that communication is more frequent. By scheduling short meetings via phone or regularly scheduled team meetings using other tools such as Teams, Skype or Zoom Staff are given more opportunities to feel included in the company and feel part of it. A more casual and social gathering will also reduce feelings of loneliness.
It is difficult to monitor the performance
It is possible to have difficulty managing employees at home and keeping track of their performance. Individuals may react to the monitoring process with different levels of optimism. It is possible to set goals and objectives with employees who are easy to measure to ensure that if the goals aren’t being achieved, you are able to detect and correct any issues with performance earlier in the process.
Home distractions
While home-based work isn’t as distracting, it can still be a distractions that could happen in the office, when a person doesn’t have a quiet, private work space at home, they can be easily distracted by the sounds of their home or the other household members.
Burnout risk
In offices that provide a distinct physical separation between home and work and home life, it can cause employees to struggle to distinguish between work-life and the home life. This could result in employees having difficulty figuring out when to stop work, which can lead to longer hours, more stress and eventually exhaustion. Employers must encourage their employees to take breaks regularly in addition to reminding them about the need of taking their time off.
Cost of working at home
The initial costs for training and equipping the training with appropriate equipment like mobile phones, laptops, as well as other equipment for IT. Also, you will need take into consideration adaptations in order to ensure that you meet safety and health requirements.
Staff development problems
It is possible that having staff not near to one another can hinder the development of staff and enhancing their capabilities. But you can encourage employees to to acquire new skills by attending online classes and events.
Security risks for information
Security concerns with regards to information security are more likely to arise when staff work at home. There’s a greater risk when laptops being left at home, and the requirement for employees to connect to servers remotely. Employers should make sure they put security measures in place to safeguard corporate information through the installation of encryption programs as well as remote wipe apps in the event that mobile devices owned by you disappear. Virtual private networks can also secure your data and offer secure access to computers through the internet. This can help keep your data and files safe but accessible to your employees.
Mental health issues can have a negative impact
The transition to working from home can be detrimental to the mental health of your employee in the event that they fail to create the right routine for them, or are struggling to keep work and home life, or feel isolated. To encourage your employees to create their own routines create a specific workspace and establish the boundaries for your household members. Provide more opportunities for employees to remain connected via regular conversations and group meeting up. A healthy diet and regular exercise can aid in improving mental health, especially when they are integrated into your daily routine.
Staff morale has deteriorated
It is often difficult to keep team spirit intact when employees work from home with their own.
Some jobs may not be suitable for those who work from home.
The flexibility of working from home is beneficial for certain jobs more than other jobs. Also working from home is a good fit for certain personality types, however not all. Certain people might prefer coworker interaction via face-to-face.
Slow broadband
Be aware that, based on the location where your employees live, they may not able to connect to broadband speeds that allow them to perform their duties efficiently. For example, rural broadband is typically extremely slow.
The coronavirus outbreak has given some employerswho might not otherwise have considered working from home as an option for employees, an knowledge of the effects it has on their employees and business. Employers can now get first-hand insight into the benefits and drawbacks of working from home. This knowledge can prove useful in helping employers decide the future direction of their work practices that can improve their company.
Hybrid working method
The shift to working from home doesn’t mean that employees need to work from home. The majority of the time, splitting their time between home or other remote locations , and working in the workplace is the most efficient option. It is possible for your employees to give feedback on their work from home experience to be able to engage them when it comes to establishing the hybrid working policy.
