Working from home has become increasingly popular over the past years. There are many possibilities to work remotely from home, and many entrepreneurs even have home-based businesses. Sometimes, companies even allow their employees to work from home, or they hire freelancers who reside elsewhere and cannot work at a physical location.
Whatever the case may be, there are many benefits to working from home. On the other hand, you have to take the good with the bad: there are some cons, too. Reza Shojaei, the founder of Value Marketing, runs a multinational business and he has hired employees and freelancers that reside all over the world. He gives us insight to what working remotely really is like.
Benefits of working from home
Working from home can have excellent benefits. In fact, it is because of these benefits that many entrepreneurs choose to run home-based businesses. Also, many freelancers prefer to work from home, as it allows them to have much more freedom and flexibility.
For some people, working from home can increase productivity. It eliminates distractions of a workplace, such as human contact, which allows many people to be more productive. In fact, employers have noticed that working remotely can limit expenses as well as increase employee productivity.
- When employees and freelancers can choose where they work, they can often be more productive. They can create a space of their own, work from a coffee shop, or even at a library. This works wonders for some people, though it might not be for everyone, Shojaei adds.
Another perk of working from home is that people get to have more flexible hours. Having the flexibility to, for instance, take your kids to school or pick them up from hobbies suits many people well. In addition, flexible hours can help reduce stress. This, again, can increase productivity, as employees are happier.
- We have employees all over the world, and each one works around their own schedule. As long as all deadlines are met, they can work whatever hours they want. Our employees stay happy and motivated, which again increases productivity and prompts them to have better results. We operate on the casino online markets and we have freelancers for many different tasks. Sometimes, I might even get messages in the middle of the night, Shojaei laughs.
In addition, working remotely saves time and money for both the employee and the employer. The employee will not need to travel to work, which saves gas and other travel costs. It also saves time that the employee would use for commuting. If the business operates completely remotely, the employer will not need to pay rent or other utility costs. Overall, working from home can be beneficial in many ways.
Downsides of working from home
While the benefits of working from home often outweigh the downsides, there are still a few things you should consider. After all, working remotely is not something that is suitable for everyone.
When you work alone, you miss out on human interaction. For some, this works wonders, while others dislike it. Some love the possibility to meet new friends and chat with their coworkers. So, the lack of human interaction can, in fact, be both a pro and a con.
- Some people thrive when they work alone, while others love the company of others and teamwork. This can thus be a benefit as well as a downside, and it really depends on who sits behind the desk, Shojaei says.
Also, when your supervisors will not see you every day, it can be harder to advance in your career. You might even feel forgotten sometimes. Thus, your work needs to be impeccable, so you will shine and your managers and supervisors will notice you. When you do not have face-to-face interactions, it is easy to be forgotten and left in your current position, unless you take action and discuss advancement with your boss.
- It is important for an employee to have possibilities to advance. This keeps them motivated and encourages them to have better results. So, employers should keep a close eye on all of their freelancers and employees to see who wants to advance, and who should, too, Shojaei adds.
If you work from cafes, hotels, or libraries, you might notice that they do not always have a secure network. In some cases, this can put important data into danger. So, should you work remotely, it can be safer to work from home, where your internet connection is not available for anyone else. This is especially true in certain areas of work, while for others it is not such a big issue.
In conclusion, working from home is often preferred because it offers flexibility and it can reduce cost and time spent on traveling. However, not everyone prefers working remotely, as some prefer teamwork and the company of others.