The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a massive shift in how we work, with remote work becoming the new norm for many people.
It grew so popular among us that about 4.7 million Americans were estimated to be working remotely by 2020, according to a Flexjobs and Global Workforce Analytics study.
With remote work, people can work from anywhere other than a typical office setting, thanks to modern technology.
Such places could be their home, shared workspace, or during a vacation trip.
This means they can choose from various opportunities, without dreading commuter traffic and long, monotone meetings, unlike before.
But is it all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to remote work? We’ll find out later!
How Remote Working Has Settled in America
Huge concerns were raised over remote working during the global lockdown as it was the only option for companies and employees to work together amidst the pandemic.
Many wondered if it would be adopted into our life or was a trend that would fizzle out once everything returned to normalcy.
According to Gartner, most people embraced this concept as the long-term solution in the end, with 70% of surveyed employees preferring to work remotely.
Whether every company would adapt to this shift remains to be seen, as top companies like Microsoft and Expedia still insist that their employees work in the office.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of this innovative work arrangement.
Pros and Cons of Remote Working
Working remotely offers countless benefits, which makes it a great alternative when it comes to working.
But like every other good thing, it has its own set of challenges.
The purpose of this guide is to shed light on what you should expect when working within the confines of your home. On that note, we’ll start with the pros.
Pros
1. Increased Flexibility
One of the biggest benefits of remote work is that it offers a flexible schedule.
This means you can work from anywhere, anytime, whether on a sun-soaked beach somewhere in Dubai or by the fireplace as you nestle into a big, comfy chair in the winter.
Remote work allows you to call your own shots and live your best life as you build a successful remote career.
2. Reduced Commute Time
With remote work, you would no longer need to run to the office, meaning you won’t get to waste hundreds of hours in traffic jams.
This will save you the time to spend with your family or pick up some milk or cheese for dinner and extra bucks you could have thrown at the pump attendant.
Having more time and money to yourself is the best thing you can ever ask for, which later translates into a better work-life balance.
3. Lower Overhead Costs
In addition to the time and money it saves you, remote working helps organizations save top dollar on rent, utilities, and office equipment since they would need less office space and won’t have to hire new talent constantly.
“Companies can save up to $11,000 per employee in terms of overhead costs if they switch to remote work,” says Dave Rietsm, CEO of Matchr.com.
4. Increased Productivity
Nearly six out of 10 workers report working from home is more productive.
And this makes sense when you consider the absence of chitchats and pressure to deliver existing in a typical workplace.
Working independently will save the stress of jumping buses to the office every morning or working for 8 hours straight.
You can take breaks whenever you want — grab snacks from the refrigerator, go for a dog walk, listen to music, and return to your desk refreshed and ready to fire down on your laptop!
5. Unlimited Income
There’s no limit to how much you can earn as a remote worker.
For instance, you can make an extra $10k yearly or aim straightaway for a six-figure income.
This is possible because you’ll be exposed to a wider range of job opportunities when you work remotely and can take on freelance or side gig work to increase your overall income.
6. Freedom of Choice
Another great benefit of working remotely is that you’re in charge here.
You can decide the type and amount of work you can take at a time, your clients, and working hours — a goodbye to the days of being forced to work on mundane projects and having your vacation capped off at a paltry two weeks.
Cons
1. Feeling of Isolation
Working from home means you’d be cut out from every form of social interaction, including the energy and camaraderie surrounding a traditional office.
This can be a big challenge, especially if you’re a people person, and could result in a feeling of isolation or loneliness.
It might even affect your mental health adversely. So to control this, you should involve yourself in online conversations with your colleagues during your breaks and hang out often.
2. Difficulties in Collaboration
Collaboration and teamwork can be more challenging when employees work in different locations.
This can result in delays, frustration, and miscommunication while working on a project.
However, to remedy this situation, your remote team should work with innovative tools such as idea jams to bring everyone together to creatively brainstorm around a company’s competitive problem.
3. Self-discipline Issues
Maintaining self-discipline while working from home can be challenging because it requires strong motivation and structure in an environment where distractions and temptations are easily accessible.
Here, you can easily access TV, games, and social media.
You might be tempted to do household chores during work hours or even get distracted when caring for the dependents at home.
And since you are under no pressure to deliver, you tend to get carried away with these distractions, which may cause you to miss deadlines or turn in half-baked projects.
You can skip this problem by creating a schedule and setting up a designated workplace to separate your work and personal life.
Turn off notifications when working actively and prioritize tasks to reduce distractions and increase productivity.
4. Lack of Overseeing
Managers may struggle to oversee their remote employees due to a lack of face-to-face interactions, difficulty gauging work progress, and communication challenges.
This could hamper relationships with team members, leading to a lack of accountability and decreased productivity.
By using project management and collaboration tools like virtual whiteboards, you can effectively communicate with your team members, set clear expectations, and track progress.
Also, encourage your team to interact with each other to increase engagement.
5. Technical Difficulties
Remote workers may need help with their equipment or internet connection, which can impede their ability to complete their work effectively.
Imagine staying out of work for days due to a power outage.
That would slow you down and prevent you from attending online meetings.
As a remote worker, days of technical mishaps may not go away, so it helps to have a backup plan.
In her blog, Remote Work Tips, Melanie Pinola encourages those working from home to purchase tethering devices like a MiFi, which can be helpful when an internet outage occurs.
7 Tips to Manage Your Remote Team Effectively
You have nothing to worry about when you work on your own. But the moment you become a team manager, your expectations increase.
What do you do when you are tasked with managing a remote team? Shy away from your responsibilities or get down straight to work?
To manage a team working in different places, you must first know that you need special tactics to get the most out of your team than you would in an office setting.
We have discussed seven tips for optimizing team performance, so keep reading.
1. Decide on the software to work with
When managing a distributed team, one of your goals is to ensure everyone is on the same page. You can achieve this with the help of viable platforms at your disposal.
There are lots of them right now, but you can pick the right choice by considering how well it tackles the major challenges and ease of use.
For instance, Slack or Microsoft Teams are the best software programs for messaging. At the same time, Asana and Tello are project management tools with integrated features that give you real-time reports on ongoing projects to track progress and increase productivity.
2. Clearly define expectations and goals
Establish clear expectations and objectives for team members and regularly check in to ensure everyone is on track.
Make sure your expectations are realistic and should range from virtual work hours to project management steps, as well as documented changes to the project schedule.
3. Establish regular communication
Encourage open and frequent communication through regular check-ins, video conferencing, and instant messaging. You can conduct individual check-ins or weekly group meetings to support your team.
Remember to infuse some humor to leave your members grinning each time they zoom into the calls in their pajamas. It’s that important.
4. Encourage autonomy and positive company culture
Provide team members with the resources and flexibility they need to be successful and trust them to manage their own time and workload.
Also, create a positive and inclusive work environment, even remote, by promoting a strong company culture and regular virtual team-building activities.
5. Provide opportunities for professional development
Encourage your members to learn and grow their skills by offering training, workshops, and other development opportunities.
6. Maintain discipline
Make sure every individual focuses on his work without poke-nosing into what others are doing.
You can help them deal with the distractions that lurk around homes and balance their work life by encouraging them to use tools like calendars, to-do lists, and time-tracking software.
7. Be flexible
Recognize that remote work can bring unexpected challenges, and be open to adjusting processes and procedures as needed.
Show empathy in how you relate with your team and let them know you always have their back, even when they struggle with a project.
FAQs on Pros and Cons of Remote Working
What skills are in demand for remote work?
To build a formidable remote career, you need skillsets like web programming to stand out.
According to Dynamite Jobs, programming jobs take up to 20.61% of total job listings on the site. Others include business development, marketing, and so on.
What is the highest-paying remote job with no experience?
Freelance writing is a very lucrative job you can do from anywhere without certifications or prior experience.
You can find freelance writing jobs on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr and earn between $2k to $8K per month, depending on the project(s).
What is the difference between remote work and telecommuting?
Both are similar concepts that refer to working from a location outside of a traditional office environment.
However, they have a subtle difference.
While telecommuting is a specific arrangement where an employee is allowed to work from home or an agreed location regularly, remote work enables the employee to work from anywhere in the world without any restriction from the employer.
Pros and Cons of Remote Working – Final Thoughts
In conclusion, remote working has its ups and downs.
So, your ability to succeed here lies in balancing the benefits and challenges and implementing effective strategies to overcome the challenges.
You must have a strong support system, access to the right tools and resources, and the ability to establish a clear separation between work and personal life for you to enjoy the flexibility and control remote working offers.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which works best for you — whether it’s to work from home or move in-house with a company.
But if you want to juggle your responsibilities and earn money on the side simultaneously, then opt for a remote job and have a clear strategy that counters the problems that come.
Have any questions on this topic? Please drop them below, and we’ll answer them shortly!