With the rise of mobiles, the use of laptops, broadband connection, and the hike in price of office space, it is no coincidence that homeworking is the current trend for now.
Seeing the present condition of the Pandemic has made it obvious that the working from home trend stays… Working officials will still work from home and follow the protocols issued by the Government, not just in India but the whole world.
But ever wondered what the extended “homeworking” trend would be like? What are the advantages of working from home and what are potential disadvantages of home working?
If yes, then what would be the new set of rules???
Nobody really knows!! let’s try and figure it out.
COVID-19: Successful Home Working
The advances in technology have enabled working from home or remotely very easily.
But the motivation lies elsewhere.
Surveys conducted on work-life satisfaction have consistently indicated commuting at the bottom of the list of lifestyle satisfaction.
Employers are to gain hugely from this fad.
Benefits include a significant reduction in employee sick days.
It has been estimated that staff absence has costed the UK economy upwards of £13.4 billion or 175 million working days a year.
In some companies, the cost of a single employee’s annual sick leave can be more than £1200 which is a huge amount for small businesses.
Even if you consider big businesses and each month expect 5% of employees to be taking time off due to sickness, there is a huge cost involved to businesses.
Also, if your employees are working from home, they have greater flexibility to their work schedules and still accomplish more in a day.
They could work their timings around family requirements leaving behind any feelings of being homesick or the likes.
Now that we are all nostalgic, do not forget to check these cool options if you are working from home:
Further, if they are fancy, they could even go for brisk walks around the blocks, gym workouts, or eating healthy which is not easily achievable in a 9-5 job.
Homeworking is really the answer to a lot of well-qualified mothers who have taken a back seat in their careers after childbirth.
For instance has been hugely successful in holding on to valued female employees.
By offering the option of home working to fit around childcare and school runs, it has boosted the company’s maternity retention rate.
Homeworking is also the answer if you are a budding entrepreneur. Every penny counts when you are trying to set up a business.
The mortgage repayments, commitments of external premises, unavoidable running costs all add up and can drag you a bit down.
However, with homeworking, lots of such costs can be avoided.
You are set up infrastructure-wise almost instantly and ready to roll in your chosen area.
But working from home requires discipline and commitment.
One might wonder why?
Is home working really the greener option?
With homeworking life can be easy- no bosses, no requirement to go for team lunches, no chatter when you really want to work, etc.
Nevertheless, with every change comes along its own pros and cons, and you definitely need to know the advantages and disadvantages of working from home in the long run.
You know how lots of people get overwhelmed with the thought of being on their own. It can get a bit lonely as well.
However, if you have the zeal for life, work hard and also enjoy your leisure time- homeworking could be just the answer.
It does require loads of discipline and commitment to put in requisite efforts but also not overdo it.
There is a tendency for workaholics to start early and never find a stop button when the day has started.
Lots of people get caught up for almost 24 hours. An important element of homeworking is clearly separating home life from office work.
Attitudes are changing towards homeworking.
Earlier you might have worried about what clients might think if you are a start-up and have a home office? Will they take you seriously? But now, there is a sea change in attitudes.
If you have a good product or service that has value and you can accomplish dishing it out no matter what, then who cares where you work from?
Employers and employees are taking homeworking seriously.
There are proven benefits to be received and in the current economy if some economies of scale can be achieved then why not?
Furthermore, in an age of COVID waves/COVID-19, you should ask yourself whether homeworking is a short-term remedy or a long-term solution.
For some people, the answer is a resounding yes – they love working from home and feel more productive there. Others find it difficult to focus or get lonely without colleagues around them.
There’s no right or wrong answer, but if you’re in the latter group, you should definitely consider coworking as an option when things eventually return to normal.
What is coworking?
Coworking is basically what it sounds like – instead of working from home or a traditional office, you work from a shared space with other professionals. This can be anything from a rented desk in an existing coworking space to an entire floor of a building that you and your team members share.
There are co-working spaces of all shapes and sizes, but they generally have a few things in common:
– A focus on community and collaboration. Most coworking spaces host events and workshops that members can attend, and many encourage members to work together on projects.
– A relaxed and informal atmosphere. You won’t find any suits or stuffy offices at a coworking space!
– A variety of membership options. Whether you need a desk for a few days a week or a private office for your whole team, there’s likely to be a membership option that fits your needs.
If you’re not sure if coworking is right for you, why not give it a try? Many spaces offer trial memberships or day passes, so you can test out the waters before committing to anything.
So, should you start working from home? Whether homeworking is a long-term solution for everyone…is still food for thought. However, if you are one of the lucky ones who can work productively from home, take advantage of it!
If not, don’t be afraid to ask your boss about flexible working arrangements – there’s a good chance they will be more than happy to oblige. The answer to that question may vary depending on the individual. However, there are a few things everyone should consider before making the switch. First, think about your work habits and whether or not you’re able to be productive at home. If you have a tendency to get easily distracted, working from home might not be right for you. Additionally, make sure you have all of the necessary tools and equipment to do your job effectively. And finally, set some ground rules with your family and friends about what is and isn’t acceptable during work hours. Establishing boundaries will help ensure that you stay productive while working from home.
COVID has shown us that we need to rethink how and where we work. Let’s make the most of this new normal by embracing homeworking wherever possible.
Have you tried working from home? What tips do you have for others considering it?
Also, Have you decided whether or not to start working from home in the long run?
Let us know in the comments below!
