Disadvantages of Working from Home

The offices were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many organizations to rethink how and where their employees work. Many have adopted permanent work-from-home policies.

Inability to Separate Work and Personal Life

Many people hate going to the office, as it takes time and money. However, the positive side of commuting is that you have a clear separation between work and home. Although many office workers still log in from home later, remote workers, in particular, feel they are “always at work.” A study by FlexJobs found that overworking or the inability to separate work from personal life was the highest negative factor in remote work according to study participants. 35% of them mentioned it as a challenge.

Family Distractions

Many remote workers, especially women, feel distracted by children while working from home. If you have a family, it’s essential to inform them when you are at work and therefore unavailable. Having a fully equipped office in a separate room in the home (so you can close the door when necessary) is crucial. It should also be noted that your home office is not necessarily a suitable place for young children and pets to play.

Technology or Equipment Issues

Lack of proper equipment at home, having an unstable or weak Wi-Fi connection, or just facing everyday tech problems can make remote work more challenging. 28% of participants in the FlexJobs study pointed to technology issues as a concern, and 26% complained about reliable Wi-Fi connection. While tech problems can occur in the office as well, they are easier to resolve when there is on-site assistance.

Video Meeting Fatigue

While video meetings are great because they allow for remote meetings where you can see each other’s faces, they come with a new set of challenges. “Zoom fatigue” is real. Researchers found four reasons for this. The size of faces on screens is abnormal. Seeing yourself during video meetings is exhausting. You can’t move around much during video chats and stay on screen. You have to exert more effort to communicate without the usual gestures and non-verbal signals. Reducing the size of faces, hiding your view of yourself, using an external keyboard to create more space between you and the screen, and taking audio breaks can help alleviate these issues.

Difficulty Collaborating and Managing Work Relationships

Despite all the collaborative tools and methods technology has provided for us to communicate with each other online, sometimes there is no substitute for face-to-face interaction. People sitting around a table looking at problem-solving diagrams can resolve issues in minutes that might take days using online collaboration tools. Discussing sensitive issues with a colleague or building relationships with coworkers can be much easier when done face-to-face rather than chatting over video. It is easier to understand visual cues or overlap when communicating electronically.

FAQs

What are the advantages of working from home?

Those who love working from home enjoy not having to commute, which saves time and money. Many workers find they save money on lunches and clothing as well. Many feel they are more productive at home without the distractions of workplace chit-chat. Additionally, people who don’t go into the office may stay healthier by avoiding viruses they might catch at the office or during their commute. You may also find more job opportunities when you are not restricted by employers in your geographic area.

How

Can I work from home?

If your employer allows you to work from home, the first thing to do is to find out if your job is eligible. If it is, talk to your supervisor about it. If it isn’t and it is important for you to be able to work from home, you can look for a new job that allows you to work remotely. Some job search sites like FlexJobs specialize in remote work. Many major job sites also allow you to specify that you are looking for a remote job.

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Sources:

• McKinsey. “Americans Are Embracing Flexible Work—And They Want More of It.”
• FlexJobs. “FlexJobs Survey Finds Employees Want Remote Work Post-Pandemic.”
• I/O at Work and Journal of Applied Psychology. “Constant Interruptions Make Remote Work Challenging.”
• Stanford. “Stanford Researchers Identify Four Causes for ‘Zoom Fatigue’ and Their Simple Fixes.”

Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/the-disadvantages-of-working-at-home-2948688