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What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?
This is part of our professionals series, where we ask professionals what they think students should know
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12 answers
Adrian Santos
Marine Security Guard
152
Answers
Lome, Maritime Region, Togo
Updated
Adrian’s Answer
Great question! Here are some advantages and disadvantages of working from home:
Advantages:
Increased flexibility: Working from home allows you to have a more flexible schedule. You can often set your own hours and have more control over your work-life balance.
No commute: One of the biggest advantages of working from home is the elimination of commuting time and costs. This can save you money on transportation and also provide you with more time for other activities.
Increased productivity: Many people find that they are more productive when working from home. They can focus on their work without distractions from coworkers or the office environment.
Improved health: Working from home can also have health benefits, such as reduced stress levels and improved mental health.
Disadvantages:
Lack of social interaction: Working from home can be isolating and may lead to a lack of social interaction with coworkers. This can also lead to a lack of team building and collaboration opportunities.
Distractions: Working from home can also be distracting, particularly if you have family members or roommates at home. It can be difficult to maintain focus and productivity in a home environment.
Blurring of work-life boundaries: When working from home, it can be difficult to separate work and personal life. This can lead to overworking and burnout.
Technology issues: Working from home requires a reliable internet connection and access to the necessary technology. Technical difficulties can be frustrating and may lead to decreased productivity.
Advantages:
Increased flexibility: Working from home allows you to have a more flexible schedule. You can often set your own hours and have more control over your work-life balance.
No commute: One of the biggest advantages of working from home is the elimination of commuting time and costs. This can save you money on transportation and also provide you with more time for other activities.
Increased productivity: Many people find that they are more productive when working from home. They can focus on their work without distractions from coworkers or the office environment.
Improved health: Working from home can also have health benefits, such as reduced stress levels and improved mental health.
Disadvantages:
Lack of social interaction: Working from home can be isolating and may lead to a lack of social interaction with coworkers. This can also lead to a lack of team building and collaboration opportunities.
Distractions: Working from home can also be distracting, particularly if you have family members or roommates at home. It can be difficult to maintain focus and productivity in a home environment.
Blurring of work-life boundaries: When working from home, it can be difficult to separate work and personal life. This can lead to overworking and burnout.
Technology issues: Working from home requires a reliable internet connection and access to the necessary technology. Technical difficulties can be frustrating and may lead to decreased productivity.
Ivanova Vicencio, M.S.
People Relations and Compliance
3
Answers
Guadalajara
Updated
Ivanova’s Answer
1) Advantages
a. No commute: saves you time and spending money on gas/public transportation.
b. Better sleep: and more energy overall; you have more time to rest and exercise.
c. Healthier eating: you can prepare your own food, save money, and avoid unhealthy snacks (bending machines).
d. Flexible use of free time: you can do laundry, cook, clean your house, or do anything else pending if you have some free time.
e. No dress code: you can work in comfortable clothes.
f. More flexibility overall: You can do a quick run to the store, or if you have kids, you can step out to drop/pick them up from school.
2) Disadvantages
a. Networking is harder: especially if you are new to a company, there is a chance that you might not be able to make that many connections with other people. If you are a very social person, working from home full-time might not be a good experience for you (maybe a hybrid or office model will be better).
b. Issues that you might not be able to control: some people might live in areas with weak internet connections/loud neighborhoods.
a. No commute: saves you time and spending money on gas/public transportation.
b. Better sleep: and more energy overall; you have more time to rest and exercise.
c. Healthier eating: you can prepare your own food, save money, and avoid unhealthy snacks (bending machines).
d. Flexible use of free time: you can do laundry, cook, clean your house, or do anything else pending if you have some free time.
e. No dress code: you can work in comfortable clothes.
f. More flexibility overall: You can do a quick run to the store, or if you have kids, you can step out to drop/pick them up from school.
2) Disadvantages
a. Networking is harder: especially if you are new to a company, there is a chance that you might not be able to make that many connections with other people. If you are a very social person, working from home full-time might not be a good experience for you (maybe a hybrid or office model will be better).
b. Issues that you might not be able to control: some people might live in areas with weak internet connections/loud neighborhoods.
Bruce Ridings
Eng-Program Manager
5
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Bruce’s Answer
Hi - As your question eludes, there are both advantages and disadvantages to working from home and are dependent on the environment(s).
Working from home:
Advantages: Ability to focus (if the environment supports it), relaxes dress code, no commute, ability to take short break and accomplish home-based tasks (like cleaning, quick run to store, check mail...etc.)
Disadvantages: Difficult if a person is not able to focus (pets, children, solicitor's, significant other, etc.), has difficulty with time-management, is not willing to be responsible with resources, not being able to have that face-to-face connection with co-workers
In summary - several companies are going to a "hybrid" work environment where employees come into the office 3 to 4 days a week and work from home on other days. This hybrid work environment is gaining popularity.
Working from home:
Advantages: Ability to focus (if the environment supports it), relaxes dress code, no commute, ability to take short break and accomplish home-based tasks (like cleaning, quick run to store, check mail...etc.)
Disadvantages: Difficult if a person is not able to focus (pets, children, solicitor's, significant other, etc.), has difficulty with time-management, is not willing to be responsible with resources, not being able to have that face-to-face connection with co-workers
In summary - several companies are going to a "hybrid" work environment where employees come into the office 3 to 4 days a week and work from home on other days. This hybrid work environment is gaining popularity.
Kaelyn Mullins
Customer Service
1
Answer
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Kaelyn’s Answer
Hello! I am a current work from home rep at a company. Here is my take on pros and cons of working from home! Some of these are simple and some are more so just small things some may enjoy.
Pros -
1 - You are home and are able to save a ton on gas and be able to work out the comfort of your own home.
2 - You are able to do small things around the house on breaks if need be.
3- You are in your own environment so it takes some of the nerves away from first days.
4- If you do have pets or children, you can easily keep an ear out for them yourself, and not have to worry about finding sitters.
5- A lot provide your equipment, you just need a desk.
Cons
1- You are at home A LOT! If you don't take time to leave the house and do things you'll soon start to feel like you have no life outside your house.
2- If you have your desk somewhere where you usually go to relax, you will start to not feel like you can ever fully relax in that area again because you'll always associate it with work.
3- If you are a people person, you wont get that real human to human feel anymore and itll be a lot harder to connect when you are not in group meetings.
4- Your days feel like they are gone by really fast.
I suggest, making your own office space fun and inviting for you to be in. Decorate it how you like.
I suggest, making it a habit that at least once or twice a week when you're off, to go do something outside of the house.
I suggest, on your lunch breaks or small breaks, take a 5 minute break outside and just walk around.
I suggest, keep your work area separate from your normal life area. Mixing the two can make you feel like you're always at your work area.
Pros -
1 - You are home and are able to save a ton on gas and be able to work out the comfort of your own home.
2 - You are able to do small things around the house on breaks if need be.
3- You are in your own environment so it takes some of the nerves away from first days.
4- If you do have pets or children, you can easily keep an ear out for them yourself, and not have to worry about finding sitters.
5- A lot provide your equipment, you just need a desk.
Cons
1- You are at home A LOT! If you don't take time to leave the house and do things you'll soon start to feel like you have no life outside your house.
2- If you have your desk somewhere where you usually go to relax, you will start to not feel like you can ever fully relax in that area again because you'll always associate it with work.
3- If you are a people person, you wont get that real human to human feel anymore and itll be a lot harder to connect when you are not in group meetings.
4- Your days feel like they are gone by really fast.
Kaelyn recommends the following next steps:
Michael Torio
Consultant - Data Reporting & Analysis (HQ Finance)
227
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hello:
Before the Covid-19 Pandemic, my team was 4 days working in the office and 1 day working at home. This arrangement provided a balance of collaborating and interacting with teammates and officemates, etc. while in person and the flexibility of working at home of our day of choice which allowed for scheduling appointments at the house, etc.
Then, when Covid-19 occurred in March 2020, my team became 100% Work From Home. At first, it was great not getting up early in the morning, driving the commute and being stuck in traffic, gas expenses and so forth. Over time, I felt isolated from not seeing and interacting with my other teammates and officemates. Adjustments had to be made to compensate for the feeling of being isolated such as going to the gym to workout and socialize with other gym members, calling teammates and officemates to check up with one another or meeting up for lunch, going outside for a walk or run and get sunshine, etc.
In summary, here are my Advantages and Disadvantages of Working From Home:
Advantages:
- More family time
- No commute and not being stuck in morning or afternoon traffic
- Reduction of gas expenses and car maintenance
- Reduction of clothing expenses
- Reduction of lunch expenses with teammates and officemates
- Dress down and comfortably
- No office distractions and more focus time
- More sleep time and not getting up way too early to prepare for the day
- Flexibility to multi-task with work and schedule appointments for service maintenance at the house, run laundry, prepare dinner, etc.
- Home cooked healthy meals for breakfast and lunch
- Flexibility to work extra time before or after the regular scheduled business day hours
- Interaction and collaboration with teammates and officemates via BlueJeans video conferencing
- Flexibility to exercise, go for a walk with the family dog or go running for fresh air and sunshine
Disadvantages:
- Lack of in-person interaction and collaboration with teammates and officemates
- Going out to lunch with teammates and officemates
- Distractions at home (neighbors, family pets, television, etc.)
- Making sure that there is a hard stop from working beyond the regular scheduled business day hours
- Isolated from the normal work environment and culture
Before the Covid-19 Pandemic, my team was 4 days working in the office and 1 day working at home. This arrangement provided a balance of collaborating and interacting with teammates and officemates, etc. while in person and the flexibility of working at home of our day of choice which allowed for scheduling appointments at the house, etc.
Then, when Covid-19 occurred in March 2020, my team became 100% Work From Home. At first, it was great not getting up early in the morning, driving the commute and being stuck in traffic, gas expenses and so forth. Over time, I felt isolated from not seeing and interacting with my other teammates and officemates. Adjustments had to be made to compensate for the feeling of being isolated such as going to the gym to workout and socialize with other gym members, calling teammates and officemates to check up with one another or meeting up for lunch, going outside for a walk or run and get sunshine, etc.
In summary, here are my Advantages and Disadvantages of Working From Home:
Advantages:
- More family time
- No commute and not being stuck in morning or afternoon traffic
- Reduction of gas expenses and car maintenance
- Reduction of clothing expenses
- Reduction of lunch expenses with teammates and officemates
- Dress down and comfortably
- No office distractions and more focus time
- More sleep time and not getting up way too early to prepare for the day
- Flexibility to multi-task with work and schedule appointments for service maintenance at the house, run laundry, prepare dinner, etc.
- Home cooked healthy meals for breakfast and lunch
- Flexibility to work extra time before or after the regular scheduled business day hours
- Interaction and collaboration with teammates and officemates via BlueJeans video conferencing
- Flexibility to exercise, go for a walk with the family dog or go running for fresh air and sunshine
Disadvantages:
- Lack of in-person interaction and collaboration with teammates and officemates
- Going out to lunch with teammates and officemates
- Distractions at home (neighbors, family pets, television, etc.)
- Making sure that there is a hard stop from working beyond the regular scheduled business day hours
- Isolated from the normal work environment and culture
Shari West
Tech Support
1
Answer
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Shari’s Answer
Having been in a work from home position for awhile now, these are some of the positives and negatives I've found.
Positive-No commute. Ability to dress more comfortably. Ability to arrange my environment to suit me. (In my case) kitty work companions. Less distractions than in the center. Easier access for overtime or make up time since no commute. Gas savings for transportation. Ability to live pretty much anywhere that has a solid internet connection.
Less positive-Increase in utility costs since I'm home more. Lack of face to face interactions with teammates. Sometimes more difficulty to connect with Supervisors since I can't just walk up to one.
Overall, it was not my first choice....but now that I'm doing it, it would be quite an adjustment to go back to working away from home.
Positive-No commute. Ability to dress more comfortably. Ability to arrange my environment to suit me. (In my case) kitty work companions. Less distractions than in the center. Easier access for overtime or make up time since no commute. Gas savings for transportation. Ability to live pretty much anywhere that has a solid internet connection.
Less positive-Increase in utility costs since I'm home more. Lack of face to face interactions with teammates. Sometimes more difficulty to connect with Supervisors since I can't just walk up to one.
Overall, it was not my first choice....but now that I'm doing it, it would be quite an adjustment to go back to working away from home.
Tara Chiusano
Actor/Teaching Artist
24
Answers
Spokane Valley, Washington
Updated
Tara’s Answer
Hi!
I've been working from home since the pandemic, and I am OBSESSED with it. I'm an introvert and really love the fact that I can work next to my adorable dog. Bliss. Also, I want to be able to live wherever I want to live and not be bound by the brick-and-mortar office location.
Best way to work for introverts, hands down.
If you're extroverted...you will probably miss the face-to-face social interaction and that will most likely outweigh a lot of the benefits.
I've found that if I'm sitting next to my dog in a quiet corner of my apartment, I can be happy doing just about anything.
I've been working from home since the pandemic, and I am OBSESSED with it. I'm an introvert and really love the fact that I can work next to my adorable dog. Bliss. Also, I want to be able to live wherever I want to live and not be bound by the brick-and-mortar office location.
Best way to work for introverts, hands down.
If you're extroverted...you will probably miss the face-to-face social interaction and that will most likely outweigh a lot of the benefits.
I've found that if I'm sitting next to my dog in a quiet corner of my apartment, I can be happy doing just about anything.
Monica Peraza
Business Planning
1
Answer
Grecia, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Updated
Monica’s Answer
Hi, I have been working from home for several years now and have experienced both it's advantages as well as it's disadvantages, would say that for me there are a lot more pros then cons.
Pros
* To start off you can save a lot of money on Gas with not having to commute to the office
* You can take advantage of the time it would take you to drive to actually get started on work, get a lot more done, be more efficient
* It's easier to focus on your work without office distractions
* Have more flexibility to not have to rush so much in the mornings
* Be able to wear comfortable cloths
* Prepare your own fresh meals
* Be more accessible if you need work done at your house
Cons
* You end up working a lot more hours without taking breaks
* You have to find a space in the house where you can set-up and work comfortably without any interruptions
* Collaboration is a bit more difficult as well as brainstorming
* People tend to keep more to themselves, be more introvert
* Makes it harder to organize team building activities and to get a sense of how people are doing
Try to have a routine, a schedule to follow to eat at adequate times and avoid over-working, burn-out
Try connecting with your team members to collaborate, brainstorm
Set-up a space with in the house where you can work comfortably, hopefully outside your bedroom
Pros
* To start off you can save a lot of money on Gas with not having to commute to the office
* You can take advantage of the time it would take you to drive to actually get started on work, get a lot more done, be more efficient
* It's easier to focus on your work without office distractions
* Have more flexibility to not have to rush so much in the mornings
* Be able to wear comfortable cloths
* Prepare your own fresh meals
* Be more accessible if you need work done at your house
Cons
* You end up working a lot more hours without taking breaks
* You have to find a space in the house where you can set-up and work comfortably without any interruptions
* Collaboration is a bit more difficult as well as brainstorming
* People tend to keep more to themselves, be more introvert
* Makes it harder to organize team building activities and to get a sense of how people are doing
Monica recommends the following next steps:
Terrell Holmes
Compliance Analyst
16
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Terrell’s Answer
Advantages: To be able feel comfortable within your home, chance to obtain mail or packages, ability to save on food cost/prep
Disadvantages: Lack of motivation, no in person interactions with co workers, Internet service
Disadvantages: Lack of motivation, no in person interactions with co workers, Internet service
Bailey Feathers
Technology Consulting
14
Answers
Newnan, Georgia
Updated
Bailey’s Answer
There are many advantages to working from home; however, as with most topics, there are disadvantages too.
Advantages:
You don't have to commute to the workplace which saves money on transportation. If you live in a city that rarely has free parking, you won't have to pay for parking as much either. Dress code is more casual, so you don't have to wake up super early to get dressed and ready for a workday. You can save money on food since you will be home and could have everything you need, instead of buying lunch. You have the ability to complete tasks at home (cleaning, laundry, receive packages, complete quick errands).
Disadvantages:
You don't get in-person interactions as much so it can feel isolated or hard to connect with those you work with. Some have distractions at home or are not able to focus when at home since it isn't a workplace. You could work additional hours since employers know you are already home for the convenience. Increase in utilities since you will be using more than usual. You could have a lack of motivation as well.
When working from home you really have to push yourself to stay on task so you're still able to complete work tasks even with distractions!
Advantages:
You don't have to commute to the workplace which saves money on transportation. If you live in a city that rarely has free parking, you won't have to pay for parking as much either. Dress code is more casual, so you don't have to wake up super early to get dressed and ready for a workday. You can save money on food since you will be home and could have everything you need, instead of buying lunch. You have the ability to complete tasks at home (cleaning, laundry, receive packages, complete quick errands).
Disadvantages:
You don't get in-person interactions as much so it can feel isolated or hard to connect with those you work with. Some have distractions at home or are not able to focus when at home since it isn't a workplace. You could work additional hours since employers know you are already home for the convenience. Increase in utilities since you will be using more than usual. You could have a lack of motivation as well.
When working from home you really have to push yourself to stay on task so you're still able to complete work tasks even with distractions!
Michael Haar
Senior Training Consultant
21
Answers
Spring Lake, Michigan
Updated
Michael’s Answer
I might not have the most favorable perspective but here it is. I am currently working from home and have been for 2.5 years. Below are my thoughts. I feel very fortunate to be working from home especially because I am not local to the organization that i support. In a perfect world if it were possible a hybrid schedule in my line of work would be the best option. There are many people that do what I do that would feel very different and that is perfectly okay.
Advantages
FAMILY TIME
Personal Independance
Save on gas - milage (no commute)
Flexibility as far as working hours and coming and going from work
Disadvantages
Collaboration - real time bonding with others - I miss people - not everyone feels the same way
Isolated - You are driving your career path
Potentially work more/additional hours because it is convienient
Distractions at home
Disconnected from workplace, team, leader, business strategy
Advantages
FAMILY TIME
Personal Independance
Save on gas - milage (no commute)
Flexibility as far as working hours and coming and going from work
Disadvantages
Collaboration - real time bonding with others - I miss people - not everyone feels the same way
Isolated - You are driving your career path
Potentially work more/additional hours because it is convienient
Distractions at home
Disconnected from workplace, team, leader, business strategy
David Chatman
Senior Technical Support
3
Answers
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Updated
David’s Answer
Some of the advantages of working from home. The obvious one is travel time.
If you live far from your job, that's time you don't have to spend in traffic.
The downside if it's completely reliant on your home network connection. If you don't ever have problems with this, it's fine but your connection can be slowed, based off of what others are doing in your home.
Also, I know here in OKC, all ISP's throttle the internet after a certain amount of data used, so that is a factor to consider depending on how much activity over the network your job requires.
If you live far from your job, that's time you don't have to spend in traffic.
The downside if it's completely reliant on your home network connection. If you don't ever have problems with this, it's fine but your connection can be slowed, based off of what others are doing in your home.
Also, I know here in OKC, all ISP's throttle the internet after a certain amount of data used, so that is a factor to consider depending on how much activity over the network your job requires.