Author: Dorethia

The workplace is undergoing radical shifts in order for companies to stay competitive. You might have seen talks about “The Future of Work” or “The Talent Wars” and how they will impact the way we work moving forward.

One major point in both conversations is that many employees (especially younger professionals) are beginning to realize how their skills provide value to their companies. A result of this is the increasing demand for flexible work arrangements. That includes working remotely and working from home (WFH).

Some companies run fully remotely, while others allow a certain number of days per week that employees can work from home. Outside of employee demand, companies are starting to understand the value of these perks as well. When done effectively, we see increases in job satisfaction, productivity, and innovation.

Working remotely  seems like a dream for many people, but it has its pros and cons like any work environment.

The Real Pros:

• Flexible Schedules – You are rarely expected to be in one place for a solid 8 hours. This means you can throw in a load of laundry while you wait for your next call. Or, run by the bank without worrying about making it before they close. You may need to work a little later, but flexible schedules allow you to take control of your time.
• Eliminate Commutes – Without driving to the office every day, you easily save money on gas/transportation and regain time from avoiding traffic. Imagine having more time to sleep, get up and make breakfast, or spend more time with family.
• Reduce Distractions – We all have coworkers who pop into our offices for something “real quick.” While this can be an enjoyable distraction, it breaks our focus and takes time away from actually getting our work done.
• Work from Anywhere – Travel to a place you’ve always wanted to visit. All you need is a solid Wi-Fi connection. You may need to do some work, but this helps offset the costs of travel and prevents you from getting too far behind on your assignments.

The Real Cons

• Difficult to Disconnect – Working from home can co-mingle two parts of your life that normally stay separate. It can be difficult to avoid work when your personal space is also your work space. Having a dedicated home office can help with this.
• Loneliness – This might seem a little silly, but it’s actually reported as one of the top drawbacks to working remotely from many fully-remote employees. Companies sometimes struggle to build teams and maintain engagement when there aren’t opportunities to socialize or get to know our peers outside of work.
• Communication – There are many platforms like Slack & Zoom to assist with remote communication, but this remains a top challenge for employers. This forces employees to be clearer and more comprehensive in their communication because you can’t always expect quick responses.
• Competition for Jobs – If flexible work arrangements sound appealing to you, it’s no surprise. Many people are searching desperately for this type of autonomy. This increases competition for these jobs even more, and forces candidates to showcase their ability to perform effectively despite some of these challenges.

Let’s face it. Most of us spend the majority of our work days in front of a computer or in meetings. This means that much of our work can actually be done from anywhere in the world with a stable Wi-Fi connection. So, it’s no surprise that people want the flexibility of working remotely. However, it is important to be self-aware and assess your ability to succeed in a remote environment first.

If you are looking to increase your confidence or candidacy for these types of roles, consider taking online courses, stepping up when the boss is away, reading articles, and being crystal clear with your communication skills. Good luck!

For more information on working remotely, check out Buffer’s “State of Remote Work 2019” here: https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work-2019