According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24 percent of employed people did some or all of their work at home in 2015. If in your daily commute you have spent time in traffic jams, you likely wondered if working from home is a better way to make a living. There are clearly reasons why this could be an attractive alternative to rush hour and cubicles, but there may be some other considerations that you need to explore before you make telecommuting a priority when seeking employment.
Let’s look at a few of the pros and cons of what a working-from-home arrangement looks like to help you make an astute decision when sorting through potential opportunities. Based on our experience as a staffing agency in Denver that helps businesses and people with job placements every day, here are several factors we believe you should consider.
Working from Home: Pros
- You have no daily drive. Your commute is eliminated. The time you spend going bumper to bumper can alternatively be used to get more work done, and you will save some money avoiding the costs of gasoline and auto maintenance. Remember that you may not work from home full time as there may still be reasons to commute, such as meeting with important clients or participating in strategy sessions.
- You can work your own way. When you work from home, you have the luxury of setting up your workspace any way you’d like. You can pick your furniture, arrange your desk, and wear whatever you think is best.
- You may have more flexibility. When you are being productive away from the gazes of your boss and your co-workers, you can decide what to work on and when. Although deadlines will never go away, you are at liberty to decide how your workday will play out and what tasks take priority. You may be required to be available during specific hours even if you work from home.
Working from Home: Cons
- You are alone. Although it might seem like a dream come true, working alone can become an isolating, lonely experience. If you are the type of person who thrives on human interaction, the office might be just the place for you. Additionally, a good deal of incidental learning can take place at the office that you would not be able to access.
- You must possess self-discipline. Deadlines and pressures to produce do not go away just because you are home. You are reliant on your own commitment to the work for it to get done in a timely fashion. While distractions in the workplace exist as well, it takes extra discipline to ignore laundry, barking dogs or social media while working from home.
- Your work relationships can suffer. Part of the allure of working in proximity to your team is the opportunity to develop trust and form lasting, collaborative relationships. When you’re not around it becomes more difficult to build rapport without face-to-face connections.
- You give up living space. Working from home requires a home office, which means you sacrifice living space in favor of work space. This may or may not be a problem for you, but it should be a factor in your decision-making.
If you are in job search mode, let Colorado Network Staffing (CNS) help you find your next employer. CNS is a leader in staffing, staff augmentation, and contract management by acting as the sole human resource provider for our clients. We are continually looking to fill employment opportunities with the right fit for our clients in a variety of industries. CNS has the experience, resources and top-level management expertise to place the right candidates with the right employers. Search our jobs and apply today.
