There’s a lot of discussion around working from an office vs. working from home today. Some organizations have issued strong return-to-office mandates with mixed results, while other companies are just starting to examine possible work-from-home scenarios.
In this post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of office and remote work to help you decide if you should ask your employees to return to the office or work there more often.
Pros of working from an office
While studies show only 5% of U.S. workers prefer to work from an office full-time, 41% would like to work from an office at least some of the time. This is because working in an office offers many benefits, such as:
1. A more structured work environment
Offices offer more structured work environments than remote jobs. People work in one single place, often with a set schedule based on when the office is open. This structure makes it easier to find a habitual workflow, meaning it takes less time for employees to get into the flow of their work. It’s also more predictable, which is good for establishing a routine.
2. Easier collaboration
It’s much easier to gather the team for a quick meeting when everyone is in the office compared to remote workers, who may have different schedules or turn off notifications during focus time. Answering questions and assigning tasks goes much quicker when everyone is physically present.
3. Better support and access
In-office employees easily find help for issues, including IT or technology problems or even basic questions about tasks. They can also pop over to their manager’s office to have a quick chat about projects or tasks without having to message back and forth or schedule a video chat.
4. Clearer boundaries for work-life balance
The office environment creates a physical boundary between work and home, which often contributes to easier mental separation between the two. Office workers have an easier time stopping for the day or leaving work at the office — unlike remote workers who often work outside of normal business hours.
5. More visibility
Employees who work from an office are more visible to their supervisors and peers, which makes them more likely to get promotions or recognition for their work. Managers are also more likely to trust employees they can see to get work done, and observing them allows them to provide better support as they spot issues or areas of improvement in real time.
6. Better control over data and security
When employees work from a single office location, it’s easier to control security for everyone. IT easily sets up firewall protocols and other cybersecurity protections for equipment inside the office. Furthermore, when employees work remotely, equipment is put at physical risk from theft or unauthorized access by non-employees.
Cons of working from an office
Of course, working in an office also presents challenges to today’s workforce, including:
1. Less productive focus time
Even with cubicles or private offices, on-site employees are less productive. According to the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), in-office workers are 13% less productive than their remote counterparts. This is likely due to distractions from colleagues, daily commuting time and a lack of flexibility, which can distract employees from their work.
2. More distractions
Offices are full of distractions, from unnecessary meetings to chatty coworkers or basic ambient noise. In-office workers also take more breaks than remote workers, for better or worse. This happens because working in an office offers a few natural breaks such as chatting at the water cooler when you run into a colleague or stopping to talk when someone walks by your desk. Meanwhile, breaks may be more ambiguous in a remote environment, making employees less likely to take them.
3. Less flexibility and work-life balance
Traditional in-office work schedules are more rigid than remote schedules. This often means employees don’t have the flexibility to deal with personal issues or handle stress effectively, which poses problems for work-life balance. In a Gallup survey, 70% of hybrid workers report better work-life balance than in-office workers. Studies also show in-office workers report feeling more stressed than remote workers.
4. Cost implications
Your organization must have office space for employees to work from, which means a rent or lease as well as utilities and equipment. You must also ensure a safe and healthy work environment, including ergonomic chairs and desks. Many employers make coming to the office more enjoyable by providing free snacks, coffee or other amenities, which also add up.
Pros of remote work
According to Forbes, only 11% of workers are fully remote. But that number has more than doubled year over year. And the share of in-office workers is decreasing as employers realize the advantages of remote work, such as:
1. More productivity and focus time
Many remote employees enjoy increased productivity because they have more control over their work hours and focus time. They don’t face the same distractions as in-office workers. A Stanford study found remote workers are 13% more productive than their in-office counterparts, thanks to quieter environments and fewer sick days.
2. Customized work environments
Working from home allows employees to customize their work environments to their work styles. This means people who like to work in complete silence can choose to do so, while someone who likes background music doesn’t have to worry about bothering colleagues. Remote employees also have full control over their workplace snacks, dress code, lighting and office layout. By giving employees greater freedom in their workspace, companies improve satisfaction and productivity.
3. Flexibility in scheduling
Workplaces that embrace remote work may allow employees to set their own schedules and choose work locations. This gives employees greater flexibility to handle personal issues like childcare, home maintenance or errands. This flexibility is an appealing benefit for existing and potential employees, which means companies may reduce turnover and have a better shot at landing top candidates for open positions.
4. Cost savings
Remote work offers cost savings for both the company and employees. Companies don’t pay for real estate, utilities, cleaning or filling the office with food and drinks. Even if you need a small office for a select group of employees, those costs are smaller than supporting a larger space. Meanwhile, employees save on commuting costs, which average $700 a month for gas, car maintenance, car insurance and more.
5. More satisfaction in work and life
Employees who have the option to work from home are more satisfied with not only their work, but their personal lives. Tracking Happiness reports remote workers are 20% happier in their general lives than in-office workers. TINYPulse reports a similar uptick in job satisfaction for remote workers – 22% are happier in their jobs than in-office employees. Happy employees are less likely to call out sick, less likely to leave their jobs and more likely to be productive.
Cons of remote work
Remote work is not a cure-all for workplace issues, though. Some cons of remote work include:
1. Loneliness and isolation
The biggest issues workers and employers face with remote work are isolation and loneliness. In 2022, the Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance reported employers in the U.S. lost $154 billion a year due to absenteeism from increased stress and loneliness. Not everyone will be friends in an office, but face-to-face interactions with team members build camaraderie and promote collaboration that’s mutually beneficial for employees and the business.
2. Distractions from personal life
Remote workers may not face distractions from colleagues, but they still deal with challenges. IBI reports that 23% of remote workers have difficulty establishing a quiet space for their home office and 43% face constant interruptions from family or household members. It’s also more difficult to focus on a virtual meeting than an in-person one, which means remote meetings are generally less impactful.
3. Collaboration and communication issues
While technology provides many benefits, it can’t fix all problems with remote communication and collaboration. Employees who work from home may have a harder time scheduling meetings with colleagues who are on different schedules. Text and chat are ripe for miscommunication compared to in-person discussions because there’s no way to truly communicate tone or intention. If employees aren’t fully trained on technology, they may not use it to its full potential, which also leads to issues with communication and collaboration.
4. Less visibility and trust
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, managers reported they struggled to trust remote workers to get their work done. According to Harvard Business Review, 38% of managers said remote workers perform worse than their in-office counterparts, although studies on productivity and performance don’t back this belief. Remote workers are 24% less likely to get promotions than in-office workers, most likely because of this visibility bias. The best way to address this is with productivity monitoring tools like ActivTrak to see what work is actually being accomplished and base performance reviews on data instead of feelings.
5. Cybersecurity and technology
Remote workers are exposed to more cybersecurity risks and data threats than in-office workers. Not only does IT lack control over WiFi connections, laptops and other equipment are also more likely to be stolen or exposed to unauthorized access in a remote setting. Remote workers are also at the mercy of their local internet service provider for connection speeds, which vary widely across the country.
Should you ask employees to work from the office?
Deciding whether to call employees back into the office or expand your team’s remote capabilities is not easy. Each work model offers its own pros and cons, and individual organizations will have to weigh them to decide how to proceed. It’s important to consider industry requirements, job roles and employee input to determine what’s best for your organization.
Data-driven insights are the best way to guide your decision. With ActivTrak, you see exactly when employees are most productive and whether remote work helps or hinders productivity. Gain insights into individual and team productivity to make better decisions around right-sizing your office space or leaving a physical office altogether. Empower employees with the Personal Insights Dashboard so they see what works for them.
Join the thousands of customers who trust ActivTrak to optimize their work environments. Ready to unlock your full potential? Contact our sales team to get started with a free account and discover how ActivTrak gives leaders the data they need to make decisions about remote or in-office work.
