COVID-19 didn’t just shake up our lives; it kicked down the doors of the traditional office, leaving employers scrambling to keep up. Now, years later, are we really ready to go back?

The pandemic pushed companies across the world to take up remote working. This, in turn, has disrupted traditional office environments, as well as changing perceptions of work.

Whilst working from home started as an emergency temporary measure, many companies still offer remote working now, embracing it as a long-term option. Some believe that remote working provides employees with flexibility and work-life balance.

However, with Covid-19 behind us, we are seeing a move back towards in-person working. For example, Amazon has recently changed their working policies, requiring their employees to work on-site at all times, which has reignited the debate around remote, hybrid and in-person working patterns.

Overall, this appears to reflect the trend we are seeing right now, with hybrid and on-site working falling back into favour.

So, in this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of remote versus office working.

The Advantages of Working from Home (WFH)

Boosted Productivity

When remote working rose to popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, several studies came out about the increased productivity remote workers experienced.

Not only are people working from home able to focus more due to the lack of distractions, they also don’t need to suffer the stress of commuting.

In addition, the ability WFH gives people to structure their days, which significantly boosts output, as they can choose when to work based on when they feel most productive.

Mental Health Benefits

Similarly to the above, research has found that working from home can offer several mental health benefits.

For example, people working remotely tend to have a better work-life balance – with the ability to do chores during break times, or being able to pick up children from school when needed and so on.

In addition, for more introverted workers, or for neurodiverse people, working at home can help reduce any social anxieties they may feel in the office.

Saving Money for Employees

From the perspective of employees, remote working can be far more cost-effective than going into the office every day.

As well as saving money on the daily commute, remote workers can also save money on work attire – depending on dress codes – and daily expenses like food, drinks, coffee and work lunches, for example.

Therefore, working remotely can help employees financially.

Environmental Impact

Looking at the bigger picture, remote working also has a few environmental advantages.

To begin with, removing the commute to the office means that people are able to significantly lower their carbon footprint.

In addition, having days where your office is completely closed – or even downsizing to a co-working space – can help reduce energy consumption in your office building.

Disadvantages of Working from Home

Loneliness and Mental Health

Everyone can benefit from a bit of face-to-face time with colleagues, and when this is lacking, it can lead to remote workers experiencing loneliness, which can in turn affect their mental health.

This is why either having an office base for people to attend if they want to or having more frequent team meetups are important, as they can help remote workers connect.

The Distractions of Home Life

For some, the office can be a distracting place, with overlapping conversations and meetings. However, for others, the home can be even more distracting, especially for bigger families and those with children. This can have a negative effect on focus and overall productivity.

For this reason, remote working might not be the perfect fit for all employees.

Issues with Collaboration

One of the main issues with remote working is that collaboration isn’t quite the same as it is when everyone is in the same room together. Remote working can bring up issues with technology malfunctions, faulty internet connection and not being able to read tone through messages, all of which are easily rectified in an office environment.

This means that even just meeting up twice a year to get everyone together and collaborating is essential to operations running smoothly.

Security when Working from Home

Another disadvantage of remote work is the lack of security that can sometimes come with people being on their own WiFi systems.

Also, when companies have sensitive documents on paper, remote workers may forget to lock them away at home, meaning anyone might be able to access them.

Advantages of Working from the Office

Collaboration and Team Dynamics

One of the best parts of working in an office alongside colleagues is being able to have an open and collaborative dynamic with them. With many offices being open-plan these days, there is even more opportunity for collaboration than ever, with workers being able to shout across the room when they need help or have a question.

This fosters a great community and ensures that everyone can share ideas and work as a team. Overall, these face-to-face interactions can help boost creativity and innovation.

Productivity and Accountability

When people are in the office, it is much easier to track everyone’s productivity without being too invasive. Generally, it’s easier to see if someone is working in-person, instead of having to track productivity via their laptop when they’re working from home.

In addition, people working in an office can hold each other accountable, leading to higher levels of efficiency and productivity.

Resources when Working in the Office

One final advantage of working in the office is the access employees get to office resources and equipment, especially things they might not be able to take home.

Also, in the office, communication channels and support are much easier and smoother, as – instead of messaging and waiting for a reply – people can simply go up to each others’ desks, talking and getting help in real time.

Disadvantages of Working in the Office

Commuting: Stress and Wasted Time

One of the most obvious disadvantages of working in the office is commuting.

Not only does this cause undue stress before the working day has even started, but public transport and traffic conditions can never be counted on, which can lead to lateness and employees missing meetings and therefore wasting time.

In addition, employees need to take into account the costs associated with commuting – and, while companies put season ticket loans and other benefits in place to help, this is still a big factor when it comes to people choosing a remote job over an in-office job.

Rigidity of Office Working

Some employees may find the rigid schedules of office working doesn’t suit the way they prefer to work.

For example, some people prefer to work in the early mornings where they feel they’re at their most productive, finding themselves losing focus as the day goes on. In these cases, these people might not be able to adapt fully to a 9-5 office work schedule.

Age and Working Preferences

An interesting point to note is that the generations respond differently to certain work setups.

For example, Generation X and older generations – who grew up with the traditional office – are more likely to prefer in-person working.

Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to enjoy remote working, as the generation who have grown up around technology.

Financial Implications for Companies: Remote VS In-Office Working

Overall, it seems that offering either remote or hybrid working opportunities could be more cost-effective for companies in the long-run, helping to reduce overheads such as office rent, utilities, and office supplies.

Alternatively, some businesses are going down the route of using co-working spaces for employees who want to come in a few times per week – adopting the popular hybrid working schedule.

In addition to the costs of having and maintaining an office, some companies are spending money on perks to bring employees back to the office, which is another cost to keep in mind.

The New Normal: Hybrid Work and Flexibility

Currently, the preferred work model appears to be hybrid work, offering people the opportunity to work both from home and the office.

This model gives employees the flexibility they need, striking a balance between remote work focus and productivity, as well as in-person collaboration.

As a result of this change, companies are downsizing their offices and using co-working spaces, as we discussed above, to give employees a space to work without as many overheads.

Hybrid work is also a sustainable option, helping reduce carbon footprint whilst still maintaining social interactions and team dynamics on the in-person days.

The Verdict – Office Over Remote Work?

Clearly, the debate of office versus remote work is far from settled, with every business having a different opinion and approach.

For example, Amazon’s decision to bring employees back to the office shows that for some companies, office work might still provide greater benefits for employees.

Overall, the most popular approach seems to be the hybrid working model, giving people the best of both worlds when it comes to the benefits of working from home and working from the office.