Is “Work from Anywhere” Suitable for Your Business?

Since March 2020, millions of Americans have been working from home. And while the initial thought among leadership at most companies was that the shift would be temporary, it seems to be taking hold as the new normal. Now, many knowledge workers who previously sat in rush hour traffic on the Beltway or packed into Metro cars twice a day have approximately zero commute — and they have no plans to return to their previous ways.

The “work from anywhere” movement has gained steam in the past 14 months. With such a setup in place, if an employee has a working laptop, phone, and reliable Wi-Fi connection, they can literally do their jobs from anywhere in the world. 

But for workers accustomed to going into an office every day, remote work can present challenges. In the sections below, we detail some of the top pros and cons of taking a business ‘WFA.’

Cost savings

WFA is saving companies and workers money. Firms save an average of $22,000 per employee that goes remote, while team members each find they save about $4,000 annually. The former are saving in large part on cutting back on costly office-space purchases and leases, while the latter group finds itself conserving cash mainly because they’re no longer shelling out on transport, coffee, lunches, and/or wardrobe upgrades.

Better work-life balance

Employees taking advantage of WFA can enjoy more flexibility in their workday. This allows them the flexibility to adapt to ever-changing child-care and school options, to better manage their own stress levels by taking lunch or other breaks for doctor’s appointments, exercise, errands, and more. It’s also been shown to increase worker productivity. That’s a better-balanced life. 

Wider talent pool

If it doesn’t much matter where a solid job candidate lives or does their work, said candidate could live in any country in the world. This removes the barriers that previously limited an employer in talent searches. The positive corollary? Job seekers now also have many more choices too.  

Lack of socialization

There’s no getting around the fact that remote work usually means individuals are working on their own, from separate homes, coworking spaces, or rentable private offices. That makes for inherently diminished levels of social interaction for the professional involved. And some people find remote work unpalatable for that very reason. Even before the start of the global pandemic, some remote workers were reporting loneliness, feelings of isolation, and even general depression. In many of those cases, COVID-19 served to exacerbate these symptoms.

Blurred professional-personal line

When working remotely (particularly from home), some people may find it difficult to ‘turn off’ work mode and ‘turn on’ personal mode. The work-because-you-can mindset has led to an increase in the number of hours professionals are working. Close to 70% of workers who moved over to a remote setup now work Saturdays and Sundays, and 45% report working more now that they’re remote, according to a survey by Robert Half. Since the time has to come from somewhere, personal lives — recreational activities, hours spent with family members — are likely to get cut in these cases.

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Keep that line between home life and work life distinct and clear by renting affordable private office space at Metro Offices. View our locations today.

Other articles you might find interesting:

How to Telework Successfully

Working Remote Guide: Tips for Success

How COVID-19 Changes Office Space Forever

Kathlene Buchanan

As the founder of Metro Offices, she has championed workspace innovation since 1989, inspired by the creativity and drive of their 30,000+ clients. Woman-owned and locally focused, the company tailors its spaces to meet the unique needs of every business.

tags: productivity | remote work | work-life balance | workspace