The Advantages of Working From Home

One of the biggest workforce trends to come out of 2020 was the proliferation of remote employment. Companies that had never imagined allowing their employees to work from home suddenly shut down offices and sent everyone scrambling for ring lights and ethernet cables. Millions of employees traded their blazers for loungewear and learned how to Zoom. At this point, with roughly 41% of the US workforce currently working from home, it is difficult to believe that we will ever go back to crowded cubicles and long commutes.

There is no denying the advantages of remote employment. Aside from what is currently the biggest advantage – containing COVID-19 – there are many other reasons why working from home is the best solution for employees.

Schedule Flexibility
One of the top advantages to working from home is having a flexible schedule. You have the freedom to set up your workday based on what you need to accomplish in a given day/week. If you have a doctor’s appointment on Monday morning, you can get a head start by completing a few tasks on Sunday. Are you a morning person? Start as early as you want. Have to run to the store? Work through lunch. Of course, there may be a few meetings or phone calls with a set day/time, but for the most part, you will create your work schedule based on what works best for you.

Savings
There is no denying that working from home will save you money. The lack of commute is the most obvious reason. You can save hundreds of dollars per year on gas, auto maintenance, and costly transportation passes when you merely have to walk down the hall to your laptop. Food is another area where you can save money. Staying home during the workday means skipping Starbucks at the train stop and eating a less expensive lunch at home. And depending on your work attire, you can also save hundreds of dollars a year by no longer maintaining a costly professional wardrobe (including dry cleaning bills).

Location Independence
One of the top advantages to working from home is having a flexible schedule. You have the freedom to set up your workday based on what you need to accomplish in a given day/week. If you have a doctor’s appointment on Monday morning, you can get a head start by completing a few tasks on Sunday. Are you a morning person? Start as early as you want. Have to run to the store? Work through lunch. Of course, there may be a few meetings or phone calls with a set day/time, but for the most part, you will create your work schedule based on what works best for you.

Increased Productivity
Believe it or not, you can actually be more productive when you are working from home. Offices are full of small (or large) distractions – coworkers, clients, and managers are constantly stopping by with a question or a request. Working from home, you eliminate those interruptions. Once you are set up for the day, you can concentrate on work with minimal disturbances.

Less Stress
Employees who work from home report decreased stress levels, for a variety of reasons. Studies show that commuters spend an average of 41 hours per year stuck in traffic – that kind of stress can lead to health hazards that include high blood pressure and increased risk of depression. Working from home also means you can avoid difficult coworkers and stay out of office politics – both common causes of employee stress. Still not convinced? 82% of remote employees report less stress.

Work-Life Balance
Attaining your desired work-life balance is another advantage of working from home. When you are setting your own hours, you can fit in everything from school schedules to lunch with friends to a long walk with your dog. As long as you are meeting your employer’s expectations and completing assignments, you can adapt your workday to include the activities that truly matter to you. This leads to increased happiness and decreased risk of depression.

Customized Home Office
An additional advantage to working from home is that you can set up your home office just the way you like. No more harsh overhead lighting or uncomfortable desk chair. You can buy the ergonomic chair of your dreams and set it next to a sunny window, if that’s what you prefer. Need white noise? Turn on the TV or radio in the background. You can surround yourself with pictures and objects that make you feel efficient, inspired and productive when you are working from home.

Better Job Opportunities
When you are searching for non-remote employment, a company’s location can greatly influence whether or not you decide to apply for certain positions. But once you decide to work remotely, location no longer matters. You can apply for whatever position you want, regardless of where it is based, effectively opening a wealth of potential employment opportunities for you. Working from home also provides the possibility of finding and applying for higher-paying jobs all across the country. In fact, remote workers, on average, earn 8.3% more money than office-based workers.

Remote work isn’t going anywhere. A recent study of business leaders indicates that 80% will be allowing employees to work from home at least part-time, post-pandemic. And with so many advantages, it’s easy to see why more and more employees are choosing to work from home.