Is it better to work at home or in an office?

"In terms of Commuting"

Let’s compare them side-by-side to help you understand the unique advantages and disadvantages of each.

That’s a lot of time you can save by becoming a telecommuter! Telecommuting is another way to say working remotely or from home by making full use of the internet, email, and phone.

However, some folks enjoy waking up early, getting ready, and having the separation of home and the office. This is why many folks who work remotely still opt to go to a coffee shop or a coworking space.

The bottom line is people hate commuting. Work-life balance continues to surge on the importance meter for modern-day employees. Companies that don’t recognize this are missing a huge opportunity to adopt work from home strategies that benefit their workforce.

"In terms of Communication"

One compelling advantage of working from home is the ability to work anywhere. You don’t even need a laptop. With a full-featured business phone app, employees can make and receive calls, attend conference calls, message colleagues, and stay online using their iPhone or Android.

Not counting video conferencing, face-to-face communication is something you really only get in an office space. It’s not only beneficial when planning for business, but it strengthens relationships and rapport with other employees. There’s something about relationship-building that happens when you sit next to someone or bump into each other at the coffee machine.

"In terms of Flexibility"

When working from an office, it’s likely you have a set schedule. Your alarm goes off at the same time every day, you grab your morning coffee at 7:05 am, and you’re at your desk by 9 am ready to work.

When it comes to working from home, it’s a little different. You now have the flexibility to wake up when you choose and tailor your day to your needs. If your company is new to remote work, chances are they still want all employees working the traditional work hours of 9-to-5. With remote work, you can now wake up (a little) later, pick a time for lunch, and close your laptop when you want — for some, that’s 4 pm, others it could be 7 pm.

As more companies adopt a remote-first policy, working hours will shift to fit the employee’s schedule. This shift means more flexibility on when you start and end your day and where you work from. You should be able to work from anywhere that has a solid internet connection!

Many employees struggle to disconnect when working from home. Up to a third of employees say they struggle to balance work and home life when working remotely. It’s easy to shut down your computer when you see fellow office workers start to pack up for the night, but when you’re at home, those cues don’t exist.

The option to freelance and take on side projects is another massive benefit that comes with working from home. The time you waste on commuting could be put toward taking on side projects or freelancing. It’s far more lucrative than sitting through traffic jams!

"In terms of Management"

Many organizations have had to switch to remote work for the very first time. Managers are likely concerned because they’ve never had to manage a remote workforce.

When working from an office, managers have a clear view of what team members are working on. They can go up and ask questions, have daily check-ins, and have whiteboarding meetings to make sure everything is on track.

That’s not the case when it comes to working remotely

"In terms of Financial Cost"

The differences from working from home versus working at an office can be seen when it comes to finances — and we’re not talking about how much money you earn.

When working at an office, you pay for the costs of commuting, such as public transit, gas, or maintenance expenses. If you’re driving, you might also have to pay for parking. You likely also pick up a coffee or buy lunch during the day. All of these expenses add up.

When you work from home, there are tons of financial perks. You don’t have to worry about sitting in traffic, commuting expenses, and you won’t be tempted to go out after work and spend money on happy hours and eating out.

Working from home has its own costs. In addition to broadband internet costs, employees need to think about their energy costs like electricity. They may also carry “startup” costs for telecommuting technology typically burdened by employers. Typical work-at-home expenses include desks, chairs, network routers, and monitors.

While you save in some ways, there are other types of costs to think through.

"In terms of Productivity"

Studies show that it’s clear there is increased productivity in working at home versus working in an office.

That’s a big hit to employee productivity. The nature of working remotely doesn’t make it inviting to chat with coworkers. Needless to say, productivity can get a huge uptick with remote workers. For example, call center employees that work from home were able to boost their productivity by 13%, according to a Stanford study. Consistent research has shown that remote workers log longer hours than their office-bound counterparts.