Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

ools, and guidance to work remotely, productivity should remain. It can surprisingly improve compared to their productivity at the office before too.<h1 id="260f">2. Family</h1>Employees that want to work from home are also motivated by how family affects their work.Employees who are clamoring to work from home understand that telecommuting provides an environment that improves work-life balance and allows more family time.My coworkers and friends that tend to favor staying at home often have younger kids. Whether it’s the flexibility to watch their kids or offers more time to spend with their family during lunch, these instances are significant.However, those who want to go back into the office may have distractions in their household where they can’t concentrate on their work.With no children and my family living out of state, this isn’t really a factor to motivate me to work remotely. But I know that this would be a significant consideration in my career and where I would like to work when I start a family in the future.I’ve had managers who have to escape into the office because working from home to their children signals they aren’t working. It’s a confusing concept for kids to understand their parents are working, especially if they’re physically at home.Interruptions of hungry children bursting in during a meeting are difficult to stop. And it’s not just kids!At the beginning of our work from home journey earlier in the year, my boyfriend barged into my video meetings, asking when we’re eating lunch. Talk about awkward when I shushed him out of my makeshift office.<h1 id="d53c">3. Time</h1>An employee’s perception of how their time is saved or split up is a determining factor in their inclination to telecommute.I’ve had coworkers pleading to continue working remotely to promote their work-life balance with no commute. There is more time for YOU.Receiving an extra hour of sleep is like the fuzzy first cup of coffee in the morning. It’s the knowingly exhale where you know you’re going to have a better start to the day than five seconds ago. Add on my commute time, and I’m saving an extra 2 hours per day and 10 extra hours during a regular 5-day work week.It also motivates me to cook meals at home more because the normal time I would have spent commuting is now just spent cooking.I’m biased, so it’s difficult for me to fathom someone enjoying spending more time for a commute.But I have heard a few objections on why the remote work life makes the day longer despite no commute.Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said, “When you are working from home, it sometimes feels like you are sleeping at work.”He’s right. The fatigue sets in when back to back online meetings continue.My brother explained that it’s harder to split up his day. Sometimes it’s just back to back Zoom meetings and check-ins, and the days start to blend together. It’s challenging to concentrate on video meetings for extended periods.Working remotely can also be difficult to stop. When I’m in the office, I’ll log off consistently at the same time to start my drive home. With no commute necessary, I’m tempted to continue working if emails keep coming through. Structure and routine at the office are difficult to implement from home without

Options

discipline.<h1 id="32a3">4. Money</h1>One of the most popular reasons to keep telecommuting company-wide is the eye dropping savings.Employees are excited about the surprising amounts of saved money on multiple expenses. Employees are spending less money on gas, wear and tear on their car, and professional attire.I would argue most people fit into this category. Employees are winners here, and employers too. Companies realize they can save office space and are canceling their building leases.I used to pump gas once a week, totaling around $22.00 at the lovely Costco gas station. With my regular commute cut out, I can go at least twice as long without pumping. Instant savings!With fewer temptations to go out to lunch with my colleagues, I’m stocking up on groceries and cooking my meals at home consistently. I’ll indulge on the weekends, but my “dining out” portion on my credit cards easily decreased by a whopping 70%!Then again, a few employees feel like they’re losing out on this remote workforce transition.My cousin complained that his being stuck at home prevents him from taking advantage of his company’s freebies. Like some others, his company provides luxurious amenities in their offices that they no longer receive (free coffee, drinks, meals, supplies, gym, etc.).The change to telecommuting means the morning coffee, free meals, and free-flowing alcohol no longer exist. While he saves on the commute and gas, he’d prefer the free food and other company’s offerings over saving on gas.After all, all those amenities cost more than each refill at the gas tank.<h1 id="d1d5">5. Social interaction</h1>An argument for remote work or not depends on an employee’s desire for social interaction and their motivation to work with people.Withing my team and friends, introverts and self-sufficient employees excel when working from home.On the other hand, extroverts and team-oriented people are craving to jump back into the office.This is me. For someone with a close-knit team at work who have become some of my closest friends, not interacting with them face-to-face is like feeling homesick after not returning to your hometown for six months.It’s often the little things or seeing a familiar face in the kitchen, catching up over lunch that are the missed moments we took for granted.I thrive on surrounding myself with other people, and team meetings aren’t the same. But at the same time, if I want to concentrate on projects, I prefer to work alone without distractions. In those cases, fewer faces popping in to ask me a question, emails, IMs, and phone calls, the better.<h1 id="ef7d">Takeaway</h1>Working from home shouldn’t be a temporary arrangement. It offers numerous benefits and is more productive and requested by certain people.Which category do you fall in? Permanent working from home or jumping back into the office?If you’re “team working from home forever,” now is the time to initiate that discussion with your manager or company.Personally, my ideal work environment is a hybrid of in-office work and remote.I enjoy working from home to save time and money but prefer to work in the office to perform better and enjoy social interaction. It’s the best of both worlds for me.</article></body>

The Split Future on Remote Work

Are you team working from home forever or returning to the office?

In 2020, numerous companies started transitioning their workforce to work remotely temporarily. Fast forward six months later, and some employees have returned to the office. On the other hand, other individuals are still in limbo with company announcements of returning to the office being postponed.

After working remotely full-time for over six months, everyone seems to have adjusted to remote work, whether they like it or not.

At this point, everyone is wondering — will we work from home permanently?

The verdict seems to be shifting towards an overwhelming yes.

Companies like Microsoft, REI, Zillow, Twitter, and Square have announced that employees may permanently work from home. This new normal will continue as corporations realize that employees can be trusted, and productivity didn’t drop to record lows as they predicted.

And according to a new study from IBM, 54% of Americans prefer to work remotely. So offering this alternative work arrangement is key in retaining employees moving forward.

The IBM study matches the sentiments of my colleagues, friends, family, and clients. It seems there’s a clear split of those that want to return or continue working remotely.

What are some of the main reasons?

1. Purpose

Transitioning to work remotely isn’t easy for everyone.

Besides the essential workers or jobs requiring employees to be physically present (restaurant industry or retail industry), some employees remain steadfast in returning to the office feel like they’ll do a better job in their original office setting.

Employees who deal with a lot of physical mail, accounting, or payroll, easily relate to this. Some managers feel more effective in managing their workforce in-person as well. Although plentiful methods exist to effectively monitor a remote workforce, some managers haven’t received the necessary training or can’t relieve their micromanaging tendencies.

There is something about working in the office for my friends and me that provides us a sense of confidence. Whether it’s monitoring the phones, team projects, reliable Internet, or fewer technology issues with Zoom not crashing, working in the office provides that sense of security that fewer problems can occur.

On the other hand, others feel like they could do the same thing at home. Software engineers, data entry, recruiters, and the list continues.

Is there really a difference in productivity? It depends. I actually know an employee who is more productive at home since fewer people equals fewer distractions. And employees that worked remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic are thriving because they are equipped to do 100% of their job from home.

If you give your employees the freedom, tools, and guidance to work remotely, productivity should remain. It can surprisingly improve compared to their productivity at the office before too.

2. Family

Employees that want to work from home are also motivated by how family affects their work.

Employees who are clamoring to work from home understand that telecommuting provides an environment that improves work-life balance and allows more family time.

My coworkers and friends that tend to favor staying at home often have younger kids. Whether it’s the flexibility to watch their kids or offers more time to spend with their family during lunch, these instances are significant.

However, those who want to go back into the office may have distractions in their household where they can’t concentrate on their work.

With no children and my family living out of state, this isn’t really a factor to motivate me to work remotely. But I know that this would be a significant consideration in my career and where I would like to work when I start a family in the future.

I’ve had managers who have to escape into the office because working from home to their children signals they aren’t working. It’s a confusing concept for kids to understand their parents are working, especially if they’re physically at home.

Interruptions of hungry children bursting in during a meeting are difficult to stop. And it’s not just kids!

At the beginning of our work from home journey earlier in the year, my boyfriend barged into my video meetings, asking when we’re eating lunch. Talk about awkward when I shushed him out of my makeshift office.

3. Time

An employee’s perception of how their time is saved or split up is a determining factor in their inclination to telecommute.

I’ve had coworkers pleading to continue working remotely to promote their work-life balance with no commute. There is more time for YOU.

Receiving an extra hour of sleep is like the fuzzy first cup of coffee in the morning. It’s the knowingly exhale where you know you’re going to have a better start to the day than five seconds ago. Add on my commute time, and I’m saving an extra 2 hours per day and 10 extra hours during a regular 5-day work week.

It also motivates me to cook meals at home more because the normal time I would have spent commuting is now just spent cooking.

I’m biased, so it’s difficult for me to fathom someone enjoying spending more time for a commute.

But I have heard a few objections on why the remote work life makes the day longer despite no commute.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said, “When you are working from home, it sometimes feels like you are sleeping at work.”

He’s right. The fatigue sets in when back to back online meetings continue.

My brother explained that it’s harder to split up his day. Sometimes it’s just back to back Zoom meetings and check-ins, and the days start to blend together. It’s challenging to concentrate on video meetings for extended periods.

Working remotely can also be difficult to stop. When I’m in the office, I’ll log off consistently at the same time to start my drive home. With no commute necessary, I’m tempted to continue working if emails keep coming through. Structure and routine at the office are difficult to implement from home without discipline.

4. Money

One of the most popular reasons to keep telecommuting company-wide is the eye dropping savings.

Employees are excited about the surprising amounts of saved money on multiple expenses. Employees are spending less money on gas, wear and tear on their car, and professional attire.

I would argue most people fit into this category. Employees are winners here, and employers too. Companies realize they can save office space and are canceling their building leases.

I used to pump gas once a week, totaling around $22.00 at the lovely Costco gas station. With my regular commute cut out, I can go at least twice as long without pumping. Instant savings!

With fewer temptations to go out to lunch with my colleagues, I’m stocking up on groceries and cooking my meals at home consistently. I’ll indulge on the weekends, but my “dining out” portion on my credit cards easily decreased by a whopping 70%!

Then again, a few employees feel like they’re losing out on this remote workforce transition.

My cousin complained that his being stuck at home prevents him from taking advantage of his company’s freebies. Like some others, his company provides luxurious amenities in their offices that they no longer receive (free coffee, drinks, meals, supplies, gym, etc.).

The change to telecommuting means the morning coffee, free meals, and free-flowing alcohol no longer exist. While he saves on the commute and gas, he’d prefer the free food and other company’s offerings over saving on gas.

After all, all those amenities cost more than each refill at the gas tank.

5. Social interaction

An argument for remote work or not depends on an employee’s desire for social interaction and their motivation to work with people.

Withing my team and friends, introverts and self-sufficient employees excel when working from home.

On the other hand, extroverts and team-oriented people are craving to jump back into the office.

This is me. For someone with a close-knit team at work who have become some of my closest friends, not interacting with them face-to-face is like feeling homesick after not returning to your hometown for six months.

It’s often the little things or seeing a familiar face in the kitchen, catching up over lunch that are the missed moments we took for granted.

I thrive on surrounding myself with other people, and team meetings aren’t the same. But at the same time, if I want to concentrate on projects, I prefer to work alone without distractions. In those cases, fewer faces popping in to ask me a question, emails, IMs, and phone calls, the better.

Takeaway

Working from home shouldn’t be a temporary arrangement. It offers numerous benefits and is more productive and requested by certain people.

Which category do you fall in? Permanent working from home or jumping back into the office?

If you’re “team working from home forever,” now is the time to initiate that discussion with your manager or company.

Personally, my ideal work environment is a hybrid of in-office work and remote.

I enjoy working from home to save time and money but prefer to work in the office to perform better and enjoy social interaction. It’s the best of both worlds for me.