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WHY WORK FROM HOME IS A DESIRABLE OPTION
14th June 2022As we move towards finding a desirable work-life balance, more employees are opting for work from home, and here’s why.
The work from home concept has always been around, but it has gained more prominence post the COVID-19 pandemic. Work from home, often abbreviated to WFH, is a concept where employees can do their job from home using company-approved assets, policies, and tools.
Work from home positively affects employees’ sense of well-being and job satisfaction as it provides them greater flexibility to work in an environment that helps them excel.
10 BENEFITS OF WORK FROM HOME.
You may already be aware that work from home has its own set of pros and cons. Let’s look at 10 of the best benefits of working from home that make remote work a desirable option for employees.
1. Improved work-life balance.
There is often an imbalance between meeting the needs of your personal life while managing the demands of the workplace.
The main reason why work from home has become popular is because it helps create a good balance between work-life and home life. It offers you a sense of control over your work schedule that can be invaluable when it comes to attending to the needs of your personal life and helps create the perfect work-life balance.
2. Increased productivity and performance.
When done right, work from home allows employees and employers to focus on what really matters — performance.
A 2020 survey found that workers who believed they could be more productive working from home actually were more productive when working remotely. 51% of the people surveyed said that they were more productive working from home during the pandemic. When asked why they replied that the reason for their increased productivity was fewer interruptions and quiet work environments.
Not only are there fewer social distractions, but there are also more opportunities to take necessary breaks when needed. Psychologists have emphasized the need for taking regular breaks as it helps with overall performance, motivation, and creativity.
Work from home allows employees to work in an environment where they feel the most comfortable and can deliver their best work. This has a positive impact on the mind, leading to increased productivity and performance.
3. Cost-effective.
Work from home offers cost-saving opportunities for both employees and employers alike. As an employee working from home, you can save expenses on transportation, gas, parking charges, and take-out lunches, among other things.
Global Workplace Analytics found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, companies saved millions of dollars every day when their employees were working remotely. As the employer, you end up saving money on office space and utility expenses such as electricity, water, etc.
4. Increased convenience.
Work from home is a convenient mode for everyone as it saves the hassle of facing peak hour traffic during both morning and evening commute. When you work from home, you avoid the traffic and work in a relaxed and comfortable environment, allowing for more work flexibility, and avoiding rigid office schedules.
Working from home is convenient for employers as well as it cuts back on human resources, providing office facilities and other amenities.
5. Improved employee health and wellness.
When working from home, employees get to customize their surroundings to suit their personal needs, get comfortable with their preferred outfits and tech setup, and take care of physical-emotional needs as they come up.
In order to improve productivity, employers should set clear boundaries and expectations for work hours, projects, and meetings allowing them to relax and feel confident in their productivity without going overboard.
6. Reduced commute stress.
Commuting to and from work takes a toll on all of us. And research shows that more than 30 minutes of daily one-way commuting is associated with increased levels of stress and anxiety and has a negative impact on your health.
When you work from home, you skip the commute. This helps you support your mental and physical health. The time saved on traveling allows you to focus on priorities outside of work, like getting extra sleep in the morning, spending more time with your family, working out, or eating a healthy breakfast.
7. Improved inclusivity.
When companies offer work from home and remote working options, they are encouraging inclusivity and diversity by hiring people from different socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds.
Work from home also provides caregivers an opportunity to follow their career goals without worrying about commuting back and forth to an office. With flexible work hours, they can create a schedule according to their needs.
8. Positive impact on the environment.
Work from home and remote work was at its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, the daily office commute was completely shut down.
Work from home and remote work was at its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, the daily office commute was completely shut down.
9. More sustainable.
There are numerous sustainability benefits of remote work. With employees having the flexibility to work from home, it is a great opportunity for the business world to lower their carbon footprint and make progress by switching to more sustainable business models.
The list of sustainable benefits includes:
- Less commuting
- Lower fuel emissions
- Flexible work schedules
- A more diverse workforce
- Flexible work schedules
10. Customizable home office.
When appropriately designed, home offices allow employees to work more efficiently and, above all, more comfortable in their own workspace. If you want to set up that perfect home office, here are some tips to help you customize yours:
- Get some natural lighting
- Pick a quiet spot
- Select the right colours
- Choose the right furniture
- Focus on your needs
- Eliminate distractions
- Use smart storage solutions
8 SYMPTOMS OF WORK FROM HOME STRESS
While work from home has its fair share of benefits, it can also be stressful and lead to fatigue and burnout. Here are the top 8 symptoms of work from home stress:
- Constant tiredness and cynicism
- Trouble completing office work
- Dull mood and lack of energy
- Lack of concentration
- Headaches and body aches due to unexplained causes
- Irregular sleep cycle
- Dissatisfaction at work
- No work balance or job satisfaction
5 SIGNS OF WORK FROM HOME STRESS.
If you are working from home, along with the symptoms mentioned above, here are five signs of stress you should watch out for and how you can overcome them:
1. Sleep and fatigue issues -
Working from the office means you have fixed login and logout hours, but when you work from home, you may be tempted to continue working in order to complete your task. This can lead to daytime fatigue, which is the leading cause of insomnia and will result in you finding it hard to sleep at night.
To avoid fatigue issues, give yourself a break after every 52 consecutive minutes of work. Take a 10–15 minutes break to take a walk, stretch, and talk with your friends and family. This will help you re-focus on your work and overcome daytime sleepiness.
2. Anxiety and depression -
Studies have shown that long work hours can negatively impact your mental health and lead to anxiety and depression.
You can take small breaks to practice mindfulness meditation, simple exercises, and follow relaxation techniques.
3. Increased blood sugar levels -
Constant overwork and stress from work from home leads to the release of the stress hormone, “cortisol,” which increases the levels of sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, which means your heart is overworking too.
Cortisol causes a condition called Cushing Syndrome, which leads to rapid weight gain, skin that bruises easily, muscle weakness, and increases the risk for various diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke, and coronary artery disease. To reduce the effects of cortisol, you need to stay active and walk on a daily basis.
4. Back and neck aches -
When you work from home, you opt to work from your bed or from the dining table — the irregular postures lead to subsequent neck and backaches.
To avoid these pains, you can add activities like exercise, talk with friends, and listen to music. Try to incorporate these activities into your week or schedule them every day if you can.
5. Lack of concentration -
When you work on the same thing every day, it can get difficult for you to concentrate on work. You can find a creative outlet to help you destress and boost your focus.
So, find your creative streak, take up a hobby, and create time to include it into your schedule. It will give you a feeling of purpose and reduce stress levels.
HOW TO FIX CHALLENGES OF WORK FROM HOME.
- Blurred work-life boundaries — With blurred boundaries, employees may be afraid to even take time off for exercise. As the employer, you must take the initiative to encourage your remote employees to fix a dedicated “downtime.”
- Inadequate practical equipment — Not every employee will have access to adequate space or even essential equipment like desk space and seating. Remember that part of the budget goes towards infrastructure and furnishings in the office. So, in a work from home scenario, use these funds to provide employees with proper and practical equipment.
- Hovering supervisors — While some level of supervision is acceptable and necessary, over-the-board monitoring can lead to feelings of resentment towards the supervisor. As the employer, you can consider moving towards goal-oriented key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Employee isolation — Aside from the risk to mental well-being, employee isolation can also quickly lead to breakdowns in unit cohesion. Encourage the use of group communication tools like Slack and Clickup to allow employees to communicate even outside core meeting groups.
- Resolving technical issues — Every organization needs to have technical support staff. If you are a startup or a small business, consider outsourcing for technical help.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic may have been the leading cause of the rise in remote work, the benefits of working from home positively impact so many things on a global scale that it’s definitely going to be the best path forward for the greater good of the environment.
A key point to remember is to take time off from work when you need it. Just because you are working from home and are available all the time does not mean you work all day. It is normal to feel anxious, worried and stressed.
So, when in need, use your vacation leaves for a break and take a few days off. It will help you unwind, relax, and give you some personal space to spend time with your family away from work.
