Do you like working from home?
Yahoo’s 2017 CEO, Marissa Mayer, famously shut down the company’s telecommuting arrangements, because “people are more productive when they’re alone,” but also claimed “they’re more collaborative and innovative when they’re together.
So…recently I’ve been wondering whether it’s OK to work from home, especially as a web designer or a techie. I was curious to find out if it affected productivity levels for the business in question.
Today’s work-from-home capabilities are much more sophisticated than simply carrying on conversations over the phone.
We have access to email, chat, video conferences, cloud collaboration software, and dozens of other technologies that now make it possible for almost any office job to be done completely and remotely. Yea, so in Nigeria, internet isn’t as good as other countries, but we do more than ok.
Cons from working at home
However, there are a few cons which arise from working from home – whether as a Startup, an employer, one man business or staff, and they include:
- Distractions & Interruptions. There’s such a thing as too much time on one’s hands, and I’ve caught myself most often than not playing on Twitter and Instagram when I’ve got deadlines to deliver. (Well…sometimes, that Twitter chat may be work. Lol)
- Lack of communication. If you have staff or colleagues and y’all are working remotely then most likely when you meet in person, things are gonna be awkward as f**k.
- Loyalty issues. This is if you have a staff working remotely. Most of them are just using you to pass time until they get something better. And as long as you’re making then work from home, the odds aren’t in your favor.
- Overworking: lol. This is definitely true. Once you’re in the habit of working from home, escaping the commute and the hassle, the temptation to work after hours is considerable. People find their families suffer, they find their fatigue levels increase and so do their stress levels. Everyone I work with know I choose midnight as one of my best working hours. I really oughta stop this. 🙁
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Loneliness. No benefits of mingling with coworkers and supervisors. The natural collaboration and exchange of ideas that happens in a workplace can be important. That’s why Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer ordered all home-based employees back to the office two years ago. Her reasoning: “Some of the best decisions and insights come from hallway and cafeteria discussions, meeting new people and impromptu team meetings.”
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Pros that come with working from home
- You own your time. No-one breathing down your neck and telling you what to do. I notice I’m way more productive when there’s autonomy. I choose my hours and end up doing more than I would if I were in an office. For example, if you’re a web developer or a content creator, you can most likely do your coding or writing whenever it suits you as long as you meet your deadlines.
- No overhead costs – For example, rent for office space, except maybe the basics – printer, phone recharge cards, internet connection etc (this applies whether you own the business or not…) as well as indirect costs such as expensive professional wardrobes and the dry-cleaning of those.
- Your Office Can Be Anywhere. And not necessarily your home. That doesn’t mean your only other location will be the coffee shop around the corner: You can work while traveling, on an airplane, in a hotel…anywhere!
Z
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