Remote work is the talk of the town these days. But when remote workers start to discuss their new working lifestyle, people usually just nod, smile, and wonder what in the world is this person talking about. This is because working from your home and on your own schedule still comes off as a weird concept to the general public.
Employers do see the advantages of letting some or most of their employees work remotely. But, some business owners are still skeptical. Why? Because they believe the employees’ work ethic will take a hit. This is where a time tracking software comes into play. These apps allow employers to keep an eye on daily progression.
Table of Contents
What exactly is remote work?
Remote work is a working lifestyle that lets you work outside the office. It allows employees to log in daily hours at their own schedule. This lifestyle is based on the concept that successful work does not need to be done from a specific location.
Pros and cons of remote workers
The top ten pros and cons of remote workers include:
Pros
1. No commute. One of the best things about working from home is the lack of commute. Employees won’t have to wake up and get dressed in a hurry. They could get up at their own time and work from their living room.
2. Increased productivity. A relaxed environment creates productive employees. In 2013, two Stanford graduates conducted a study to find out if employees would be more productive at their home or in an office environment. The results were surprising as remote workers were found to be more productive. Why? Well, they believe that the environment at home is quieter, has fewer distractions, and is more comfortable, giving employees the stamina to work longer and avoid long breaks.
3. Work from anywhere and for anybody. It doesn’t really matter where the main office is. You could live in Pakistan and work for a US company. This opens a lot of opportunities for both employers and employees.
4. Time savings. Statistics show that employees spend nearly an hour each day getting to and from work. Remote work eliminates or lessens a commute, depending on how many days per week is spent telecommuting.
5. Money savings. According to Global Workplace Analytics, half-time remote workers can save between $2,000 to $6,500 a year. Expenses like gas, car maintenance, parking fees, a professional wardrobe, lunches bought out, and childcare can all be reduced or entirely eliminated.
Cons
1. Plenty of distractions. The above-mentioned study found that people were more productive at home but unfortunately, that’s not true for everyone. Children, spouses, and chores at home can easily distract employees. Plus, it’s very easy to procrastinate when you’re not being monitored.
2. Work can bleed into non-working hours. Distractions at home will definitely waste one’s time. These distractions will cause employee, they’ll have to work in non-working hours. Also, breaks are not well-defined. If employees are taking breaks frequently, they could find themselves working all day.
3. Extroverts may suffer from isolation. Some employees revel in socializing with their co-workers. When working from home in complete isolation, their overall performance can take a hit.
4. Decreased employee visibility. Employees may refuse a remote position due to decreased visibility within the company. They may feel that a lack of in-person meetings with their manager or supervisor will make it more difficult for them to get promotions, increments, or incentives.
5. Lack of relationships among coworkers. By working together in an office, employees can bond over shared experiences and build camaraderie with each other. But, remote workers find it difficult to establish this type of relationship among coworkers. It doesn’t matter even if a company chooses to utilize teleconferencing, online chat systems, and other communication tools.
Why use time tracking for remote teams
Employers need to have some faith in their workers. They should trust their employees to maintain productivity levels even if they are working from their homes. However, if employers can keep a record of employees’ daily progression on projects then that would be for the best.
The best time tracking app can certainly help employers in this endeavor. Not only will it keep an eye on the daily tasks of employees, but it will also offer employers some important insights regarding their workforce.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are valid pros and cons for remote jobs. Every employee is unique. Some might like working from the comfort of their living rooms while others may prefer working from their cubicles. It all depends on their nature and preference. Some perform better in isolation while others prefer to socialize with their co-workers.
