The appearance of the modern workplace is very much in a state of flux at the moment. The advances in technology that have been made over the past couple of decades has changed the way we work – both as individual employees, and as entire industries. The internet has allowed us greater access to the world, and with this has come a rise in opportunities for employees to work remotely.
This has come in several forms; from large companies making allowances for certain staff members to spend a couple of days a week working from home, to teaching students through online platforms such as Preply, and freelancers having access to new clients from all across the planet. While there remain some issues to address – such as the welfare of workers not being taken into account in the gig economy – there are many who have found distinct advantages to arranging their work to fit their lifestyles by embracing the online employment culture.
1. Creating Your Own Schedule
For many people, one of the primary advantages of working from home, is the freedom from restrictive work schedules. This is particularly important for those who may have young families. By choosing to take their work methods online, workers can arrange a tailored timetable that takes into account the need to take their children to school, or even care for a dependent family member. By arranging clear deadlines and structures for their work practices, online employees also have the ability to factor in additional breaks for unexpected emergencies, without the possibility that they’ll disrupt a team of co-workers.
This also allows for the concept that workers often function more efficiently at different times of day. While certain employees may be at their best first thing in the morning (after the obligatory cup of coffee, of course) others may be more creative in the late night hours when they are tired. One of the clear benefits of working from home for both employer and employee, is it allows workers to to undertake activities when they’ll be most productive.
2. Exploring Personal Interests
Particularly for freelancers, a primary reason why they should work from home is their activities aren’t necessarily limited to those dictated by their employer. While there are certain sacrifices to following your own ideas – such as it can take a significant amount of effort to find a sustainable range of clients who share your interests – the fact that you spend your days working on projects that you’re passionate about is often worth the additional inconvenience.
Even if their primary workload is not entirely focused on topics that are of interest, those who work online can often take advantage of having more free time; there are no commutes to the office, and – as stated in the previous entry – their timetable is flexible. This can result in more time to work on personal projects, and search for opportunities to make these a more significant part of their lives.
3. Working While Travelling
When discussing the possibilities of online employment practices, we often find ourselves comparing the environments of working from home vs office – it’s worth considering that there are other options. The last decade or so has seen the rise of a class of workers known as “digital nomads”. These are freelancers who have taken all the advantages of working at home, and applied them to working while travelling the world.
For the vast number of remote employees, the only real restrictions to their working environment is access to the internet, and access to a phone. Thanks to cloud storage platforms, there’s little need for employees to have physical files at their disposal, and they can upload new work with ease.
As a result, a significant portion of how many people work from home, are creatively selecting what the definition of “home” is. They can spend time working in different cafes and restaurants in several countries each year. They can embrace the trends of #vanlife and take their life – and work – on the road. Among the best ways to work from home, is not being at home at all.
4. Less Stress
One of the popular reasons employees choose not to work in the office is a relief from the stresses and tensions that can arise from such an environment. Finding ways to work from home tends to result in employees suffering from fewer occasions of mental strain. Away from the traditional workplace, they are free from the pettiness of office politics, the inescapable amount of noise that can often be found in a lively company, and the unhealthy trappings of that environment such as harsh lighting..
One of the benefits of working from home for employers, is that employees are not affected by the myriad pressures that we’ve all experienced just by being inside of an office. By allowing workers to choose their own environment, we can see how working from home boosts productivity.
Conclusion
Remote working is expected to rise significantly – it has already become the standard mode of operation for more than 50% of the US workforce. By embracing the many working at home benefits – for both employers and employees – we can ensure that our industries can be successful and sustainable.
