The 8 pros and cons of remote work
At the beginning of 2020, when Covid appeared and disrupted our habits, companies had to resort to new means to compensate for the absence of employees in the field. That's when teleworking found its place in our daily lives. Still used today, telecommuting is becoming popular, especially among 25-35 year olds. Here are the 8 advantages and disadvantages of teleworking!
Benefits
Telecommuting has brought many benefits since its grand entry in 2020. What are they?
Personal space
The first advantage you can think of when talking about telecommuting is the layout of your personal space. Since 2020, the dream of being able to work while staying in bed has become possible! No more uncomfortable office chairs, poorly arranged desks, rooms where it's too cold or too hot, colleagues you don't like too much, permanent noise. Working remotely is the possibility of having your own workspace, which you decorate as you want. Whether you like to work on your couch watching a movie, in bed with a little music, or on a desk, you work in your own little cocoon, and that boosts performance.
More time for yourself
Secondly, there is the time factor. Have you ever been stuck in traffic during rush hour? You then arrive at work sweaty, potentially with a lump in your stomach for fear of being lectured by your manager/boss. Well, all that is over with teleworking!
Since you work from home, there is no need to stress about transport (when will the bus arrive? There's a strike, how am I going to do it?) or for traffic on the road. Here, the only place you have to go is... at home. In fact, you can even wake up ten minutes before the day starts, as long as you're on time and doing your job, you're fine! This reduces daily stress and allows you to sleep a little longer (no one says no to a little more sleep).
In addition, teleworking allows you to spend more time with your family and hobbies. You can spend your lunch breaks with your loved ones, ask for their help if needed, and help them immediately if they need it. This creates a better framework for the employee, who will then be more productif.ve, because he or she is more heureux.se at work.
The organization
Another advantage: a better organization of one's time. As you are at home, and you save time on your day (because no commutes, etc.), it is possible for you to organize your time as it suits you. In the context of teleworking, the employee is in control of his or her time and space. You are free to organize your tasks as you see fit. As long as these are done on time, you can afford to be flexible!
Independence and autonomy
Finally, independence and autonomy are two major advantages of teleworking.
The employee can obtain geographical independence. In reality, you depend only on your own home. In some cases, you don't even need to live in the country where the company is located !
In addition, teleworking increases the employee's autonomy. Indeed, there is much less supervision during the day. Therefore, the employee can then prove that he/she is autonomous and can manage very well at home. Your work plan is set up by you and you stick to it. In addition, you can bring out your committed side: show your initiatives, your organizational skills, your sense of priorities... You are in control of the situation! Manage yourself the way you want, in your own way and at your own pace.
Disadvantages
But teleworking also has some disadvantages that should not be forgotten.
Loneliness
The biggest disadvantage of teleworking is of course the loneliness. Staying confined to your home for several hours a day is not ideal for forming friendships with colleagues. Working on your computer alone, at home, without having any social interaction with other people... This can increase the lack of interest in work, and the lack of self-confidence. We all need a minimum of discussion and contact with others, whether it's colleagues, the manager or other. The teleworking employee can therefore quickly feel excluded and isolated if he/she is not careful beforehand.
To remedy this : don't hesitate to organize online meetings with your colleagues ! In order to be able to discuss with them, to help each other. Why not call them during the lunch break, so that we can eat together? You can also maintain your relationships with your colleagues by visiting them after work, for a drink, to share a meal, or other.
Deconcentration
It's no secret that when working from home, it's likely to be distracted by the people/objects around you. This is one of the challenges of remote work: staying focused on tasks during working hours. Teleworking requires rigor, because the employee does not have a manager or direct supervision.
In these moments, it is imperative to impose a schedule and a rhythm of work on yourself, at the risk of being undisciplined and losing your motivation/interest. Stick to your schedule so you can stay rigoureux.se and continue to perform at your best, while enjoying the benefits of remote work.
A poor boundary between private and professional life
If the employee is not careful enough, there is a risk that private life will become confused with professional life. As a result, the employee can work more hours than necessary, check their inbox during meals, do quick research for work on the weekend, etc., all because there is no good separation between work and private life, a clear boundary that divides the two. As your roof becomes your workplace, it's hard to know when to stop!
Care must be taken to set up a specific space, dedicated to professional activity. When you're there, you're 100% in work mode. When you go out, you leave work behind and focus on your passions/family, etc.
A need for equipment
Finally, depending on your work and its objectives, you may not have equipment adapted to your professional activity. Working on your small computer that dates back years, without the software you need, all with an office chair that is not very comfortable, is not ideal! Teleworking can lead to additional costs if there is a lack of required and adequate equipment.
What to do? Contact your manager/boss and make sure to agree on a possible telecommuting bonus (which would allow you to buy everything you need). If not, ask for the requested equipment to be sent to you (monitors, keyboards, access to certain paid software, etc.)!
Whether you like it or not, teleworking is a way of working like any other and it has its advantages as well as its flaws. This is a way to modernize many professions!
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