With the transportation issues going on these days, like the jeepney modernization controversy and the technical difficulties of the LRT-2, Teleworking has become an attractive option. However, is teleworking really worth it? To answer this question, here are some advantages and disadvantages of working from home.
Teleworking is Very Flexible
Teleworking is very flexible because you can work anywhere you want to, not just your home. You can do your work in your favorite restaurant, coffee shop, or even the public library. All you need is a stable internet connection and your trusty laptop, and you are all set to get some work done!
Teleworking Saves Money
Teleworking saves you money because you don’t have to spend on your transportation, lunch, and other work-related expenses. When working from home, you can just grab a snack from your refrigerator, and since you are staying at home, you don’t need to travel, so you get to save on commuting expenses.
For office management, allowing employees to work from home will help save on utilities, since less people in the office means the company will have to spend less on electric and water bills. So, allowing employees to work remotely will benefit both management and employees, not just the employees.
Employees Only Need to Report to Work When Necessary
However, the option to telework may not necessarily mean employees don’t have to report to a central location, just like in the academe. Teachers can benefit from teleworking because the administrative side of teaching, like submission of grades and checking of papers, can be done at home. So, when teachers do report to school, they can focus on their teaching and consultations, things which can only be done in school.
For other employers, teleworking is a good thing because when work is indeed done in the office, it will be limited to what can only be done in the office. For example, teleworkers may be required to report to the office for training. As a result, teleworking allows the office to be used more efficiently, since office work is limited to things that can only be done in the office.
However, Teleworking Can Raise Security Concerns
Even though teleworking can be advantageous due to its convenience, it has the disadvantage of security concerns. This is because confidential information can be part of an employee’s work assignment, and it may be safer to keep it in the office, where the connection is secure. So, work involving confidential information and data privacy is ideally done only in the office, where security can be monitored better.
No Boundaries Between the Home and Office
Another downside to teleworking is that the ability to work from home can lead to the dissolution of boundaries between the home and the office. Thus, if you are not careful, then you could end up working more hours than you would have put in if you worked in the office, which may make your relationships suffer. So please, when teleworking, try to go to the library, any restaurant, or even a coffee shop, so you can place boundaries between your home life and your office life.
Teleworking Requires Plenty of Discipline
Finally, the main problem with teleworking is that there are a lot of distractions, since when working at home, you may be tempted to sleep, especially if the bed is nearby. Also, home concerns need to be dealt with, which can be distracting. To deal with these distractions, a lot of discipline is necessary, which is why teleworking is a balancing act.
In the end, teleworking is worth it if you can go beyond the distractions and develop a strong sense of discipline, to the extent where you can work without supervision. This is why teleworking is not advisable for new employees, since they still need training. However, to cut costs, companies can encourage tenured employees to telework, so they only need to report to the office for work that can only be done in a central location.