The Advantages and Disadvantages of Working from Home II
In last week’s Bayt.com Career blog, we looked at some of the advantages inherent in working from home and mentioned that this arrangement also has its inherent pitfalls. This week we look at some of the potential drawbacks in a working from home arrangement.
Isolation
Often, professionals working from home complain of isolation and loneliness given their removal from their bosses and coworkers and this can be very depressing to some. Since the workplace provides a location to meet people and make friends for many, professionals working from home have to be more creative and resourceful in getting to know people and in staying in touch with their colleagues.
Distractions
Although office distractions are avoided by working at home, different distractions may arise. Interruptions from children, work, neighbours, friends, family may be very disruptive and special efforts must be made to make it known that you are actually working and unavailable for interruption within work hours despite your physical presence at home.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Working from Home
As more and more professionals seek a better work-life balance and more companies adopt flexible policies to accommodate shifting workplace priorities and realities the working from hope option is becoming increasingly viable. Employees see this as an ideal means to remain in the workforce and continue to be employed thereby maintaining all the tangible benefits of being part of an established company, while enjoying all the advantages of being based at home. The option has its potential pitfalls however and in the next 2 blogs the career experts at bayt.com discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of working from home.
Advantages
Savings on hidden costs
By working at home you save on many hidden costs associated with going to work. These include costs of commuting, car wear and tear, fuel, road taxes, parking as well as indirect costs such as expensive professional wardrobes and the dry-cleaning of those. Often you can also save on older children care arrangements although for younger children it is highly unadvisable to forgo the childcare arrangement and try to balance close care and supervision with the demands of the job.
Flexibility
This doesn’t just relate to timings either although the flexibility to determine your own work hours to some extent is the most important aspect of this. You can also determine your environment, lighting, temperature, setting, mood; basically work in the framework that suits you best and makes you happiest and most productive
Is Your Staff Motivated?
Motivated employees, repeated research shows, are the key to an effective organization. They work harder, smarter and more productively; apply more of themselves to a particular job, persevere stronger through tough odds, exhibit more passion towards their job and are more adamant about meeting goals and pursuing targets. The key question then is how to transform a lukewarm workforce into an impassioned motivated one. Below the team at Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 job site, offer some key pointers to up the motivation level:-
1. Start early
The interviewing/onboarding/orientation stages are fertile ground to sow the seeds of motivation and passion for the company and role. Start early on indoctrinating new hires in the corporate work ethic and instilling in them enthusiasm and the passion and drive to excel and succeed.
2. Make sure the team understands the company’s vision, mission and values
Employees need to feel their own roles and goals and actions are aligned with the organization overriding ones and understand the vital role they play in the big picture.
3. Understand what motivates your staff
Different people are motivated by different things. Make an effort to understand through open dialogue, formal surveys and other methods what makes your employees tick whether it be financial rewards, prestige, social status, time off, job security, recognition, competition or any other criteria.
