Who runs the world?! Computers. Computers rule the world. Just think about it. We’ve got a portable computer in our pocket in our cell phones. Our children are growing up on iPads and tablets. Kids type all their essays in school—in my day, we had to hand write them. According to the Pew Research Center , Overall, 84% of U.S. households own a computer, and 73% of U.S. households have a computer with a broadband connection to the internet.
Computer have taken over everything, including the workforce. Now, an increasing number of companies have forgone the traditional atmosphere to go remote. No more going into the office, tons of employees can now work from the comfort of their own home. But as they say, working from home isn’t “all sunshine and roses.” Yes, remote work brings a nice set of perks but it has its disadvantages too.
Why do I know this? Because I work remote. I am part of that wide range of employees who work from home. Now, when I say I work from home, I don’t mean that I’m a stay-at-home mom who sales gimmicky tummy wraps or even smelly wax (no offense to the momma’s and not-the-momma’s that do!). But I work a full-time, high-stress remote job. I work for a remote PR firm. It’s the first full remote job that I’ve ever worked and while there’s some definite benefits to working, I’ve run into some unexpected downside. Working from home isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
From my personal experience, here a few the pros and cons of working from home
Pros
Two words: Yoga.Pants
When I accepted my remote position, the first thing I did was pack up the slacks and fancy tops and push them into the farthest, darkest part of my closet. Instead, I bought all the yoga pants and flowy tees to my heart’s desire. And my shoes of choice? House slippers of course. On my days, I look like I belong in one of those “busted” magazines. On those days, if you saw me on a mug shot, you wouldn’t e surprised. The beauty of remote work is NO ONE knows what you’re rocking behind the computer screen. So you can be as comfortable and free as possible.
Flexibility
There is a degree of flexibility that accompanies remote work. It’s pretty convenient to do a load of laundry in between conference calls, give the floors a quick sweep on a fifteen-minute break, and throw in supper near the end of the work day. It’s definitely easier to keep an eye on your housework when your home doubles as your office.
You can eat your own food and use your OWN bathroom
We’ve all had days where we’re running late and don’t have time to make a sandwich or grab an apple for lunch, so we end up eating some terrible, greasy (delicious!) combo meal at the closet drive-thru. But when you work from home, you don’t have that excuse. Your lunch can be as healthy (or delicious!) as you want, without having to wake up at the butt-crack of dawn to make it!
Another plus, when you work remote, you no longer have to chair a bathroom. Hallelujah! I kid you not, at my last office job, we had to leave a note in the women’s restroom, reminding everyone to flush. But now, you can enjoy the comfort of your own toilet seat, and only have to worry about your own germs.
No commute
I can’t tell you how much money I’m saving by not having a commute. No more morning road rage or Friday rush hour. Now that I work from home, it’s a WHOLE lot easier to get to work on time. I mean, I do just have to walk across the hall to my office. Plus, I don’t have to worry about driving in bad weather. When everyone else is slipping and sliding in ice this winter, I’ll be nice and toasty in my pj’s and fuzzy blanket, cuddled up at my computer. For someone that hates driving anyways, no commute is a BIG plus.
Cons
You become isolated
I consider myself a pretty social being. I’ll talk to anyone, and not just to say “hi.” I’ll talk on and on and on. I especially like to talk about my life (I know, I sound a little self-absorbed, but it’s more about how ridiculous my life is and the stupid things I do). I’ve been known to track my employees down, just to ask them about their weekend…and tell them about mine. But now, I’m home alone, all day, with my only company being my cat. And I mean, I do talk to my cat. But he just doesn’t give me the response I need. And really, he just sleeps all down, taunting me while I’m working away.
But really, it can be lonely. Yeah, there are emails, phone calls, and Skype chats with co-workers. But it’s not the same as having a co-worker working right there beside you. When you see someone every day, work with them at the same office, you become friends. You have useless conversations on the way to your car, you eat lunch together, you gossip about the year’s hottest shows, but that doesn’t happen in remote work. When you talk to your remote co-workers, it’s always just about work. Partly, because you don’t really know the other person on the other side of the computer. You’re co-workers, not friends in remote work.
And sometimes this isolation is nearly impossible to shake. There are days (many days) where I don’t leave my house at all. I’ve become a sort of self-imposed hobbit. I work, live, eat and breathe at home. My friends have to drag me out of the house for the occasionally girl’s night.
Miscommunication
It’s easy to misinterpret emails and chats. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what your boss is really asking you to do. Throw in a time zone difference, and remote communication is really hard.
You can never leave your office.
When you work at the office, you come home and enjoy time with your family and loved ones. You’re not tempted by work because it’s locked up, miles away. But when you work remote, your home is your office. It’s so easy to lose track of time and work the night away. I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve eaten my dinner in front of my computer screen, trying to bust out a quick assignment. My work is never put away or out of mind. How can it be when my office is just across the hall?
Just like any job, career or profession, remote work as its good side (yoga pants, no bra, hanging with your cat, etc.) but it’s also got its down side (no fun co-workers, long hours and difficult communication). I’m not saying remote work is bad, but it’s not the fairy tale it’s made out to be.
