The new trend for employees is working from home. The ability to work from home is a dream for many people. That doesn’t mean that it’s all that it’s cracked to be. If only you could get more work done without constant distractions, interruptions, and noise.
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Here are some disadvantages of working from home that you should be aware of.
Family Disruptions
Sixty percent of employees who work from home revealed that children or family demand their attention. It’s one of the most common disadvantages of working from home. If you have family at home, establish working hours so they understand that you’re working and unavailable to talk. Having an office set up in another room in your house that has a door that you can keep closed is important. Your home office shouldn’t be a place where your children and pets hang out.
Concentration
Difficulty concentrating on work tasks is one of the biggest problems with remote workers. Noise is caused by everything from family to neighborhood activities. Just looking out your window from your home office is enough to make you lose your concentration. Other people in your home may have a hard time undersatnding that you’re working from home.
Aside from the uninvited guests, salespeople, and well-meaning neighbors, let them know that you don’t have time to talk since you’re working from home. There’s also the telephone, which is another distraction. People and companies will often call during working or non-working hours.
This leads to another disadvantage: motivation. No boss is going to tell you to get to work. Unless you’re motivated on the task at hand, you might find yourself tempted to watch Netflix and chill. Consider the disadvantages of not getting any work done.
Business Phone Interruptions
Children, family, and pets are often the causes of buiness phone interruptions. Anyone who has worked from home has experienced this problem. There’s nothing like hearing your dog barking or baby screaming while you’re on a three-way conference call with your colleagues. It’s going to be hard to explain to your boss how productive your day really was.
Lack of Office Equipment
Not having access to the appropriate office equipment is another complaint of remote workers. If your work requires specialized equipment and tools to perform the job, then it may be difficult to replicate this performance at home. Even the latest laptop or computer tower with dual monitors and a wireless printer/fax/copier can cost you several thousands of dollars. The only way to remedy this problem is to have your organization supply the equipment that you need to efficiently work from home. You should also make sure to conduct an internet speed test before you start working from home, and every so often once you are into the flow of things, to make sure that your internet connection can handle the demands of your work and, if not, you may need to look into upgrading your connection or switching to a different provider.
Household Interruptions
Household interruptions are expected to happen. You’ll often hear noise from the dishwasher, television, or washing machine. Having a designated work area can eliminate most of these problems. But if your home has thin walls or poor insulation, you may not be able to avoid some of these noises. This is especially the case if you live in an apartment or a one-story home. If this becomes a problem, then you’ll have to talk to your family about doing these activities outside of your working hours.
Access to Documents
Not having access to sensitive information is a disadvantage for many remote workers. If documents are available in-office and paper-form only, then repeat visits to the office will be required to do paperwork. When it comes to electronic documents, it’s important to find a safe way of accessing them via the internet, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN) or a secure cloud-based server.
Ergonomic Issues
Bad posture and lack of proper work surfaces is a concern for many remote workers. Neither of these should be an issue when you have a well-designed and properly equipped home office. Without the right desk and chair, your neck and shoulders will suffer from pain. There’s also the temptation to curl up on your couch or bed and work since there’s no one to look over your shoulder. While you can do this, it can lead to repeat visits to the chiropractor, massage therapist, or physiotherapist depending on your condition.
If you’re choosing to work from home, you need to create a comfortable work environment that allows you to work in a professional manner. This means having a properly designed and equipped home office and creating a work schedule that will prevent others from interrupting you throughout the day. These tips can help increase your motivation and productivity levels when you’re working outside of the office.
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