Mastering Work From Home: Pros, Cons, and Productivity Tips

What is work from home?

Working from home means doing your job from home rather than at your employer's workplace. Work from home became a widespread norm in the corporate world as many workers had to transition their working arrangements from in office to at home during the pandemic. There are still many companies today giving employees different work arrangements. These include working entirely at home and hybrid work from home options that combine home and workplace days. 

This blog post will cover the pros and cons of work at home arrangements as well as tips for work-life balance and staying productive while working at home.

5 Pros of working from home

Let’s start with the benefits of working from home:

1. Flexible schedule 

Work from home gives workers the choice to work during their most productive hours only if their role and agreed schedule allow it. Whether you are juggling childcare or appointments, work from home lets workers tailor work to their schedule only as agreed with their employer. US Department of Labor guidance describes flexible schedules as an employer–employee agreement.

 2. No commute 

Workers who live far from work are able to save time commuting to and from work and avoid rush hours. Saving commute time gives workers extra time in the morning to hit an extra snooze button or get ready for the day. 

‍3. Cost Saving 

Cost spent on transportation and lunch can be reduced because work from home may mean fewer commutes and more lunches prepared at home.

‍4. Global job opportunities

Workers aren’t always limited to their geographical location and can apply to jobs better fit for them elsewhere in the world, subject to each role's approved work locations. Relocation may be unnecessary if the employer approves their location. Acas UK workplace guidance advises checking agreed work locations and hours. 

‍5. Preferred time zone 

Teams around the world may be able to tune in during their preferred time if agreed availability and overlap allow it, making it easier to tailor to each team member’s everyday workflow. Workers considering work in different countries for emergency or personal reasons should discuss location changes and any leave needs with their employer, not assume that working abroad replaces leave. 

5 Cons of working from home

Although there is a great list of reasons why work from home may be the best option for some, here are some other reasons to consider. 

1. Isolation and loneliness 

Workers can feel isolated and lonely when casual talks with coworkers become more difficult working from home. Lost connection and isolation can decrease employee morale. 

‍2. Work-life imbalance 

With great power comes great responsibility. Working from home can blur the lines between work and personal time even when there are set hours for breaks or work.

‍3. Decreased team bonding 

Team morale may decrease because casual chats, lunch breaks together, or team bonding events may be less spontaneous. Fewer chances to coordinate can lead to miscommunication and unclear objectives and goals for the team. 

‍4. Technology dependence 

Homes with weak Wi-Fi connection may face interruptions to work. Moreover, workers unfamiliar with the tools may struggle to work from home because asking for help off-site becomes more difficult. Agree what connectivity, tools, training and technical support are needed. 

‍5. Lack of access to office resources 

Work from home may not be a practical option for some as certain office resources may be needed for the work they do. Workers may have to either use personal equipment or pay out of pocket for these resources. Before starting, agree with your employer what equipment is needed, who supplies it and who pays. 

Creating a healthy work life balance

Want to create a healthy work life balance but not sure where to start? Here are some suggestions:

1. Set clear working hours

Whether working at home or in the office, agree clear working hours and availability with your employer, based on your role, and clock out when the time is up. This may mean muting work emails or work related messages on your devices outside agreed availability. 

‍2. Create a dedicated workspace 

Having a specific workspace helps your body and mind understand when it's time to work and when it's time to relax. This practice makes it easier to separate work time from free time.

‍3. Take regular breaks 

Sitting and working for long periods may not be the most productive way of working. Make sure to take breaks to give your brain a rest. Go out for a walk or get a drink of water. 

‍4. Learn to say no 

Saying no can be hard especially if you’re a people pleaser. To prevent overworking, evaluate your workload and learn to say no when it’s unrealistic. 

‍5. Practice self care 

Spend time after work hours practicing self care in ways you enjoy, whether it's getting exercise or spending the night in watching your favorite movie. If work feels unmanageable, discuss workload, priorities or support with your manager. NIOSH's US occupational-health guidance emphasizes better working conditions and collaboration between employers and workers. 

6. Stay Focused:

To boost productivity, minimize distractions, and stay focused use tools like Brain.fm or techniques like the Pomodoro method. This helps you achieve more in less time, freeing up space for personal activities.

Practical tips for work from home

Already work from home? Make sure you have integrated these tips into your work routine:

‍1. Creating a structured routine

Creating a structured routine helps clarify the boundaries between work hours and relaxation time. Following a routine based on agreed hours, availability and work expectations also helps structure your life and helps you manage your time more efficiently.

 2. Designing a comfortable workspace

A benefit to working from home is being able to choose a suitable workspace within agreed work locations. This means you don’t have to contain yourself to a cubicle; rather, you can choose a workspace that you feel comfortable and most productive in. 

‍3. Set up effective communication with your team 

Lots of miscommunication can happen with everyone being in different time zones or workspaces. To support clear and effective communication, agree channels, timing and response expectations with the team. Weekly meetings or check-ins may help when they have a clear purpose. Acas UK guidance on managing home workers recommends agreeing how and when to communicate.

Illustrative working agreement: Availability: 9am–5pm UK time (Europe/London); focus block: 10am–11am, with non-urgent notifications muted; breaks: 5 minutes each hour and lunch at noon; responses: routine messages within 2 working hours, urgent issues by phone; support: [IT contact]; review: [date].

Adapt these example values with your manager, including approved locations, team overlap and any leave needs.

Technology That Helps with Working from Home

Leveraging the right technology can support your remote work experience. For readers involved in remote hiring, Litespace describes its AI-powered recruiting assistant as offering resume screening, pre-screen interviews and interview notes.

Key Features

• Resume Screening Tools: Offers resume screening based on your criteria.
• AI Pre-Screen Interviews: Uses screening criteria and a candidate's resume for role-specific Q&A.
• Interview Notes: Litespace describes call recording and summaries with key quotes and drafted follow-ups.
• Interview Analysis: Litespace describes analyzing interviews as part of its recruiting assistant.
• Recruiter Control: Hiring decisions remain with the recruiter, not the AI.

By considering platforms like Litespace, organizations can explore support for remote-hiring tasks rather than treat a recruiting assistant as a solution to everyday work-from-home needs.

Conclusion

Working from home has become common, but its benefits need to fit your role, schedule and support needs. Whether it's fully remote or hybrid, weigh the pros and cons and discuss the hours, workspace and support you need with your employer.

If you are involved in hiring remote workers, explore the recruiting features described by Litespace. Check it out for more information!