If the idea of working from home conjures an image of a pant-less worker, hiding their bare legs from the video caller on their computer screen, perhaps you’ve fallen victim to the prevailing stereotype. Then there are the puns coined by regular office-going workers: ‘Working remotely, or remotely working?’ ‘Working from home or shirking from home?’
Although we’ve painted a comical picture of views surrounding
the idea of working from home, it’s a common perspective on a work model that
is fast becoming the rule, rather than the exception.
Hundreds of studies and surveys across the globe continue to
show that flexible working hours and/or working from home can have huge
benefits for workers, their Means for national employment standards allow a number of defined 75% of
companies worldwide have flexible working policies.
What is working from home?
When it comes to working from home let’s start with two facts
that don’t need backing up by statistics: no one likes being stuck in peak hour
traffic and advances in communication technology have eliminated obstacles of
time and distance like never before.
‘Working from home’ represents a shift in the way we work,
encompassing those working from a home office, the cafe down the road or the
local library. Basically, employees are entitled to work outside a specific
work environment, either full-time, part-time or on a flexible basis. Working
from home in all its forms can eliminate time-consuming and expensive commutes,
ease the burden on infrastructure and potentially minimise office space
requirements.
Thanks to technology, working from home is now a real
possibility for many workers. The ‘bums on seats’ mentality is one that began
200 years ago with the industrial revolution and for many workers, this ended
when broadband internet became a household staple.
Why embrace flex time and working from home?
The benefits of flex time and allowing employees to work from
home are overwhelming. Numerous studies and surveys reveal statistics that rule
in favour of flex time and working from home.
It’s good for employees
A workplace that is flexible on location and hours leads to
happier, healthier employees.
Research by workplace provider Regus found that 9
out of 10 business owners and senior managers reported that flexible working
arrangements were a highly effective way to improve staff morale. Regus CEO
John Spencer charges that “having a choice in where, when and how we work makes
a huge difference to our overall happiness; it helps us cut down on the stress
of a long commute, frees up time to cook and eat healthily, or simply helps us
get home earlier.”
You don’t need a psychology degree to see that the
flexibility to pick your children up from school, enjoy optimum sleep, go for
an afternoon run, or in other words, have autonomy over one’s life, leads to
happier and healthier humans.
It’s good for society
Allowing flexibility in the workplace is not only good for
individual employees, it’s beneficial for society as a whole.
The average one-way commute time for workers in Sydney is 37.5 minutes according to research by Deloitte. That’s approximately 6.25 hours/ week, and of course, there are those who spend much more time than this commuting. It’s a rat race out there and it’s only getting worse as populations in our major cities increase and the strain on infrastructure grows. A shift to flexible work can help relieve this strain.
Flexible work can improve the mental health of workers and
decrease work-related stress. This can in turn ease stress on the health system
and lead to a happier, and healthier society as a whole.
It’s good for business
Flex time and allowing employees to work from home is good
for business enabling businesses to save on rent, attract talent, retain
employees and improve productivity.
In 2016, Vodafone conducted a global survey of 8,000
Flexible:
friend or foe? found that as a result of flexible working hours:
- 61% of respondents reported increased company profits
- 83% reported improvements in productivity
- 58% believed flexible working policies have a positive impact on their organisation’s reputation
A 2-year study
conducted by Stanford University involving Chinese travel company Ctrip showed
that working from home increased productivity by 13%. Among employees who
worked from home, quit rates decreased by 50%, they had fewer sick days, less
time off and Ctrip was able to save almost $2,000 per employee by reducing
their office space.
In 2016, Glasgow based company Pursuit Marketing reduced their working week to 4 days but maintained full-time pay. The results were as follows:
- The company increased productivity by 29% per month.
- The company has attracted new talent with a 500% increase in unsolicited recruitment applications via their website. As a result, the company has reduced recruitment and advertising costs.
- Increased employee satisfaction.
- As a result of employee-first ethos, the company has attracted global clients and the demand has seen the company almost double in size.
Workplace provider Regus estimates
companies could save up to 60% on their property costs by moving to a flexible
workspace model. Their research revealed flexible work is in high demand
and helpful for attracting and retaining employees. Three quarters of staff
would choose one job over another if flexible work was being
offered.
When Australian digital marketing company Versa introduced a
4-day work week they were able to increase revenue by 50% in 12 months and
received a marked improvement in the calibre and number of job applications
they received.
It’s good for the economy
Increasing the productivity of businesses is good for the
overall economy, but flexible work models also have the advantage of allowing
more people to join or remain in the workforce. Flexible hours and the ability
to work from home can help those with disabilities, parents and elderly workers
in the workforce.
It’s good for the environment
Flexible work models are a ‘green’ option that help to
minimise pollution and carbon emissions by reducing cars on the road and office
space.
Sun
Microsystems found that 24,000 employees who were part of a flexible work
program avoided producing 32,000 metric tons of CO2 in a year by driving less
often to and from work. In addition, office equipment energy consumption rates
are double that of home office energy consumption.
How does it work?
A flexible work model will look different, depending on the
business, but ultimately it should balance the needs of both employees and the
business. It is also important that performance is measured on results and
outcomes. Employees are held accountable for the work they do, rather than the
hours they spend sitting in a chair.
UEC supports the needs of business and the needs of employees with ‘core office hours’. This means employees are required to be in the office 10-4, Monday – Thursday. This is helpful to coordinate meetings and allows for efficient and effective communication surrounding collaborative tasks. Hours outside of these core hours can be completed at any time in any location, whether it’s from home, the office or a cafe.
UEC
has also embraced technology to ensure employees are held accountable for their
work but are also equally recognised for their efforts.
The pros and cons
Like anything, flex time and working from home comes with its
own set of pros and cons. A lot of attention has already been given to the
pros, which can be summarised as:
- Increased productivity for businesses
- Happier and healthier employees
- Benefits that extend to society, the economy and the environment
However, there are still possible cons of flex time and
working from home which may include:
- Decreased productivity for some workers
In his 2017 Ted talk, Stanford University professor Nicholas Bloom cites the fridge, the bed and the television as the three great enemies of working from home. While overall productivity is often associated with a flexible work model, it’s not the case for all employees. Working from home only increases productivity if an employee wants to work from home. In the previously mentioned Stanford University study productivity was increased by 13% when a randomly chosen group of employees worked from home, but when workers made the decision themselves to work from home productivity increased by 24%.
- Isolation
Working from home can be isolating, while an office
environment encourages social interaction. In the same Stanford University
study, more than half of workers working from home decided they did not want to
work from home 100% of the time as it was too isolating.
- Ineffective communication
While advances in technology allow for unparalleled
communication across distances, there is nothing quite like a face-to-face
conversation. What can be communicated and explained in a simple conversation
may take multiple back and forth emails. There is also the risk of conflict as
expression, tone of voice and body language can be easily misinterpreted
through technology.