Most of the time, we’re told that remote working is a good thing. It has positive benefits for business, such as better productivity and happier workers, not to mention lower costs, and it’s something we all need to consider very carefully if we’re not doing it already.
However, just as it’s useful to know the benefits of remote working, it’s equally crucial to know what the downsides are because it might be that this system is not the right one for your particular business.
With that in mind, read on to discover some of the negative points when it comes to remote working so you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s the right direction for you to go in.
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Remote Working Communication Issues
There are many ways for remote workers to stay in touch with their colleagues and managers, as well as any customers and clients they might have to contact throughout the day. They can use email, text, phone calls, or video calls, for example.
They can also use collaboration tools. So why is communication an issue in that case?
It’s an issue because none of these ideas, even the ones that involve speaking to someone, can replace the benefits of real face-to-face communication. It’s so easy to misunderstand a text or email, especially when it comes to the tone used, and it could result in a long back-and-forth email conversation that wastes a lot of time and may not even get the matter resolved.
If you were able to speak face to face, you would save a lot of time and get the job done in the way it’s meant to be done.
Distractions of Working Remotely
There are dozens of different distractions in a home environment. This could be other people, the room you’re working in, someone coming to the front door, or even the housework or TV might be distracting in their own ways.
Distractions can lead to a lack of productivity or even a lack of motivation. When you’re working in a dedicated office, these interruptions will be much less of a problem.
Lisa, Small Biz Tipster
You’ll be able to focus on your work and ensure it all gets done in the right way.
Of course, this does mean that, as a manager, you’ll need to remove any distractions from the office space as well in order to help your team become more productive.
One way to do this is to speak to some office pod suppliers and install special pods within the office. In this way, if people need to find a space with no distractions at all, they can use the pods when they need to.
You Want to Be Seen
Not every business owner, but there are some business owners who want to be known, and they want to be seen. They want to come off as that business influencer they’ve seen online; they want to have a grand appearance like the characters in Succession and learn how to charter a private jet.
But of course, this isn’t everyone, and if you want to be seen and known if you’re working remotely, you’re not going to get that nearly as much.
Lack Of Social Interaction With Remote Working
Although some people are very happy with remote working and love to work entirely by themselves and they thrive in this isolated environment, that’s not the same for most people.
Even those who might think they would rather not be around other people too much can find that working from home and no longer having the social interaction they had when they went to an office every day is not as great as they had hoped it would be.
This can lead to dissatisfaction with their remote working and even cause symptoms of depression and stress if it’s not addressed.
Having an office where everyone can work together and create some fantastic collaborative work but where they can work alone if they need to (perhaps in the pods we mentioned above) can be an excellent way to keep everyone happy.
Remote Working Tips For Businesses
- Develop a schedule your employees can stick to
- Provide the remote working technology tools needed to get the job done
- Avoid distracting them daily
- Meet up with others for lunch to avoid isolation and talk face to face
- Set up quickly weekly meetings to be sure all the tasks are being done and goals are met.
The Future of Remote Working
The future of remote working appears to be increasingly prominent as technology advances and businesses adapt to flexible work arrangements.
Companies are recognizing the benefits of remote work, such as reduced overhead costs and access to a wider talent pool. Employees also appreciate the flexibility and work-life balance that remote work offers.
With the ongoing development of communication and collaboration tools, remote working is likely to become even more integrated into the standard work environment.
The trend towards remote work is expected to continue growing as both employers and employees embrace the advantages it provides.
Your Turn: Do You Allow Remote Working At Your Business?
I’d love to hear if you allow work remotely for your small business today. Many workers have returned to offices in the past year and yet some still work from home today. Do you think remote working will die in time? Please drop a comment so we can discuss the benefits and drawbacks of working from home.
