Advantages of Remote Working (or Not?).

While some people love remote working, others still prefer going to the office every day. I asked Artificial Intelligence, “What are the advantages of remote working?” and it quickly listed them under five main headings. However, as a manager I spent the last few years of my professional career together with my team working from home (everyone was working from their own homes, of course) 😊 due to both the COVID pandemic and following the general trend. When I read those advantages mentioned by AI, counter-questions naturally arose in my mind. I wrote them in italics. Shall we take a look together?

1. The most important advantage is flexibility : You have the freedom to choose where and when you work, which allows you to improve your work-life balance. /// “Where” is fine, but is the decision of “when” really entirely up to me? Do I determine all the meeting times and such?

2. Increased productivity : Many people claim to be more productive when working remotely. With fewer distractions and interruptions found in the office environment, you have the opportunity to create a personalized work environment that suits your needs. /// Is that so? What if I have a young child who hasn’t reached school age yet and roams around the house, or if I don’t have a secluded room to escape to when neighbors visit our family members… If I have a cat or a dog… If someone loves the sound of the keyboard and doesn’t move away even when there’s a “mouse” around! If our dog constantly wants to play just because I’m at home… and so on and so forth.

3. Cost savings : Remote working allows you to save on commuting expenses, eating out, and professional attire. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to live in more affordable areas since you’re not tied to a specific location. /// Well, I was already going to the office with the company-provided shuttle, and I was having lunch with the tickets provided by the company. In fact, now they have even cut those benefits, they don’t even reimburse me for the cost of the meal I cook at home? What professional attire? I was going with my jeans in the last years… Should I move from my current home? And what if we go back to working from the office or a hybrid system? Is there a guarantee that we won’t go back?

4. Access to a global talent pool : For companies, remote working allows them to hire talent from anywhere in the world. This expands the potential pool of qualified candidates and increases diversity in the workforce. /// So this means: While I’m happy that working from home is good for my job which was difficult to find and suddenly I will find out that an Indian, Pakistani, or Brazilian has taken that job?

5. Reduced stress and consequently feeling better : Remote working eliminates the stress of commuting and challenges related to office politics. It also provides an opportunity to incorporate exercise and personal time into your daily routine, leading to a healthier lifestyle. /// But won’t staying away from office politics also deprive me of the essential aspect of work life, “networking”? Regarding exercise: When I used to go to the office, I was more disciplined about exercising. I would either do it before leaving home or go to a gym after work. Now that I’m at home all the time, I tend to postpone it, thinking I’ll do it at some point. Moreover, working from home has reduced my activity levels compared to office days, and I’ve started gaining weight!