It’s a debate that has gone on for years. Is working from home helpful or not for employees and their employers?

Do the comforts and familiarity of home aid in production? Or is it better in the office space, a place traditionally dedicated to working?

The answer is complicated. “It depends” is the typical response you’ll hear from researchers and employers alike.

The answer isn’t really “yes” or “no”, because it all depends on the company and the employees who work there.

For some, the opportunity to work from home even a couple of days a week is beneficial to increase productivity.

For others, being let loose from the desk and office is a recipe for disaster.

Check it out: Benefits of Working From Home (Video)

PROS

• Save money by reducing overhead expenses associated with in-house staffing.

• Increase productivity for dedicated employees only.

• Attract the best talent. Give potential employees the edge they’re looking for in their next job.

• Better work-life balance. Attract more intrigued people by having that flexible balance

CONS

• More distractions. Chores, pets, kids, etc.

• Won’t work as a team.

• Worker’s compensation risks. Lack of control over office space while at home and on the clock.

• Lack of communication. Quick questions can go unanswered if colleagues aren’t around.

• Security concerns. Sensitive company information is at higher risk the further they travel from the office.

 Check it out: Bridging the Work-Life Balance (Infographic)

If you think your company can benefit from employees working remotely, but you’re still concerned about the potential risks associated with them working away from the office consider these possible solutions for creating the best possible working environment they can have at home.

COMMUNICATION

• If you are concerned with a lack of communication between yourself as an employer, employees at home, and the team as a whole, try to meet together in person at least once a week, month, year, etc. Whichever works best for your company.

• Provide a central online meeting place to help foster open communication. Try using software such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, or another video conferencing tool to help connect the team. This will lessen the feeling of isolation, so that it doesn’t have to be an issue.

Check it out: Why Insurance Agents Are Using VoIP

PRODUCTIVITY

• If you are concerned with reliability and productivity, the first step is to just make sure you get your hiring right and keep an eye out for applicants who have the most experience or have even run their own business in the past.

• Use productive tools like Google Drive so every document and file can be synced on any device.

SAFETY

• If you’re nervous about a rogue employee sharing passwords for sensitive information, try using a password manager like LastPass or Dashlane. That way, all accounts employees have access to are only using one password, even though the accounts have separate security passwords. So, if they leave, you only need to change the one password to be protected again.

• Don’t forget to keep the anti-virus updated and run a daily scan.

Other Helpful Tips While Working From Home

• Usually, your commute time is for you to wake up and get ready for the day. However, working from home there is no commute. So, it’s best to just get started with your tasks right away. Completing one thing on your to-do list will help wake you up and set you up for success for the rest of the day.

• Staying on schedule can be a challenge while working from home. It’s a good idea to set up your day like you would in an office setting. Planning out your tasks for the day and how much time you’ll spend on each can make it easier to stay focused.

• Try to pick a spot in your home where you’ll get work done. Having an area to associate with work is like having a bed you associate with sleeping and a couch you associate with relaxing.

• Don’t forget to interact with other people! Working from home can be attributed to loneliness and sadness from less social and face-to-face interaction. It’s important to remember that you’re not in solitary confinement. So feel free to leave the house and take your work to a public space like a coffee shop or library.

Check it out: 4 Reasons Why Cybersecurity Is More Important Than Ever

No one knows your employees and their work ethic and habits like you do. This is why “it depends” is the typical response to the million-dollar question all companies have asked at some point.

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