5 Downsides of Working from Home

17.11.21

There are so many positives to working from home. Not having to commute (saving both time and money), being able to properly relax during a lunch break, and some may even say they enjoy not seeing certain people around the office. But the thing is, remote working is only fun and games when there aren't any technological problems or mishaps. You need to be able to be flexible, and understanding updated information on your computer isn't something everyone is clued up on. But what are the other downsides of working from home?


Miscommunication

Miscommunication is so much easier when you are working remotely. When you no longer have the face to face interaction that you had before, it’s very difficult to read into the meaning of a written message. You can’t hear the tone or the inflection of the person talking to you, so you can easily misinterpret their message to you. Plus you can't easily pop over to that person's desk to sort a problem either, making mishaps harder to quickly solve.

Isolation

Isolation is much more prevalent than working in an office. When you are at home, it’s just you. Of course other people are at the end of the phone and more businesses than ever are making a point of including working with collaborative software, but that doesn't mean that it’s any less isolating to be at home. There is less of a community spirit here, and that means that you have less of a chance to feel included in something.

All the Distractions

The distractions are real. The TV and the fridge might call to you far more when no one is keeping an eye on you at your desk. You are going to be far more distracted in your work if your home isn't a tidy and calming space either - your mind will probably wander to putting a load of washing on, or whizzing the hoover around if you're not in the office.

Lack of Motivation

It’s harder to get motivated if you're on your own at home. If you work in your pyjamas and you are in your home office surrounded by all your things, it’s much easier to want to not want to do any work. I know I find getting dressed and ready for the day gives me much more motivation, but if you're working from home I can imagine a lot of people just sleep in as long as possible before jumping straight onto a computer at the last minute.

Security Issues

Occasionally you might find that you are dealing with poorly run software or issues with your work. You need to be able to keep on top of updates and upgrades and keep your manager in the loop about them, but having to stop to fix these problems can waste working hours. It's also worth keeping in mind that you'll want to consider better home contents insurance if you've brought your work computers and equipment home with you.

This is a collaborative post.

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