Since the dawn of the internet, companies have tested the waters of having employees work remotely. There are obviously a lot of positives to having employees work from wherever they happen to be. But, at the same time, working in a traditional office environment has its own benefits. Some work has to be done at a particular location, so remote work doesn’t work for every job in every industry. Basically, working in an office can provide individuals with various benefits and also some drawbacks.
From the structure of a typical workday to the interactions between colleagues, several points can be taken into account before deciding whether or not an office job is suitable for you.
In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons associated with working in a traditional office setting for both the employee and the company.
Pros and Cons of Working in the Office
Pros
Stability
First and foremost, working in an office can provide structure and stability by offering repetition in the form of daily tasks. When someone works at home or out on their own, it’s easier to drift away from the required day-to-day activities. Having a dedicated place to go each day keeps people focused on their work and helps keep them organized as they progress through each task assigned.
This can be a positive for both employees and companies. For team members, it helps keep them focused and on-task, making them more productive and successful. That’s also good for the company.
Efficiency
Having face-to-face interactions benefits workers because it allows them to build relationships with their peers and supervisors, which can increase job satisfaction. Working in an office also gives employees an environment where they can focus on their tasks without distraction from external factors such as housework or family obligations. Structured workdays are another benefit of working in the office since they give employees a sense of routine that helps boost their morale and productivity.
This is also a strong benefit for both employees and employers, as more efficient work is generally good for everyone.
Cons
Commuting
One of the major cons of working in an office is the daily commute. Working in an office usually means a daily commute to and from work which can take up precious time and energy. The average daily commute to and from a job in the US is 55 minutes a day.
Depending on where you live and where your job is located, commutes can range from a few minutes to several hours each way every day. This can be incredibly draining for many people with hectic schedules and tight budgets. Traffic is also stressful and having to drive this much each day can be a challenge for just about anyone.
While public transit may offer options to people in some locations, the fact of the matter is that on average people have an hour a day of largely unused time. Most people do not find commuting to be a positive experience. This can lead to unhappy employees or people who structure their work time around the best commute times, as well.
Too Much Structure
We did list structure as a Pro, but too much of a good thing can be a real detriment. Structure is great, but when it becomes inflexible, it can lead to negatives for employees and companies. Keeping your best employees is always a goal for successful companies. But, as employees grow, have families, and go through life, they can often benefit from a bit more flexibility. Forcing everyone to work from an office can run counter to this desired flexibility.
Another huge headache for many office workers is the structure of constant meetings. For many people, days can become filled with endless meetings that employees are required to attend, often for little purpose. This makes it harder to get work done, leading to more stress.
