Working From Home - The Benefits and Future

Technology has brought people closer even if they are millions of miles apart. It has enabled a lot of companies to save on communication and travel costs and has empowered employees to be on constant communication with their counterparts all over the world.

Companies all over the world leveraged from this phenomenon and has adapted work from home set up for their employees.

However, working from home generally splits opinion. Some think employees will be unproductive and treat it as a day off, occasionally checking their email and making sure they aren't idle on Skype. Another group thinks it empowers employees and is a tool that can motivate employees and give them freedom and responsibility.

It can save money for employers mainly through operational cost like electricity, travel and call costs, etc. It also lessens the need for large office space - instead utilizing a 'hot desk' system at work.Overtime, these small costs savings become significant.

In the tech sector, there is already a great deal of freedom with flexible work scheduling, access to work VPN systems and video conferencing using facilities have become a requirement. With many office based jobs being almost entirely computer based, this could be extended to many employees in different lines of work.

Some employees feel less distracted and more productive in a controlled environment. Working from home can help cut out distractions and focus them to a project. It also eradicates the stress of commuting which can be a big draw to employees. Metro Manila has an average commute time of 45 mins which adds one and a half hours onto the average day for workers in the capital. Allowing employees to work from home lessens the stress level and thus making them more productive and motivated. This can help employees to avoid burnout and fatigue.

This can also be beneficial in a business sense. Companies are now giving more focus on the well being of employees as it means having to pay a lower premium for HMOs. Employees who need to be with clients most of the day can use hot desks when in the office.

Despite the benefits, some companies especially the traditional ones, are quite adamant on adapting the same set up. Also, some employees prefer to come into the office to work - they enter a 'work frame of mind' and helps separate their home life from their work life which in itself can minimise stress.

It is only a matter of time before companies and employees alike accept this trend. Policies, trust and expectations can be set and agreed on for this to work.

Home working can allow companies to hire the best talent available without being handicapped by location. A small tech startup based in Makati may wish to hire a highly skilled web developer from Clark in Pampanga. The only hitch with the potential recruitment is the distance commuting which in this example could be over three hours each way. By allowing the employee to work from home, the tech firm can hire exactly who they want without the location being a disadvantage to them and maximize his time on his task

In the future, it is likely more and more companies will allow their employees to work from home. With mobile technology improving every year, employees can easily handle emails, send messages, join conference calls or edit documents even on mobile phones. Employers can easily save time and money on utility bills and office space by minimizing costs that can otherwise hemorrhage a business' cash supplies.