Working from Home vs Working from the Office: Which is Better?

27 April 2021

You are working the same hours, still facing a computer screen, sitting for long hours, and doing the same job responsibilities. There is not much that has changed. You are still the same employed worker that your company pays for. You still face the daily mounds of work you have to accomplish before sealing the day. With that said, what did change? Office location. 

The feeling of finishing a workday and finally going home to your family has now disappeared. Instead of treating the act of going home as a sign of victory, you are left with no choice but to bring the work at home. Some workers have expressed a sigh of relief that they are given the chance to work from home because they can do a lot of things without being confined in an office setting. 

No matter where you are coming from, there are surely biases. It is fine to favor one over the other and that is normal. It entirely depends on how it affects your work and life routine. Let us dive into the discussion more and see which is which. Read on to see what advantages and disadvantages that the two work dynamic entails. 


The Pros and Cons of WFH and WFO

What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home vs. working in an office? Let us compare them side by side and see what each has to offer in terms of benefits and drawbacks. Given the circumstances that we are all facing, some people would be affected by working from home while some others take it as a sigh of relief. 

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, several companies have shifted their resources and programs for remote teams for the first time. This is a significant change for both workers and employers. Despite this, it is crucial to further understand what a professional like you would be facing or missing.

Let us take a closer look at the main differences between working from home and working from an office.


Commuting

Going to and from your office takes a lot of time. You wake up early to fix your things to bring with you. If you are living in a far-off place from your workplace, you have to dedicate hours just to get to work on time. On top of that, you still have to include your whole work time, which is more or less equal to nine hours. After, as your shift ends, you face the same ordeal or even face some traffic or public transportation scarcity that takes you more hours spent traveling home compared to your commute hours going to work. 

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have their private vehicle cut back on their traveling hours. Let us be real, no one appreciates spending long hours on the road. Truth be told, people despise commuting. 

There is no commuting back and forth to work when you work from home, so this is not a problem. You are not spending time stuck in traffic, and it is not affecting your work satisfaction. One of the most significant advantages of working from home is this. The extra time saved here can be put to better use elsewhere, such as more me-time or time spent with friends and family.


Communication

Back in the office, you have the chance to talk and interact with your colleagues. There are lower risks for miscommunications and misunderstandings. You can see verbal and non-verbal gestures and not necessarily equate them to being rude or arrogant. This is what working on-site offers better than that of working from home. 

Face-to-face contact is still the most favored mode of communication among employees, according to studies. This does not, however, involve video conferencing. This is something that can only be seen in an office environment. Humans are social creatures that crave active conversations in addition to business planning. 

When you operate remotely, communication is always possible; it is just different. Video calls replace face-to-face contact. Slack messages are generated from short conversations. Emails, on the other hand, remain emails. Nobody is safe from them!


Flexibility

Working from home allows you to have more control over your time. Yes, you are still following your 9 to 5 work schedule but in between those times, you have more freedom to do lots of other things. You can cook, clean, eat, work on other things, take care of your family, and have more breaks! 

In an office setting, your colleagues can see you and check up on your every move including your break times. Also, working in an office entails adhering to a strict schedule. Every day, the dreaded alarm clock will chime at the same time, and even if one is late, they will go to extraordinary lengths to arrive at their desks before someone else notices the delay.

Working from home gives you complete control over how you plan your day. Of course, you will need to keep in contact with the in-office staff, and your schedule will be more aligned with their working practices as a result, but there is still a lot more flexibility than in a traditional office day.


Outfit

Working in the office has you rummaging for a comfortable yet stylish attire to wear for work. You easily pile up the dirty laundry and you run out of clothes to wear especially if you have no time to schedule a laundry day. 

Going to the office and considering what to wear is crucial for your image and work requirements. You have to follow a certain dress code and look presentable. You are supposed to dress appropriately for your occupation, business sector, or venue. When working in a modern business office, you should avoid wearing torn jeans and baggy t-shirts. Typically, the workplace establishes expectations, and you are expected to dress in formal attire.

On the brighter side of things, you only have to change your top if you are required to show up in an online meeting with the cameras on.


Work Environment

Usually, working in the office have lots of things going on. It can even seem like a market with different sellers promoting their products. In this type of setting, you are limited to just have your headphones just to cancel out the external noise. It is also hard to focus on other people causing some ruckus. 

The right work environment encourages efficiency, while the wrong one can be counterproductive. Employees do not have a say in their work environment or workplace setting while they are at work. 

At home, one can customize their workspace to meet their own needs and preferences. However, having a large family, especially one with children, can be equally distracting. If your neighbor has a habit of blasting loudspeakers, you will not be able to do anything about it. These not only detract from concentration, but they can also be an annoyance during important phone calls or video conferences.