One of the lasting consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the lockdowns that went with it, is a pronounced shift in working culture. Now, we’re much better acquainted with the practice of working from home.
While prior to 2020, just a tiny minority of workers might have been granted this luxury, it’s now something that a majority of workers will have experienced at some point.
What’s more, it’s something that many of us might have come to expect on a permanent basis, with the result that many employers offer some form of hybrid workers to prospective recruits.
Working from home, to be sure affords us a number of advantages. It means that we have more time available to do the things that really matter to us. It means less time spent stuck in a lengthy commute.
Then there’s the freedom it gives us to pursue our hobbies during our downtime. While before you might have spent time twiddling your thumbs during lunch, now you’re able to do just about anything that you might do at home.
What Are The Problems of Working From Home?
With all of that said, there are some definite downsides to this mode of working. Let’s run through a few of them.
Hidden costs
Working from home means spending a little (or even a lot) more money on heating and electricity. After all, you’re going to be running your computer for what might be eight extra hours a day.
You might also need a better internet connection if you’re going to reliably connect with colleagues and clients. Then there are the running costs associated with wear and tear.
If you’re spending more time in your home office, it follows that you’ll need to run the vacuum cleaner around just that little bit more frequently.
Hidden Dangers
If you’re spending more time at home, then it follows that you’re more likely to be involved in an accident at home. This goes if you’re doing something inherently dangerous, like carpentry. But it’s also the case for sedentary office workers.
A lack of proper ergonomics in a home office setup can, over time, contribute to chronic postural and back problems.
In a survey of a thousand Brits conducted on behalf of personal injury solicitor the National Accident Helpline, it was found that almost half of people have suffered an accident or injury while working from home.
As the company put it in a blog:
Whilst accidents at work are often the responsibility of the employer, workers have had to take personal responsibility to make sure that their home working space is safe to use.
Lack of Motivation
It’s easy to feel that the pressure is off when you’re working in the same environment that you relax in. You might find that there’s no shortage of distractions in the form of YouTube and other social media sites.
While you can use special programs to block these websites during working hours, dealing with distraction means that you might not be as productive as you would be in the office.
No Team Spirit
There’s a social component in the workplace that can’t be replicated over Teams or Skype. You’ll lack the support group and the collaborative power of real-life human interaction. In the worst cases, this can lead to a feeling of intense isolation and even depression.
