subject: Advantages of a home office [print this page] Until the 20th century, huge amounts of people labored in their homes. Granted they most likely did not describe any aspect of their living space as a home office, but in essence this is what they were. The essential characteristic of a home office is not in fact the presence of office furniture (even though a great glass desk can be quite nice). Any space that integrates a person's living area with their place of work shares the same fundamental characteristics with the common, modern notion of a home office.
In the present Western world the vast majority of workers do not work in their homes. Many employers have begun to discover that allowing their employees the option to work from home can have certain advantages.
For one, these institutions have access to a significantly broader pool in which to recruit from. Allowing the alternative to work from home gives companies' access to professionals how live far away, experienced people who have disabilities or mobility issues, and people who for whatever reason cannot commute to work every day.
Unnecessary absenteeism may also be significantly decreased by allowing a work-from-home option. A study conducted by Macfarlane Telesystems shows that "absenteeism can be significantly impacted with reductions of over 60% on sickness levels reported...sick days can be reduced from 8.4 days per annum to 3.1".
Not too long ago the Canterbury City Council developed a new plan of flexible working in which employees, particularly the customer service department, were authorized to work from home within a specific set of rules. This policy lead to a 15%-20% increase in staff productivity.
Not all companies choose to make use of such systems, however, for the reason that there are certain disadvantages. When staff are scattered across a geographic area, a much greater level of communications infastructure is required to allow them to stay in contact. Workers will also probably have to invest in at least a modicum of office furniture themselves as well. Of course, office chairs and a computer glass desk can now be purchased for very little money.
Additionally, there are many businesses that depend on a physical location, such as an office, to generate a certain kind of work culture that is essential to the nature of the business. The unity and efficacy of this culture may be more significant to such an business than the benefits of being flexible about were work is carried out.
Whether enabling workers to work from home is going to be a boon or a bane for a particular company, is a decision that can only be made accurately by the company involved. With that being said, businesses should at least take the idea seriously. A top quality glass desk can make any room feel like a corner office.
