The pandemic has changed the traditional work landscape, accelerating the transition to remote work and blurring the lines between professional and personal lives. But full-time work from home can also have a negative impact on your employees. Therefore, as a business owner, you better rent an office to ensure that employees can see and communicate with each other.

In this article, we will explore the positive and negative aspects that working from home and from the office brings to the lives of your employees.

Some points about working from office

1. Defined start and end of the working day

When employees have an office where they can come and work every day or several times a week, it is easier for them to set up work schedules. Being in the working room and surrounded by colleagues, employees understand that it is time to work. Then, at a certain time at the end of the day, they leave this space and realise that it is time for personal life.

Remote workers often start working according to the office schedule in order to dock with colleagues. But it’s more difficult to finish the day. There is a desire to finish some tasks, and there is no need to leave as an employee is already at home. This makes it difficult to switch from work to leisure.

2. Equipped workplace

When the pandemic began and people began to be massively sent to remote work, it turned out that many people did not have working conditions at home. There is no suitable table and chair, no computer, because personal matters can also be handled from a smartphone. In the office, this is easier, because the place is equipped by the employer.

3. Ease of organising meetings and trips

Of course, many meetings can now be arranged remotely. But sometimes people need to see each other in person. Working from the office provides a more comfortable environment for this. As a rule, there is a negotiation room.

4. Working materials at hand

A significant part of the necessary materials is now available in electronic form. IT specialists from your company should take care of accessing it. But representatives of different professions continue to work with paper media. Some people still have to work with folders of filed documents, drawings, and archival data.

5. A more serious attitude of the household

If you’re the only one working from home, it’s often hard for the rest of the family to take it seriously.

6. Ease of information transfer

Although there are many means of communication, it is still easier to exchange some information in person. And you are constantly in the same information field with your colleagues and know what is happening in the company. With online communication, general awareness suffers.

7. Communication

Burnout is a syndrome that occurs as a result of chronic stress in the workplace. It has been recognized as a disease. However, communication within a professional team, a sense of belonging helps to alleviate its symptoms. In the office, coworkers get it in full.

8. Employer bonuses

Employers continue to lure game consoles, libraries, and gyms. Most of them are located in the office. If your office is located in the capital of Denmark, then to increase motivation, you can provide employees with free parking in Copenhagen, which in the original language is gratis parkering i København.

9. More movement

No matter how close your office is to your home, you need to get there. That’s more steps than going from bed to chair, anyway. And the movement is actually life and a source of the hormone endorphin.

Office work is not without challenges

Long commutes, tight schedules, and physical workspace restrictions can contribute to employee stress. Moreover, office politics and the need to conform to a particular work culture can create an environment that is not conducive to everyone’s mental well-being. Lack of flexibility in office work can also hinder work-life balance, especially for those with caregiving responsibilities or those seeking greater independence. 15% of participants in the global survey Working From Home Around the World admitted that they do not agree to work in the office five days a week.

Balancing mental health and productivity

When considering the mental health and performance of employees, a balanced approach is key. Employers must adapt their policies and practices to create a hybrid model that takes advantage of both telecommuting and in-office work while mitigating their disadvantages.

Implementing a hybrid work model allows for the best of both worlds. It combines the flexibility and reduced stress of remote work with the social interaction and collaboration opportunities of the office. By providing employees with the option to choose their preferred work environment, employers can accommodate diverse needs, fostering employee satisfaction and mental well-being.

Studies have shown that remote work can actually enhance productivity when managed effectively. Flexibility allows employees to work during their most productive hours, leading to improved focus and output. Additionally, remote workers often report fewer distractions and interruptions compared to the office environment, enabling them to dedicate uninterrupted time to their tasks.

Conclusion

Deciding which work format is best for the mental health and productivity of employees is not easy. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, and it is essential to find a balance between them. A hybrid work model that combines the benefits of remote and office work is the most balanced. In this way, the employer can create a healthy work environment in which employees can thrive.