How to Know if Remote Work is Right for You

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At this point in the pandemic, you probably have several friends who previously went into the office but are now working from home. Though teleworking existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown forced many of us to change the way we work. It's estimated that as of this year, around 42% of the U.S. labor force works from home full-time. 

Even though the pandemic may seem to have an end in sight, remote work is definitely here to stay. There are several companies that have announced they will continue to offer remote work for the foreseeable future. The employees that are most likely to work from home include those working in the financial sector, writers and managers.

Employers have realized the benefits of offering flexibility to their staff, and employees have proven they can be just as productive at home in their sweatpants as they were while wearing a tie in the office. In fact, it's estimated that around 16% of companies are now exclusively hiring remote workers. Companies that offer remote work as an option for their employees also tend to have about a 25% lower turnover rate. 

Working from home has its perks as well as its disadvantages. On the positive side, employees save time and money by eliminating their work commute and not needing to budget for business clothes to wear to the office. Flexibility is also a huge perk for remote positions.

On the other hand, working from home can be a difficult task when you think about time management and maintaining a work-life balance. It takes self-discipline and focus to effectively complete your job from home. After all, there are plenty of distractions at home that you will need to juggle if working from an at-home office. 

Simply put, working from home is not for everyone. Below, we've listed a handful of questions you should ask yourself if you're on the fence about making the switch to telework. Consider these questions to find out if remote work is right for you. 

Can You Work Alone? 

One frequently overlooked perk of working in the office is the culture that comes with seeing your coworkers every day. The chats around the water cooler or while eating lunch together are easy to dismiss, but you might miss this camaraderie when you're working alone at home. 

Remote work relies on Zoom or Teams video calls for meetings and an increased number of emails and written communications throughout the day. Instead of just popping over into someone's cubicle, you instead must send an email or schedule time to have a Zoom meeting to discuss your questions. While some people thrive with the lack of meetings, others may feel stranded and lonely on their own islands of their home office.

With the lack of constant accountability comes the need for self-discipline - which is why some people may struggle to work from home. It is up to you, as the employee, to complete your necessary tasks before signing off every day. Think of ways you can still connect with your team while working from home in order to not isolate yourself from others.

Can You Maintain a Work/Life Balance?

Not only will you need to stay focused on getting your tasks done, but you'll also need to manage your time wisely if you are working remotely. Though your employer should provide a loose schedule of meetings and deadlines, it'll be up to you to complete those within a timely manner. 

When the switch to remote work first began, there was a large percentage of remote employees who reported working more than they had been in the office. According to a survey conducted in 2020, 45% of people surveyed who shifted to remote work because of the pandemic said they were working more than they were before, and 75% said they were working on weekends. People under 40 and parents were more likely to report working longer hours.

Since your office is within your home, it's harder to have finite start and stop times because it feels like there is always more work to be done. Creating and maintaining boundaries with your work life is crucial for an employee's overall satisfaction with the job and their personal happiness outside of work. If you feel like you won't be able to honor your work boundaries from your in-home office, you might be better off working in a hybrid environment or working from the office. 

This is an especially important question for those who have young children or other people living with them in their homes that require attention throughout the day. Though it's possible to take care of your children and still be an effective worker, it can come with more stress and longer work hours than if you were in the office instead. 

Are You a Strong Written Communicator?

Think about how much you communicate with others when you're in the office. This includes not only meetings and brainstorm sessions, but also quick questions here and there with your coworkers as you're working on your own projects and assignments. Now, imagine having to communicate all of that information via email, Slack or Microsoft Teams messages. 

Being an effective communicator is a necessary aspect of almost every job, which is why you should consider the ways you communicate best before making the switch to remote work. If you are someone who thrives with in-person brainstorming sessions, then you need to consider if you'll be able to be just as successful if those sessions were held over Zoom. 

Remote work is best for employees who do most of their work individually. This way, you spend less time on Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls and more time getting your job done. When working remotely, you have to learn to be strategic about the meetings you are in and use the time appropriately so you are just as productive at home as you would be in the office. 

The Takeaway

Just because everyone around you seems to be switching to a work-from-home position does not mean it is the right decision for you. It's important to weigh the options carefully and consider what a remote job would look like for you. 

If you are able to communicate effectively, maintain strong work boundaries and stay on task when left to your own devices, then you may feel better working from home than you do in the office. It involves less energy to communicate with your coworkers when you can do it from the comfort of your own home, but it also requires more thoughtful communication and time management. 

If you are on the fence about telework and it's possible to participate in a trial remote working situation, try it out for a few months. It takes time to nail down a schedule and stick to it. Who knows, you may surprise yourself! As an alternative, you can look for hybrid positions available that require a mix of in-person and online work.