Benefits of Working from Home

jeffpressler · 2015-01-22T20:14:40.000Z

Hiya Folks!

We are having a debate in our department around working from home one day a week. I brought up putting 20% less emissions out there from my car as well as the 2 hours of commuting that would be saved.

As more companies utilize today’s tech like VPN for access and Lync for video conferencing, the need for physical presence is decreasing. Of course for any serious business decisions on policies like these numbers are a must.

Does anyone know of any in depth, scientific studies done around this subject that are easily cited? I hear of more and more tech companies going toward and beyond this model so sure the stats are out there.

I’ll be on the google and report back anything I find as well.

Thanks,

Jeff

magnus369 · 2015-01-22T20:18:23.000Z

It’s been recognized that I’ve become 400% more productive since working from home

dataless · 2015-01-22T20:20:03.000Z

The hardest part is honestly trying to focus and get things done. Working for home is not for everyone. You have to have a designated work area and the ability to ignore outside interruptions and get work done.

Otherwise it’s work on a presentation, do some laundry, talk to some clients, clean out a closet, etc.

In the office you don’t have the ability to be distracted with such tasks, at home it’s easy to get off track and not focus enough on the job.

sqlrage · 2015-01-22T20:21:21.000Z

I can’t imagine being productive if I worked from home. I like the separation too much.

jsmith · 2015-01-22T20:21:37.000Z

Hi Jeff,

This is mostly anecdotal but if you follow their references you might be able to pull some hard numbers:

TechRepublic – 19 Jan 15

10 good reasons why working remotely makes sense | TechRepublic

Remote work, flextime, career sabbaticals, and zero-hours contracts are all types of flexible work. But it's remote work that's disrupting the traditional tech industry 9-to-5 grind. Here's why.

Est. reading time: 4 minutes

For what it’s worth, about a year ago I started working from home 1-2 days per week (alternating schedule) and quickly discovered that my productivity doubles when I’m home. Spiceworks ticket times as well as time to project implementation were valuable in proving this to our management.

Cheers,

J

mradam · 2015-01-22T20:23:22.000Z

well, you don’t have to get dressed…at all…unless there is a video conference…then you just dress the top half…or don’t…

lenn · 2015-01-22T20:23:51.000Z

My favorite part about working from home (if my job gave me the opportunity?) You pick the dress code.

starg33ker · 2015-01-22T20:26:18.000Z

There’s benefits when my wife is home

bob-13 · 2015-01-22T20:26:20.000Z

Dataless:

The hardest part is honestly trying to focus and get things done. Working for home is not for everyone. You have to have a designated work area and the ability to ignore outside interruptions and get work done.

Otherwise it’s work on a presentation, do some laundry, talk to some clients, clean out a closet, etc.

In the office you don’t have the ability to be distracted with such tasks, at home it’s easy to get off track and not focus enough on the job.

You mean like hanging out in the SpiceWorks Watercooler?

evanalmightyyy · 2015-01-22T20:26:58.000Z

Dataless:

In the office you don’t have the ability to be distracted with such tasks

I find other things to distract me

doughnutdestroyer · 2015-01-22T20:27:26.000Z

starg33ker:

There’s benefits when my wife is home

That thing you did there… I saw it

mradam · 2015-01-22T20:27:26.000Z

starg33ker:

There’s benefits when my wife is home

Brown Chicken, Brown Cow.

Gary-D-Williams · 2015-01-22T20:28:36.000Z

Dataless:

In the office you don’t have the ability to be distracted with such tasks, at home it’s easy to get off track and not focus enough on the job.

If the office it’s easier to get distracted. I work in an open plan office, that’s 70 other people, random questions from people, staff, noise from phones and other conversations, offers to nip out for tea, etc.

rojoloco · 2015-01-22T20:29:30.000Z

The potential real world benefits are increased productivity and employee satisfaction. It is easier to concentrate on certain tasks outside the office.

Please don’t try to make this a “being green” item. 20% of your exhaust output = 20% of 1/however many millions of cars in the world, further decreased by the fact you don’t work from home 7 days a week. Lots of zeros after that decimal point = insignificant. Plus you’ll use more power and water while at home, so that will more than offset that tiny little fraction of exhaust you’re not outputting.

jeffpressler · 2015-01-22T20:33:02.000Z

EvanAlmightyyy:

Dataless:

In the office you don’t have the ability to be distracted with such tasks

I find other things to distract me

True but not being in the office forces clients and users to use the proper protocol for making requests.

magnus369 · 2015-01-22T20:33:37.000Z

RojoLoco:

The potential real world benefits are increased productivity and employee satisfaction. It is easier to concentrate on certain tasks outside the office.

Please don’t try to make this a “being green” item. 20% of your exhaust output = 20% of 1/however many millions of cars in the world, further decreased by the fact you don’t work from home 7 days a week. Lots of zeros after that decimal point = insignificant. Plus you’ll use more power and water while at home, so that will more than offset that tiny little fraction of exhaust you’re not outputting.

yes, but as a company benefit… they don’t pay for the power you use that day

evanalmightyyy · 2015-01-22T20:34:57.000Z

J_Pressler:

EvanAlmightyyy:

Dataless:

In the office you don’t have the ability to be distracted with such tasks

I find other things to distract me

True but not being in the office forces clients and users to use the proper protocol for making requests.

It must be hard for users to send emails in their underpants. I feel so bad for them…NOTTTTTT

I would go a step further though. Business up top, nudist colony below.

jeffpressler · 2015-01-22T20:35:50.000Z

RojoLoco:

The potential real world benefits are increased productivity and employee satisfaction. It is easier to concentrate on certain tasks outside the office.

Please don’t try to make this a “being green” item. 20% of your exhaust output = 20% of 1/however many millions of cars in the world, further decreased by the fact you don’t work from home 7 days a week. Lots of zeros after that decimal point = insignificant. Plus you’ll use more power and water while at home, so that will more than offset that tiny little fraction of exhaust you’re not outputting.

It’s certainly not just about being green. I brought that up just to push the list of things to consider beyond not having to wear shoes. The 20% was just the only number that I could come up with off the top of my head.

jeffpressler · 2015-01-22T20:37:09.000Z

EvanAlmightyyy:

J_Pressler:

EvanAlmightyyy:

Dataless:

In the office you don’t have the ability to be distracted with such tasks

I find other things to distract me

True but not being in the office forces clients and users to use the proper protocol for making requests.

It must be hard for users to send emails in their underpants. I feel so bad for them…NOTTTTTT

I would go a step further though. Business up top, nudist colony below.

I was thinking a little less people walking up to you and dropping tasks on your desk in hopes to trump your real projects.

trelstadtech · 2015-01-22T20:41:53.000Z

I’ve worked at home for 17 years now. I would say if I worked for another company, and I was setup to work from home, I would actually work more. I know this to be true of my clients as well. Anymore, very few companies are not willing to look at the investment for at least mid-range level employees.

We joke about the stupid things people bother us about, but the reality is they are very disruptive to our train of thought. I’ve determined that if people know I’m in their building, it is an instant excuse for them to not have to think or problem solve. So, you can tell your boss that you’ll be getting more work done while also expanding the problem solving skills of the other dolts, I mean employees, that work there.