At NOOK Event Pods, we’re avid supporters of a healthy work/ life balance. We also have strong ideas about innovation and flexibility being essential to a successful business model, hence the development of the NOOK Event Pod! 

Telecommuting has become a way of life at many organizations and firms.  In some industries, it’s the foundation of the business plan.  Below, we lay out some of the pros and cons of telecommuting, from the employer and employee perspectives and the impact on the environment. 

Employee Overview

Pros:

Telecommuting provides employees with a more flexible schedule and often means employees spend more hours working, as there’s no time lost in the work commute. This translates into increased productivity (no dead time spent in traffic and effective, purposeful use of time) and many employees report much higher job satisfaction. 

Telecommuting can also eliminate a distracting workplace, as there’s no time lost socializing by the water cooler and it averts the drop-in colleague who won’t allow you to return to business at hand.

Cons:

Telecommuting is ideal for self-starters and for those who need little to no supervision or motivation. Those who are not self-starters or require supervision and/or motivation to reach their maximum potential or productivity levels may not be prime candidates for telecommuting.  Some employees may find telecommuting isolating, actually decreasing their productivity. 

Telecommuters frequently lose out on the benefits of collaboration and working in a team environment.  Telecommuters aren’t afforded the same opportunities to learn from their peers/colleagues and they often don’t build or hone leadership and mentoring skills. Depending on the organization, those who telecommute might not be as quickly considered for promotions and advancement. Sometimes the old adage holds: “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Employer Overview

Pros:

Allowing employees to telecommute reduces the requirements for office space. Not only does this minimize overhead, but it also allows businesses to hire according to their needs, without worrying about real estate limitations. 

Telecommuting positions increase the talent pool for qualified candidates from which employers can choose. Prospective job candidates are no longer restricted by their physical distance from the brick-and-mortar office.  Remote workers provide a cost-benefit to employers, as it costs less to keep them on-board.  From office supplies to office space, furniture and security, employees who telecommute provide real savings to their employers.  

Cons:

Employers might need to include specific training to ensure telecommuting employees know how to use the internal software and can follow protocol. Additionally, employers must develop fair policies that address sick days.

It’s detrimental to the corporate environment when fewer employees can effectively work in a group environment and don’t have sufficient opportunities for team building. This often results in departments and work groups that can’t successfully execute.  Further, in an organization where there are many remote workers, there are fewer opportunities for executives to advance their leadership and mentoring skills, which results in a weaker organization.   

Environmental Overview

Pros:

Carpooling is good, but telecommuting is even better! Communicating via phone or the web reduces time spent on the road, fuel expenditures and the pollution that results from an office commute. Office space is also the third largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Fewer in-office employees = smaller office spaces = less pollution.

Cons:

There may eventually be tech waste, but telecommuting is very good for the environment.

At NOOK, we believe telecommuting – either full time or on a few days a month scenario – is the perfect addition to any business model that focuses on increased employee productivity, attracting more qualified candidates, reducing overhead and protecting our planet.  

For more information on how NOOK Event Pods can help align your business and/or events for future success, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can also find us on LinkedIn.