Underrated benefits of working from home

Though some business leaders are vocal about their dislike for remote working (looking at you Elon Musk) studies show that working from home actually has a variety of benefits to offer.

Many employees feel that these benefits make remote work a more attractive option than a traditional office environment.

We became a remote business before the pandemic hit and haven't looked back since. But that's not to say that it's suited to every business or everyone.

If it is on the cards for you or your business, here are some of the perks of working from home, as shared by the team at Vestd.

Five underrated benefits of remote working

1. The ability to work on the go

Wouldn’t it be cool to work and travel at the same time? To do a quick team Zoom call before you go hiking through the Alps or scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef? 

That sounds like a pretty awesome work day but unless you’re a travel blogger, it’s unlikely to be your reality. Unless, of course, you work remotely.

Lots of people love remote working because it can offer them the flexibility to set their own hours and work from almost anywhere in the world without being tied down to a traditional office. There are some pretty adventurous people in our team!

Adventures aside, the ability to work wherever means that employees can be exactly where they need to be, even when the unexpected happens.

Grace Henley, Content Marketing Manager:

Being able to work from my parent's house during a difficult time meant the world to my family and the world to me.

While the level of freedom will, of course, depend on your role, working hours, having the right tools and the stability of your internet connection, there’s no doubt about it: remote work is more liberating than working in an office. 

It's wise to have a policy in place that balances this freedom with accountability. We call ours 'working away from home base'.

2. No commute

Don’t you just hate the traffic on the way from your bedroom into your living room?

That might have been a meme we laughed about while we worked from home during the pandemic, but for people who continue to work remotely, that’s just the new and improved reality.

Working from your own home office means saving money on train fares, petrol, parking, and the coffee you might have picked up along the way if you were heading into an office. But the best part has to be getting that time back.

Ben Rodgers, Customer Success Associate:

By not having to commute, I regained approximately 10 hours a week and this is 10 hours more I can now be available for the kids.

Time is, after all, one of our most precious resources.

Yaz Kinebas, Special Projects:

It’s easy to forget how much time you waste on a commute until you suddenly get that time back. In those hours, you can be more productive and present at work and home.

3. Flexibility 

If you want to have a lunch break in front of your TV with a McDonald’s delivery and the new episode of your favourite Netflix obsession, you can! If you need to pop out and pick your kids up from school, you can do that too! 

Of course, you still have to be present for meetings and other activities that occur during standard business hours. We have company-wide team meetings every Monday and Friday. 

Arthur Guy, Head of Engineering:

I can more easily mesh work and life responsibilities by taking time out of the day to do something non-work-related that needs to be done and filling in at a later date.

Unlike a traditional office environment, working from home offers you the freedom to work earlier, later, or at random in-between times that suit your schedule - within reason.

4. Create an ideal work environment

Do you find it hard to focus when other people are making noise? Do you feel that the flow of an office environment interrupts your productivity? If you do, you’re not alone.

Many offices come with inflexible requirements that just don’t suit everyone and it can make it hard for some employees to do their best work.

For example, many people who live with ADHD need a certain amount of background noise in order to concentrate. But it needs to be background noise they can choose, like a familiar episode of a favourite sitcom or a playlist broadcast through the comforting surround sound of trusty headphones. 

Some offices don’t allow accommodations of this nature in the name of “professionalism” and the absence of these personal touches can make it very hard for some employees to concentrate and operate at their full potential. 

But when you work from home, you can customise your work environment according to your needs. 

Jessica Deakin, Product Manager:

I’m fortunate enough to have a room in my house that is purely for working in. I have a lovely old desk to work at, with my laptop, two screens and keyboard. I’ve been able to get my work set up just right.

5. No FOMO

FOMO stands for 'fear of missing out'.

You can understand why parents and caregivers in particular might rate this benefit; they don't have to miss out on watching their children take their first steps or say their first words. Unlike those working late with lengthy commutes who return home to find their children fast asleep.

Daniel Markland, Video & Motion Graphics Editor:

The big perk for me has been not missing out on my son growing up. I have a good chunk of time to play with him before I’m at my desk. It’s a true privilege and I do not take it for granted.

Though some employees do love the hustle and bustle and social side of being in an office environment and can feel like they're missing out if they're not there.

That said, remote companies can emulate these interactions - it just takes a bit of figuring out. We're constantly finding creative ways to connect and socialise altogether online.

Remote working has faced a lot of unnecessary backlash and criticism but, in reality, it’s just a different and more flexible way of working - often in a way that empowers employees to enjoy their work day and excel in their careers. 

While it's not for everyone or every business (and has its challenges) you can't deny the benefits.

Click here for more insights on remote working.