MGT350W Report (1)

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The Benefits and Drawbacks of Work From Home Initiative Subtitle James Lum MGT350W Business Communication Section 005

1 Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2 Flexible Schedules ........................................................................................................................... 3 Commute Expenses and Time ......................................................................................................... 4 Productivity and Motivation ............................................................................................................ 5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 5 References ........................................................................................................................................ 6

2 Executive Summary Introduction In the past three years, work from home initiatives have gained support and become newly incorporated in many businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At the time, working from home was a necessity, but now it is clear that the concept has been developed and employed for more reasons than just the pandemic. However, it is important to note that, while work from home initiatives may have several benefits, there are also certain drawbacks that pertain to both the individual worker and the business. This reports aims to analyze both sides of

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3 this spectrum, specifically aspects related to the flexibility of schedules, commutes, and productivity, and determine whether it is truly more beneficial to have employees work from home, or if it would be best to return to the traditional workplace environment. Flexible Schedules Even before the pandemic, employees had to accommodate and manage their work schedules around private affairs and appointments. For example, parents had to work around school schedules which often do not align with their own work hours, and individuals would have to request time off for doctors appointments or traveling. Now, working from home allows employees to accomplish everything they need to do without missing out on any work time. While employees still cannot always decide their own work hours, their schedules are much more flexible and they are able to work around their children or personal affairs with much more ease than if they were confined to an office for the full day. This is a tremendous benefit for many workers and for businesses as it reduces the need to take time off of work altogether. Along with this, workers are able to spend more time with their families which can foster healthier relationships amongst themselves that are reflected in their worklife. It is important for employees to have stable, reliable home lives before they are tasked with work. At the same time, flexible schedules can become a hindrance when there is little separation from home to work life. Without having a designated space for work, it can be difficult for some people to distinguish between the two and their home life can bleed into their work life so much that it can be mentally challenging to separate them. Furthermore, during lower productivity hours, employees might use the time to do something not related to their work, such as running errands, while if they had been in the office, they could have found

4 smaller tasks to finish at the same time. Therefore, flexible schedules are much more accommodating to the individual rather than the business, but can result in employees needing less time outside of work to fulfill tasks. Commute Expenses and Time Furthermore, working from home nearly eradicates the need to commute altogether. This results in reduced expenses for employees and can actually result in greater productivity. This is because workers are able to sleep longer into the morning before having to report to work online and they are working until the last minute of their work hours, rather than preparing to head home and commute their way back. Without the need to commute, many workers have found that they can work remotely from anywhere, without limiting themselves to areas close to the workplace as well. This means that employees can come from all over the country, even the world, and still be a critical team member without the need to live close. However, the benefits of a reduced or even eliminated commute can emphasize social and economic inequality. To clarify, work from home initiatives would only be plausible for businesses that are largely technology based and focused on consumption rather than production, such as a factory. Additionally, these jobs are typically characterized as being middle-class or upper-class, while lower-class individuals are thus required to still commute to their workplace daily. The additional costs of transportation and the time it takes to commute exacerbates the divide between groups if those who have more affordances are not required to commute at all. Lastly, even for lower-class members whose jobs do provide the option to either work from home or from the workplace, it can be challenging if they cannot attain the same technology required to do their tasks and host meetings.

5 Productivity and Motivation Lastly, the question of productivity is critical to consider when debating the advantages and disadvantages of work from home initiatives. In continuation of the argument around flexible schedules, workers are able to decide for themselves when they are most productive and when to do their work. Some people may be incredibly more productive later in the day, for example, and so it might serve both them and the business more if they were to start their work day later and work for more hours in the evening than the traditional nine to five schedule. Allowing employees to choose when to do their work will surely result in more productivity and possibly lead to more motivated employees in general if they feel like they are getting more accomplished during those select hours. Nevertheless, it is important to examine the motivation that the employees do have and the accountability they hold themselves to. If employees were to select what hours they would work best and how to approach their work, they must be motivated to accomplish their tasks. Some people might find it difficult to find intrinsic motivation and thus, require a structured workday in order to hold themselves responsible for their work and getting it done in time. This problem would only be emphasized in remote work where employees do not have their supervisors or even other colleagues nearby to encourage them to complete their work. Conclusion After careful consideration, there are several benefits and drawbacks of work from home initiatives that every business should take into account before enacting remote work. This analysis suggests that working from home, overall, has several positives that can aid both the individual and the business, and so remote work should be offered within the workplace with

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6 hopes that the employees know themselves well enough to determine for themselves if it would serve them best to work from home. However, it is to the discretion of each business and whether their goals and values align with work from home initiatives. References Pros and Cons of Working from Home - U.S. News , money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/pros-and-cons-of- working-from-home. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023. 27, Steve Cohen |March, and Steve Cohen. “The Pros and Cons of Working from Home.” State of the Planet , 27 Mar. 2023, news.climate.columbia.edu/2023/03/27/the- pros-and-cons-of-working-from-home/. Ipsen, Christine, et al. “Six Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Working from Home in Europe during COVID-19.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 Feb. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7917590/.

7 Appendix or Appendices

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