Work Remotely or Get Fired Trying

Just like taking online courses, working remotely offers some great benefits in terms of flexibility and convenience. In this era of ever-so-smarter synchronized gadgets, more and more businesses are offering this wonderful opportunity to their employees and if you are one of these lucky people, I say, go ahead and take it. Whether you need to go to the countryside to boost your creativity or have a busy schedule, full of errands, you will be thankful to have the option of taking your work on-the-go. At the same time there are a few considerations to look into before you rush out the door of your office.

The Pros

Like I said in the beginning, the benefits of working remotely or telecommuting are mainly about flexibility and convenience. And not just for the employee, but for companies as well.

For the worker that means no longer commuting in rush hour, getting stuck in traffic or looking for a parking spot. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans spend an average of 25.5 minutes on their way to work. Add the way back and you can save an hour each day! That also translates into less money spent on gas or public transportation and eating out.

In addition to saving you time, working remotely gives you the option of choosing how and when to spend it. Perhaps you are a night owl like me, and find yourself much more focused at night when the whole world is quiet? Not an issue as long as you keep your deadlines. Or you like alternating activities and taking small breaks from your work routine? Stay home and avoid the weird looks co-workers will give you after seeing you attempting to do push-ups on your desk. I am sure I do not need to tell you all the compelling ways in which you can fill up your 15-minute breaks (especially if your loved one works remotely, too).

Finally, a farsighted employer will see the benefits for his own company as well. Their employees' increased productivity and time management skills will work in his favor. Some companies can save a substantial amount from eliminating the physical location of their office and go all-digital. But undoubtedly the largest benefit for businesses is that they no longer need to hire locally. With a virtual office, the whole world becomes their applicant pool. What better way to build a winning team?

The Cons

All this is great, theoretically, but do not book a one-way ticket to Hawaii just yet. Depending on what kind of person you are, working remotely can be a curse, rather than a blessing.

Staying at home can increase productivity, but it can just as easily ruin it. It's harder to get distracted and spent an hour on YouTube if your co-workers, or better yet boss, are watching you. At home you need to be your own corrective. And what makes it harder is the fact that one typically does not associate their home with work. I, for one, associate mine with the fridge and then the frequent trips I take in its direction. Great, now you waste time AND you gain weight.

Working remotely can seriously harm your social skills as well. No more small chat in the office or funny stories during lunch. Try spending the whole day in front of the screen and then go out and strike a conversation. It's hard and not just because you forgot to shower and shave another possible side effect of working at home.

The end of the 9-to-5 job has the potential of turning you into a workaholic. While fixed office hours might be a hassle, at least when you are done, you are done. If you work remotely, there's always the temptation to check your email and get a small task done. Your friends and family won'tbe happy to spend money on therapy to get you rid of your smartphone addiction.

And, finally, something that is not a disadvantage as much as a consideration: you need to take care of the technical details like a stable internet connection, and a way to charge your devices even when there are no outlets around. Luckily, custom power banks come to the rescue! These convenient portable devices can charge smartphones and tablets alike and will spare you the trouble of lying to your boss about why you failed to send in your report. And if you are a business owner, a custom power bank will have the added benefit of promoting your business while you are pretending to work on the subway.