Working from home has always been seen as the ideal way to achieve the perfect work-life balance and in 2002 the UK Government appeared to recognise this by introducing the Employment Act. This entitled employees with children under six years of age to request flexible hours and required all employers to give due thought and consideration to such requests.
There are advantages and disadvantages to working from home both for employers and employees. Some of the advantages include:
Disadvantages of working from home can be:
There are a number of technological developments which have made working from home much easier and more effective for employers and employees. Broadband technology and Virtual Private Networks allow employees access to office systems from their own homes while also reassuring employers of the security of their data. Business calls can be made from home through the use of Voice over IP and wireless Internet connections mean that work can still be done even when travelling is required. Video conferencing can be used to ensure that employees remain in touch with the office and can participate in important meetings or discussions. Instant Messaging is also useful to enable employees to be updated by their colleagues or to seek advice or assistance when required.
It is important to recognise the benefits of working from home, both for employees and employers, but it is equally important to ensure that members of staff who choose remote working are provided with the same level of support as their office-based colleagues, otherwise the whole process can be counterproductive.