Are people more productive working from home?

Before the global pandemic, most businesses worked in-office rather than at home. That has since changed, and more companies now offer in-office, remote, or hybrid work, which creates the big question: How does remote work affect productivity?

It’s a loaded question that doesn’t necessarily have a right or wrong answer. 

Learning how to work from home

One benefit that people appreciate most about remote work is saving money on gas and transportation by working remotely. This is understandable! But what it all really comes down to is learning how to work from home. The truth is, people can be just as unproductive or at the office as they could be working from home.

Employers have to take into account people’s different work ethics. If they struggle to complete tasks on time, procrastinate, etc., they most likely won’t be a great candidate for working from home. A business that is 100% remote should look for people who can manage their time and tasks accordingly.

Over time, people develop habits. It depends on each person whether or not those habits are good or bad. When working remotely, you should develop good habits and create a routine to ensure productivity.

How technology impacts remote work

Without technology, successfully working from home would be impossible. Technology is a big part of production ability! The technology ensures that everything runs smoothly, quickly, and safely within a business. 

If you work from home but have slow internet, lack of storage, or no cybersecurity, you may be in trouble. All of these characteristics play a significant role in remote-work productivity. We recommend that remote workers have these tech features to ensure productivity:

• Malware protection
• Project management application
• Team communication tool
• A virtual private network (VPN)
• Data backup and recovery plan
• Collaborative tools

People can absolutely be more productive from working from home. It depends on a person’s personality, work ethic, accountability, and reliable technology. If someone prefers to work remotely, it’s their responsibility to learn how to do so effectively.