Cathy Liska 
From the ability to create a team from around the globe to finding more flexibility in your workday, here are 15 answers to the question, “What are some interesting pros (or cons) of working from home?”
- Utilizes a Global Workforce
- Breeds Autonomy
- Creates Difficulties with Staying Focused
- Drastically Reduces Your Wardrobe
- Increases the Human-animal Bond with Pets
- Allows for Side Hustles
- Eliminates Commuter Transportation Costs
- Boosts Your Productivity
- Makes It Harder to Feel You’re Off Work
- Helps Save on Costs for Both Employees and Employer
- Gives You More Control Over Your Work Environment
- Produces More Options for a Healthy Work-Life Balance
- Grows Guilt and Distractions
- Stresses Your Time Management Skill
- Provides More Flexibility
Utilizes a Global Workforce
Working remotely has revolutionized the job market, making it possible for individuals to work for companies located anywhere in the world.
As remote work becomes more widely accepted, companies are increasingly willing to hire talent from different locations, breaking down geographic barriers that once limited job opportunities. Working for a global company can provide individuals with unique experiences, the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds, and exposure to different work cultures.
Brandon Brown, CEO, GRIN
Breeds Autonomy
On-site workplaces have their advantages; however, for productivity, employee morale, and autonomy, remote workplaces take the cake. This is because employees motivate themselves and are more self-driven. This allows them to be self-reliant—a critical tool in any industry.
Although they have some guidance from their leaders, remote workers often have to push themselves to meet deadlines and accomplish goals, and this builds an autonomy that is ultimately irreplaceable.
Harry Morton, Founder, Lower Street
Creates Difficulties with Staying Focused
My favorite pro of working from home is the flexibility that it allows for. Compared to traditional office jobs, working from home offers the ability to be more in control over when you work and how long you take for breaks. It also gives you the freedom to set your own schedule, meaning that you can take time off when needed or choose hours that best suit your needs.
As for the negative side, one of the major cons of working from home is that it can be more difficult to stay focused and motivated. With no colleagues around, you feel less support and structure than a physical office would provide.
Natalia Brzezinska, Marketing and Outreach Manager, ePassportPhoto
Drastically Reduces Your Wardrobe
As anyone who lives in a small apartment in NYC or San Francisco will tell you, closet space is a constant battle. If you work in an office, you need to have a massive wardrobe of business attire. For guys, this means suits, dress shirts, slacks, sports coats, dress shoes, etc. And that’s on top of your personal wardrobe. Closets quickly overflow with all these clothes.
However, if you switch to working from home, you can trim that business attire down to just a suit or two. At least, that has worked out for me. I’ve been able to do a massive paring down of my business attire, which has saved me a ton of closet space. Plus, I’ve saved on dry cleaning and buying new workwear. It’s a win-win.
John Ross, CEO, Test Prep Insight
Increases the Human-animal Bond with Your Pets
Working from home with pets is beneficial for both humans and animals. Pets provide companionship and reduce feelings of loneliness and stress, leading to improved mental well-being and productivity.
This work type also allows for more time to engage in physical activities with pets, and scheduling vet visits and grooming appointments is made more accessible. We can incorporate quality time with pets into the workday through activities such as pet TV and grooming sessions. Overall, working from home with pets enhances the human-animal bond and positively impacts the lives of both pets and their owners.
It can have challenges, including distractions and added stress. Pets interrupting work or misbehaving can cause a loss of productivity and a negative impression on coworkers. It’s important to set boundaries and manage distractions to maintain productivity and work-life balance.
Matt Gehring, Chief Marketing Officer, Dutch
Allows for Side Hustles
More companies need to encourage side hustles, as we can use many of them in full-time roles. Employees usually look into freelancing roles on a creative scale, such as social media or photography, for example. Businesses can use this to their advantage, especially startups.
Having a well-rounded team member who brings their side interests into their professional role can strengthen the company and improve employee satisfaction and engagement. We can thank the remote office for that.
Ann McFerran, CEO, Glamnetic
Eliminates Commuter Transportation Costs
Depending upon the length of your previous commute, you can save several hundred dollars annually by no longer driving to work. Besides fuel savings, you’re also reducing the wear and tear on your vehicle, so maintenance and repairs won’t be as frequent or as costly.
Some people may not realize that working from home can mean saving money on car insurance. Since you are driving less, you are at a lower risk to auto insurance providers. Most major car insurance companies pass along that savings by offering a low-mileage discount. These range from 10% with Amica to 30% from State Farm.
Working from home could also save you on car insurance by taking advantage of usage-based discounts. Through a telematics program offered by most larger car insurance companies, you could earn up to a 15% discount from Allstate’s Drivewise to an up to 40% discount from Nationwide’s SmartRide.
Michelle Robbins, Licensed Insurance Agent, Clearsurance.com
Boosts Your Productivity
When you work from home, you have the freedom to create a workspace that suits your needs and preferences, and you can eliminate many of the distractions and interruptions that can occur in a traditional office setting. This can allow you to focus more fully on your work and complete tasks more efficiently.
Additionally, you may be able to save time and money by avoiding a long commute and other associated costs. However, working from home can also have its drawbacks, such as feelings of isolation, difficulty managing work-life balance, and lack of access to important resources and equipment.
It’s important to carefully consider both the pros and cons before making a decision about whether working from home is right for you.
Brenton Thomas, CEO, Twibi
Makes It Harder to Feel You’re Off Work
One con of working from home is that it’s hard to mentally “clock off.”‌ When you make your workplace also your home, it’s easy for thoughts about work to linger in the background and for tasks to creep into your leisure time, which can create a jumble of stress and overwhelm.
This happened to me recently; I tended to think about upcoming tasks whenever I found myself in moments of quiet around the house, and eventually, even my time away from work was consumed by my job.
To avoid this frustration, it’s crucial to have consistent boundaries between your work life and personal life when working from home.
Lorien Strydom, Executive Country Manager, Financer.com
Helps Save on Costs for Both Employees and Employers
One of the biggest benefits of working from home is being able to save on costs, both for employees and for employers. The most obvious example is commute costs, as you don’t need to spend money on gas, parking, or tolls to get to work. Employees also save on other costs such as meals, childcare, and office equipment.
On the other hand, employers can save money by not having to spend money on office space. When more employees work from home, the organization doesn’t necessarily need to have a lot of office space, allowing them to purchase smaller office spaces or downsize to save costs.
Overall, working from home helps in significant cost savings, allowing employees and employers to spend more money on what they actually need.
Bill Lyons, CEO, Griffin Funding
Gives You More Control Over Your Work Environment
One pro of working from home is the ability to choose a better-suited work environment. This is more uncommon than most people realize, as it can have a dramatic effect on productivity.
For instance, some individuals find it easier to concentrate when their workspace is tidier and less cluttered, or with plenty of natural light. In comparison, we may not always tailor an office space to match an individual’s preferences or needs—leading to reduced performance over time.
Being able to pick an effectively designed and comfortable environment for themselves will enable them to focus better and become more productive overall.
Carly Hill, Operations Manager, Virtual Holiday Party
Produces More Options for a Healthy Work-Life Balance
One pro of working from home is the flexibility it offers. When working from home, you have more control over your schedule. You can often adjust your work hours to accommodate personal or family obligations, which particularly benefits parents, caregivers, or anyone with a non-traditional schedule.
Remote work can improve work-life balance by eliminating long commutes and allowing you to work in a comfortable environment. However, while flexibility can be a benefit, it can also be a challenge if you struggle with time management or need more structure to stay focused. Establishing a routine and creating a dedicated workspace to maximize productivity while working from home is crucial.
Michael Green, Co-founder, Winona
Grows Guilt and Distractions
Being physically present at home can make some people think you can also be wholly present for some tasks. When your office is in your home, it’s difficult to separate work and personal life. Attending to one while you should do the other may lead to guilt feelings, stress, burnout, and fatigue.
This is especially true when you are a single parent or have not yet school-aged kids.
Tristan Harris, Demand Generation Senior Marketing Manager, Thrive Agency
Stresses Your Time Management Skill
While WFH offers many benefits, it also comes with some potential downsides, including the risk of poor time management. When working remotely, employees may struggle to separate their work and personal lives, leading to distractions, procrastination, and poor time management.
This can cause missed deadlines, decreased productivity, and work-related stress. Additionally, working from home can also lead to feelings of isolation and a lack of structure, which can further contribute to poor time management and productivity.
Andre Oentoro, Founder, Breadnbeyond
Provides More Flexibility
As someone with extensive experience working both in the office and from home, I can tell you that there’s one particular pro that really stands out to me—and that’s flexibility.
Let me explain. When you’re working from home, you can structure your day in a way that works best for you. Maybe you’re a morning person, and you like to get up early and start working right away. Or maybe you prefer to take a break in the middle of the day to exercise or spend time with your family. When you work from home, you can create a schedule that fits your lifestyle and needs.
But there’s also a flip side to this coin. When you have that kind of flexibility, it’s easier to get caught up in the trap of nonstop work. Without the structure of an office environment, it’s hard to know when to turn off your work brain and focus on other things.
So, it’s all about finding that balance and ensuring you’re taking care of yourself, both physically and mentally.
Maria Harutyunyan, Co-founder, Loopex Digital
