For a long time, working from home was considered a perk for those blessed with a hip corporate job. And while several studies have shown that people are more productive when working alone, other studies have proven that working together produces more innovative ideas. So how do you determine where to work: home or office?
There are many jobs that can’t be done from home – doctors, teachers, to name a few – but most information work isn’t time- and place-specific. In this case, skipping an office commute and having the flexibility of working at home is appealing. And it seems that a large population of working Americans is already doing some work from home. In fact, the 2013 American Time Use Survey, researchers found that 38% of employed Americans with college degrees do some or all of their work from home, on days they work.
Telecommuting has been associated with more job satisfaction, with an analysis of 46 studies concluding that telecommuting leads to less desire to leave an employer and had no effect on the quality of workplace relationships. But there are downsides, including a possible work-life imbalance and more hours. One study shows that people with the ability to work from home could work 57 hours per week before experiencing work-life stress. For those with set office hours, that break point occurred at 38 hours.
For many people, the benefits of working in an office greatly outweigh the benefits of working at home. Offices provide a working structure, a neutral space for interaction with coworkers, and a professional space to host clients.
Office spaces also provide employees an opportunity to better get to know their company and thus get an understanding of the approach the business is looking to take and what its long-term plan is.
Additionally, studies have shown that employees are typically more collaborative and innovative when together. The social benefits of the office make it the ideal place to share ideas and work towards a common goal.
The pros-and-cons of where to work are really a personal decision and depend on the nature of your business, your working style and your goals. With the rise of coworking spaces across the country, a coworking environment could be the answer for the question ‘where to work’ for sole proprietors or small businesses looking for a space that uniquely fits their needs.
A coworking space offers the benefits of both a flexible workspace and the access to network and collaborate with like-minded individuals. The model has also proven to be popular with start-ups, freelancers, and many people with work flexibility. So where do you choose to work?
CEO Centers FLEX is perfect for small businesses, sole proprietors and startups looking for a modern, collaborative coworking space in Atlanta.
From desks to conference rooms, CEO Centers FLEX offers all the space you need for your business through several membership levels. Contact us today to see what we can offer you!
