Elon Musk has a clear opinion on working from home – and it’s not a positive one. While the rest of the world was still debating remote and hybrid work, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX ordered the entire workforce back to the office as early as 2022.
The entrepreneur wrote in an initial email to the staff at that time: “Everyone at Tesla is required to spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week.“ And in another email, he added: “If you don’t show up, we will assume you have resigned.”
He later published his most famous quote about working from home on the Twitter platform. In response to a user’s question about whether there is a comment for people who believe coming to the office is an outdated concept, Elon Musk responded succinctly:
“They should pretend to work somewhere else.”
Working from home – here to stay?
Even though Elon Musk stands out for his unequivocal opposition to working from home, other major US corporations are now following suit. Meta, Apple, and more recently Google are bringing their employees back to the office at least for a few days. And what about Germany? Here, 61% of companies allow their employees to work from home at least partially.
Even the majority of professionals who have experienced and appreciated working from home in recent years are not ready to give it up quickly. 75% of employees stated in a study that they want to continue working at least partially from home. Especially in times of labor shortages, a strict office culture can indeed deter talent.
In the field of Electrical Engineering, many tasks during the planning phase seem well-suited for remote work. Therefore, it’s time to take a closer look at working from home. How do employees and employers view remote work? What are the advantages and challenges they face, and for which tasks does working from the office make sense?
Do your employees want to work remotely from home? Here you will find our recommendations for optimal remote work from home as well as information on how to use WSCAD ELECTRIX licences from home.
Home-Office: Loved by Employees, Feared by Employers?
It’s not that simple, of course! Like almost everything, the opportunity for remote work has both pros and cons for both employees and employers. Remote work refers to a form of telecommuting where employees carry out their tasks at their own home instead of the company’s physical location. Communication with the team and management usually takes place through digital channels. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of remote work for both sides?
From an Employee’s Perspective: Working from the Comfort of Home
Time savings and more flexibility
For employees, this form of work offers several advantages. Firstly, employees gain more flexibility. Eliminating the commute not only saves time but also provides more temporal flexibility, which is useful for balancing work and family or pursuing hobbies. Moreover, there are advantages for the actual work itself – various studies indicate increased productivity and concentration while working from home, especially when employees can manage their work more flexibly.
However, certain conditions are crucial for successful remote work, including self-organization, taking conscious breaks, and creating a work environment that enables focused work. Without these prerequisites, remote work can become burdensome for employees.
Social isolation and missed information
Employees working remotely tend to have less contact with colleagues. This can have several negative effects. The loss of personal contact can lead to social isolation and detachment from colleagues and the company. Additionally, isolation can impact work quality. If the remote information flow within a company doesn’t function well, employees might be cut off from important information essential for their work.
Blurred separation between personal and professional life can lead to stress
When working from home, the boundaries between work and personal life often become blurred. On one hand, many employees lack the proper equipment, not to mention a dedicated workspace. This conclusion was also reached by the Frauenhofer Institute. While home IT equipment usually meets the requirements, ergonomic office equipment such as a desk, chair, and screen is often missing. On the other hand, the dual burden of work and personal life, especially when taking care of family members, can contribute to increased stress levels. Lack of self-organization can also lead to higher stress levels – for instance, because of absence of breaks or constant availability.
Working from Home from an Employer’s Perspective: Opportunity or Pitfall?
For employers, remote work presents both an opportunity and a challenge.
Home-Office as a competitive advantage in the eyes of employees
For many employees who have experienced remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home has become an integral part of their routine. For many, the opportunity for flexible work is even more important than their salary. Employers who provide remote work options can improve their company’s image among talents and increase employee satisfaction. This can be a significant factor, especially in times of skilled labor shortages.
Cost reduction through smaller offices
Allowing employees to work partially from home also offers companies the opportunity to reduce costs. Office spaces don’t need to be rented for the entire workforce; they only need to accommodate a portion of it. This can result in substantial savings, especially in expensive metropolitan areas.
Satisfied employees and increased productivity
A study conducted by the University of Darmstadt found that working from home increases employee satisfaction. Moreover, 76% of employees reported being more productive when working from home compared to the office. Other studies also highlight increased productivity in a remote work setup.
Home Office requires a new corporate and leadership culture
Working from home, on the other hand, also has ist drawbacks. One of them is the corporate culture. Culture thrives on active exchange and employees’ identification with the company. This includes leadership, communication, and team cohesion. Building a corporate culture remotely is possible, but it requires careful preparation and effort. Furthermore, managers face a greater challenge when managing employees they only see occasionally. If a company is unable to establish a digital corporate culture, employees’ attachment to the company may suffer, leading to increased employee turnover.
Lazy employees or workaholics?
Remote work also demands a high level of trust in the responsibility of the workforce and imposes new requirements on leadership and communication. If we follow Elon Musk’s viewpoint, employees working from home aren’t actually working but using work hours for personal matters. Many studies show the opposite, but there will always be individuals who exploit remote work. It is the company’s responsibility to identify these cases.
However, many employees working from home face the opposite issue. They take fewer breaks, move less, and work longer hours. Nonetheless, work safety regulations apply to remote work as well. Employers, must ensure that their employees follow these regulations, which can be difficult to prove.
Conclusion
In conclusion, remote work is seen as a long-term trend by many researchers, employees, and employers. The form in which remote work is offered in each company is an individual, strategic decision that needs careful consideration. From collaboration methods to building a (remote) corporate culture, all aspects should be thoroughly thought out and implemented. While remote work might not be equally suitable for all companies and positions, there’s no doubt that it will play an important role in the future of work. With the right strategies and tools, it can become a win-win situation for both employees and employers.
