Pros and Cons of Remote Work
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).
What do you think about remote work? Does it present the ideal setting for your current life season, or the exact opposite? At various moments throughout my career, I’ve experienced a variety of work modes ranging from going to the office every weekday to working fully remotely from home. Below, I present three contrasting pros and cons of remote work.
Pro #1: Save time by not commuting.
By working from home, you could potentially save hours of time each week by not having to jump on public transport or into your car to get to your place of work. That means extra time for whichever activities you need to prioritize that day, whether that is getting a bit more time to focus on your own self-care or spending quality time with your loved ones.
Con #1: No regular commute time to set aside for daily spiritual development.
Am I suggesting that there’s a negative side to having no commute? I argue that yes, there indeed is! Due to its regularity, the daily commute can serve as a wonderful opportunity to set aside time for our spiritual growth and our relationship with the Lord by listening to an appropriate podcast or praying.
Pro #2: Creative ways of community building.
Virtual communication can indeed create a sense of belonging with your coworkers, but in a different way than in-person interactions. This point is particularly relevant to those in leadership or supervisory positions, as you want your team members to feel connected despite being remote. Using videoconference tools to organize regular team meetings and encouraging everyone to keep their video “on” can help build a sense of community. On the one hand, virtual interactions can absolutely work well. I, for instance, have multiple long-term collaborators whom I’ve never met in person, but we have actively worked together on productive projects (often over the course of many years). Despite having only interacted via virtual forms of communication, I feel like I know them well.
Con #2: Lack of in-person community building.
On the other hand, in-person interactions are unique, and certain aspects can’t be fully replaced: dropping by someone’s office to ask a quick question, going for coffee or lunch with colleagues, or bumping into someone in the hall and sharing what you did over the weekend. These are just a few examples of moments throughout the day that are possible with in-person work.
Pro #3: More flexibility in balancing work-life responsibilities.
When personal or family commitments come up at an unexpected moment in your work day, remote work may permit some extra flexibility to balance those responsibilities.
Con #3: Potential challenges in separating home from work.
When your workplace is situated where you live, whether that is at the kitchen table, in the basement, or in a spare bedroom-turned-office, it can be an obstacle to establishing and subsequently maintaining clear boundaries between work and home life to achieve work/life balance.
What may at first seem like a clear advantage may very well have a corresponding downside as well. As they say, a coin has two sides. What other paired pros and cons can you think of related to remote work?
Sarah Gagliano Taliun is a genetics professor with many interests in addition to studying DNA. She and her husband now call Montreal home. When she is not reading a scientific article or meeting with students, Sarah can be found experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, reading her Bible or taking a walk in nature.