Remote working: advantages and disadvantages

A few figures worth noting:

• 76% of workers believe remote working should be used more widely wherever it is feasible.
• 84% of those who work remotely say it contributes to a better work-life balance and improves their productivity.

There are several models of remote working a business can adopt:

• Full remote: the employee works entirely from home and only comes to the office for specific meetings or appointments.
• Mobile working: the employee can work from any location — particularly useful for those who travel frequently, such as sales staff.
• Hybrid working: the employee divides their time freely between the office and home, on a recurring or occasional basis.

Key advantages of remote working

For the employer

• Increased employee productivity: staff who feel trusted tend to be more engaged and more effective.
• Staff retention and easier recruitment: the ability to work remotely is a major draw for candidates seeking a better balance between professional and personal life.
• Reduced absenteeism, fewer delays and less commute-related stress.
• Lower costs (travel, logistics) and increased competitiveness.

For the employee

• Freedom to work from any location (home, café, co-working space).
• Reduced commuting time, with more time for personal life.
• Greater flexibility to manage work around personal or family commitments.
• Employees retain the same rights as their office-based colleagues.

However, the rapid shift to remote working also exposed a number of challenges. The good news is that there are solutions for each of them. The key is to give your employees the digital comfort they need to work in the best possible conditions.

Key disadvantages of remote working

For the employer

• Managing teams at a distance can be complex, with a potential loss of team cohesion and spontaneous collaboration.
• Difficulty reaching remote departments quickly and adapting workflows.
• Information security concerns: VPN access, business drives (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365), and restricting software access outside the office network.

For the employee

• Risk of isolation and weakened social connection with colleagues.
• Difficulty managing the boundary between professional and personal life, especially when working from home.
• Challenges organising working time effectively without the structure of an office environment.