An estimated 10% of employees in the European Union work from home. Since 2020, and the events we’d all like to forget, that number has been steadily increasing. But 10% is still small in the grand scheme of things, and it’s fair to say that we’re not seeing the remote working revolution that many predicted during those unprecedented days.

Practicality plays a role in this—remote working is not feasible for all companies and all departments. Many companies have also realised that there are many benefits of working in the office that they don’t want to give up.

So, what are the benefits of working in the office vs working from home, and what is the ideal solution for modern organisations?

What are the benefits of working in the office?

The specific benefits of working in the office will depend on the type of company and the daily work that it conducts, but some of the most common include:

An easier work-life balance

The idea of working from home appeals to most people, but it doesn’t work for everyone.

An experienced freelancer might scoff at the idea that remote working can be distracting, but to someone who has spent all of their life in a regimented office environment, it can be a distraction.

Employees who struggle to properly manage their time and avoid distractions while separating the personal from the professional may struggle to work from home. Of course, most of them will learn in time and might be happier when they do, but the truth is that some people prefer to have a clear divide between their working life and personal life.

It’s easier to get the company’s culture across

It can be difficult to foster a company culture behind a screen. You can reach the desired results using videos and online meetings, but it’s often easier to get the most pertinent points across when you’re face-to-face.  

Socialisation

If you work in an office, you’re constantly surrounded by other people. Even the busiest and least social people can’t help but converse with their colleagues and make friends. Not only does this help employees to build an active social life, but it also promotes team bonding.

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Easier collaboration

Working in the office makes collaboration much easier, as colleagues can exchange ideas directly and in person. Spontaneous conversations and short consultations are possible without detours, which makes communication faster and more efficient. Misunderstandings can be clarified more easily as non-verbal signals such as facial expressions and gestures contribute to better understanding. Access to shared resources, such as meeting rooms or technical equipment, also supports smooth collaboration in the office.

An improved onboarding experience

It’s easier to orientate an employee when they work in an actual workplace. Senior members of the organisation can show them around, give them a rundown of the company’s culture and goals, and introduce them to other members of the team.

Not only does it give them a good idea of what the company does and where it wants to go, but it also helps employees to familiarise themselves with coworkers, which will facilitate future collaboration, whether it takes place remotely or in-person.

Can I be forced to work in the office

It depends on your contract, but inmost cases, your employer can insist that you do your work in the office.Employers have become more relaxed about remote working in recent years, though, and you can simply submit a remote working request.

If you can do your work remotely—and most employees can—there is no real reason why they would refuse. But, of course, they may have determined that in-office work is more beneficial for their company than remote work. In such cases, they will probably refuse your request.

What are the disadvantages of working in the office?

Despite the clear positives, there are also many disadvantages of working in the office. These include:

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• ‍Commuting: A remote worker can wakeup, dress, eat, and then get straight to work. They may be better rested and less stressed as a result. An office worker, however, has to commute, and that could mean travelling long distances during stressful rush-hour times. For many employees, this is one of the biggest disadvantages of working in the office.‍
• Flexibility: Employees have rigid schedules when working from an office, but they are usually accorded more flexibility when working from home.‍
• A focus on work: Although there are distractions at home, the same could be said for the office, as employees may become embroiled in office politics. Not only does it take valuable time away, but it could also create tension in the workplace.‍
• Less stress: As remote working removes commuting and office politics from the equation, remote workers are usually less stressed. They can work on their time and in optimal levels of comfort, keeping them stress-free.

Hybrid work as a compromise

There are clear benefits of working in the office, but there are also a number of disadvantages.

So, what’s the solution?

Well, for many, the answer is to adopt a hybrid-work solution, one that blends remote and in-office work. With a hybrid model, employees split their work between home and the office. They choose the days themselves and adapt their work around their schedule or they are told when and where to work by their employer:

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• They still commute but can take a break to destress
• They can gradually adapt to remote working and find a suitable balance
• They stay in touch with colleagues and build their social circles without worrying too much about office politics
• They can collaborate in person and using collaboration software
• New employees can meet their coworkers in the office to break the ice before getting to know them through remote collaboration

What are the best days to work in the office

The best days to work in the office will depend on the individual. However, it should be consistent to avoid scheduling issues. So, if an employee works in the office for two days a week, they should choose the same two days every week. It will be easier for them when scheduling their personal and professional life, and it will also be easier for colleagues and clients, as they know where to find them. But, of course, this depends on the field of work and can't be applied to everybody.

For most employees, the best days to work in the office are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It leaves Friday free so they can skip the commute and make plans for the weekend while leavingMonday free to avoid a stressful start to the week.

Flexopus: The desk sharing solution for a seamless hybrid office

Hybrid working and hybrid offices without simple and reliable desk sharing software such as Flexopus are no longer up to date. The easier and more seamlessly a desk sharing tool can be integrated, the better. For this very reason, Flexopus was even honoured with the German Design Award 2024 and puts a variety of tools in the hands of both employees and managers to make workflows in hybrid offices as smooth as possible.

Conclusion

Some companies benefit more from in-office work than remote work while others are better suited to remote working. Most, however, will function best with a hybrid working model, one that takes the freedom and flexibility of remote working and combines it with the collaboration, socialisation, and productivity of in-office working.

For this reason, employees should consider transitioning to a hybrid work model. That’s where Flexopus comes in.It gives organisations the tools they need to quickly and efficiently transition to a hybrid working setup, one that should be well received by employees while also providing the company with an array of benefits.