Second office syndrome: why remote working might not be working for your business

Working from home has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many employers now allow for remote working to give staff added freedom, with the hope of increasing performance and productivity. However, recent studies have found that this may not be as beneficial as we first thought, and that this so-called ‘second office syndrome’ can actually be detrimental to your company’s bottom line. If you want to find out whether remote working is worthwhile for your business, read on. What does research say? As the working world continually changes and adapts, the traditional office is seemingly becoming less important. In fact, many businesses are now actively encouraging employees to work from home and discarding 9 to 5 desk jobs. A recent study by software company Citrix found that 81 per cent of workers said their companies provided more than one location to work from. However, the same research suggested that remote working can actually lessen productivity, lead to feelings of loneliness and make employees feel disconnected from their jobs. Some staff also reported that they did not have the necessary equipment and technology needed to get the job done well and on time. Of course, these findings do vary depending on factors such as where the person works, their personal preferences and their age. For example, older people tend to find working from home more detrimental to productivity than younger people. Advantages vs disadvantages Both the traditional workplace and remote working come with their own benefits and drawbacks. While offices can help to encourage collaboration and teamwork, they can also impede concentration and lead to higher stress levels. On the other hand, working from home can allow for fewer distractions, but employees won’t benefit from office camaraderie or the ability to easily collaborate. Some people may also find that they’re easily distracted at home and spend more time procrastinating than working. Communication is another problem for home-workers who can’t rely on face-to-face interactions, or don’t have access to the necessary technology. What’s the solution? Whether you allow for remote working or not, it’s important to make sure that you have a system that benefits your business. It’s worth bearing in mind that some industries and tasks are more suitable for remote work than others. If you find that productivity decreases when employees work from home, it might be time to rethink your policy and bring staff back to the office. What is clear is that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. Your best bet might be to find a happy medium by allowing for flexi-time or giving staff the chance to work in a different location for a day or two a week. Many jobseekers now count flexible work policies as a top priority when joining a company, so it’s definitely worth considering. Another solution is to make the office a more fun and pleasant place to be - for example, by providing more casual, flexible workspaces and lounge areas where staff can relax and get away from their desks from time to time.