Running head: WORKING FROM HOME 1

Working from Home

Brittany Dudley
Texas A&M University Central Texas

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Abstract
Working from home is a growing trend in the workforce. It gives people the ability to get
their work done and still be able to live comfortably while at home. There are studies on how
often people will call out for home related circumstances versus actually being sick. Many
companies are looking into options of working from home because it keeps their employees
happy as well. There are many benefits and disadvantages to working from home. This includes
both the employer and the employee.
Keywords: work from home, home, work, benefits, disadvantages

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Working from Home
Working from home is a growing trend in the workplace. One of the reasons that this is a
trend is because the advancement of technology and the ability to access that technology from
home. The tools that are available today making working from home much easier than before
(Church, 2015). The most used tool for communication, according to a Staples survey, was
email and to follow was instant messaging and video messaging (Church, 2015). A study was
done by Patterson, the results were that eighty three percent of people spent an hour or two
working from home. With the popularity of working from home, many companies are deciding
whether to let their employees work from home. Some companies have banned working from
home and others see no issue behind it. There is a competitive advantage when it comes to
businesses allowing their employees to work from home. There are many benefits for the
company as well as the employee.
Staffing goals
One of the major staffing goals that companies have is to hire the right employees to do
the job they need them to do (Phillips, 2015). Goals should be based on the companys priorities
and the needs of the managers. The employees must be able to perform well and contribute to
the companys strategy as well as increase profits. The goals of staffing should be very similar to
those whom are affected, the stakeholders (Phillips, 2015). With some companies, working from
home might be best for their employees. Jobs are always going to change and sometimes the
company has to make adjustments to staffing.

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Work from home benefits for employer
One of the benefits of being an employer of someone who works from home is that they
have no reason to be absent. In the article by Patterson, a statistic said that seventy-eight
percent of employees call in sick when they really arent. Instead they are taking care of personal
issues, needs or stress. With this being available to them all the time, they are not required to call
into work. Another benefit for the employer is that if an employee needed to relocate, the
company would not to have pay to move that employee. Lowering employee costs is a huge
benefit for the employer because those funds can now be invested into other things.
The last and almost most important benefit to the employer is that the employer gets a
better performance out of the employee. A study in the article by Patterson said hat seventy-five
percent of employees that worked from home, has improved their work and had higher
productivity. Job satisfaction is very important Church, 2015). This lets us know whether our
employees are happy. Happy employees are always more productive. Sometimes employees will
work longer hours or do extra work without taking time off because of working from home
(Wittenberg, 2016).
Work from home benefits for employee
In addition to there being advantages for the employer, there are also advantages for the
employee. There is a increase in employment by women with young children. This gives women
the opportunity to work from home and care for their children (Bathini, 2015). Most often than
not, women want to stay home with their newborns more than three months after they are born.
With the opportunities of working from home, they are able to do just that. Another great benefit
would be the risk of the employees personal security during night shifts (Bathini, 2015). This
employee now works from home and can feel safe in the comfort of their home. Productivity is

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also a huge benefit when working from home. The time that is spent going to work and going
home can now be used more productively (Church, 2015).
Disadvantages and companies say no
One of the challenges of working from home is that business leaders assume that their
employees are there to take advantage of the policy. Employers lose direct oversight and cannot
see what is going on when they are working from home (Church, 2015). There is no control.
There are a few companies that are completely against allowing their employees to work from
home. One of the companies being Yahoo (Bathini, 2015). The company believes that some of
the best communication and relationships come from working within the workplace, rather than
from home. Marissa, the CEO of Yahoo, went through the log of their employees and noticed
that those who were working from home, had not logged long enough in the companys network.
Meaning, they did not do enough work. She found that they were abusing their privilege
(Bathini, 2015). After that, many other companies began to follow suit. Best Buy reduced the
opportunities of working from home, as well as Hewlett Packard.
Employees cannot handle working from home
Companies are not the only issue when it comes to working from home. Sometimes the
employee working from home may not be the best fit (Church, 2015). Some people have a hard
time with self-discipline and have a hard time avoiding distractions.
Conclusion
In the future, whether it is very soon or in several years, many companies will have at
least tested the work at home theory. Working from home is not for everyone. Some people still
enjoy going to a physical work place and doing their job there and separating their work life
from their personal. Working from home can create a challenge to separating work life and

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personal life. While the technology that we are constantly revolving ourselves around, there is no
doubt that working from home is only going to get better and easier for employees. There is a
constant need for companies to have the competitive advantage. Having the option to work from
home will keep new employees coming to the company and having the opportunity to grow
within that company.

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References
Bathini, D. R., & Kandathil, G. (2015). Work from Home: A Boon or a Bane?The Missing Piece
of Employee Cost. Indian Journal Of Industrial Relations, 50(4), 568-574.
Church, N. F. (2015). Gauging Perceived Benefits from 'Working from Home' as a Job Benefit.
International Journal Of Business & Economic Development, 3(3), 81-89.
Patterson, S., Harvey, D. M., & Bosco, S. M. (2014). DRAWING THE LINE WHEN
WORKING FROM HOME: THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF
TELECOMMUTERS. Proceedings For The Northeast Region Decision Sciences
Institute (NEDSI), 887-896.
Phillips, J., & Gully, S. M. (n.d.). Strategic staffing.
Wittenberg, E. (2016). Working from home: Germany lagging behind other European
countries. DIW Economic Bulletin, (8), 105.