The pros and cons of working from home for the tech workforce

According to the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 53% of workers in the information and communication industry report having worked from home in 2019. When compared to the 10% that report the same in the accommodation and food services industry, it’s clear that the tech industry leads the way when it comes to remote working opportunities.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, companies in all almost all industries have had to adjust to managing staff remotely. For the tech industry, the shift has presumably been less challenging to manage than for other sectors. But what impact has home working had on tech workers overall?

Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of home working for the tech workforce:

The pros of working from home as a tech employee

One of the biggest advantages of working from home is that employees can often achieve a better work-life balance. According to a recent survey by telecoms company Polycom, 3 out of 4 employees say that working remotely helps them with work-life balance.

Remote working enables workers to create a schedule that works around their lives. It can help parents better manage childcare and give workers more control over how they manage their workload. Working from home can also reduce stress levels and improve general wellbeing.

Home working also saves tech workers money. Not only do work lunches and trips to the coffee shop all add up, so does the cost of daily commutes. Recent research from our sister brand, Totaljobs, finds that the average Londoner has saved half a year’s worth of wages by not having to commute.

What’s more, the time saved on commutes, creates more time for learning and development. Recent research shows that the average commute time for UK workers in 2019 was 59 minutes. With almost an hour saved every day, tech workers can use this time to upskill, which can improve career prospects.

CWJobs’ own research finds that over half of IT workers would leave a company over a lack of learning and development opportunities. In the current climate, employers should therefore aim to provide tech workers with L&D opportunities to improve retention rates.

For some tech employees, working from home makes them more productive. CWJobs’ recent research on candidate experience finds that 25% of tech candidates say they are more productive while working from home during the Covid-19 outbreak. Our research also echoes findings from the International Workplace Group (IWG), who say that 85% of companies report an increase in productivity due to greater flexibility.

Remote working also creates job opportunities for people who live in remote locations. Given that all the UK’s tech hubs are located in cities, those living in remote areas often don’t have the same opportunities to be part of a tech company. Companies that provide flexible working, create a more inclusive culture, which provides them with a larger talent pool.

The cons of working from home as a tech employee

Lockdown may make some of us more productive, but for others, working from home has had a negative impact on us socially. Recent research from Totaljobs finds that two thirds (67%) of us feel that working from home during lockdown has negatively affected the variety of our social interactions.

Women (71%) feel this impact more than men (64%). Although working in solitude can have its upsides, being isolated from colleagues can highlight just how much we rely on an office environment for socialising.

Remote working can also mean having a lack of access to equipment. Laptops aside, most office workers use printers, scanners and desk phones on a daily basis. Not having access to hardware can delay projects, which can have a knock-on effect for the entire company. Similarly, those who work in IT may find it challenging to support employees without having access to internal systems and mainframe setups.

Tech workers may find it challenging to motivate themselves outside of an office environment. Staff who don’t normally work from home, may not have a dedicated space from which to work, which can make it more difficult to maintain motivation. Likewise, remote working can mean less accountability, which makes us more easily distracted.

Home working can make it more difficult for workers to switch off. According to Owl Labs’ 2019 State of Remote Work report, remote workers say they work more than 40 hours per week – 43% more than on-site workers. Working long hours in isolation can also increase the risk of burnout, which can have longer-term effects on an individual’s productivity and mental health.

Having staff working from home also creates security concerns for tech companies. According to Info Security Magazine, hacking and phishing attempts were up 37% at the start of lockdown in March 2020. With work laptops doubling up as entertainment devices and online classrooms, companies need to be extra vigilant when it comes to setting up firewalls, resetting passwords and scanning machines for malware.

In summary

Remote working presents both employees and companies with many opportunities to increase productivity and improve wellbeing. However, it’s important for everyone to maintain a balance and for companies in particular, to listen to what employees need in terms of professional development and support.

On the CWJobs recruiter platform, company profiles help employers communicate with the wider tech industry and showcase how their company is managing remote working. Our video recruiting tool for one, is a very engaging way for companies to communicate with tech candidates in real time.