What are the advantages of working in an office?

It is estimated 10% of employees in the European Union work from home. Since 2020 and the events that we would all like to forget, this number has risen steadily. But 10% is still low on the whole, and it's fair to say that we are not seeing the teleworking revolution that many predicted in those days.

Practical considerations play a role here - Home office is not feasible for all companies and all departments. Many companies have also recognized that there are many benefits of working in an office that they don't want to miss out on.

So what are the advantages of working in an office compared to working from home, and what is the ideal solution for modern companies?

What are the benefits of working in an office?

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

Easier reconciliation of work and family

The idea of working from home appeals to most people, but it's not for everyone.

An experienced freelancer might make fun of the fact that remote work can be distracting, but for someone who has lived their entire life in a regulated office environment, it can be a distraction.

Workers who have difficulty managing their time correctly, avoiding distractions, and separating personal from professional will find it difficult to work from home. Of course, most of them will learn over time and may be happier then, but the truth is that some people prefer to have a clear separation between their work and personal lives.

It's easier to convey the company's culture

It can be difficult to promote a corporate culture behind a screen. With Videos and online meetings You can get the results you want, but it's often easier to get the most important points across face to face.

Socialization

When you work in an office, you are constantly surrounded by other people. Even the most hard-working and least sociable people can't help but talk to their colleagues and make friends. This not only helps employees build an active social life, but also promotes team cohesion.

Simplified collaboration

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

An improved onboarding experience

It's easier to orient employees when they're working at a real workplace. The company's senior staff can show them around, explain the company's culture and goals to them, and introduce them to other members of the team.

This not only gives them a good idea of what the company is doing and where it wants to go, but they can also become familiar with colleagues, which makes future collaboration easier, regardless of whether it takes place remotely or locally.

Can I be forced to work in the office?

It depends on your contract, but in most cases, your employer can insist that you do your job in the office. However, employers have become more relaxed about remote work in recent years, and you can simply apply for remote work.

If you can do your job remotely — and most workers can — there's no real reason why the employer should refuse. But it may of course be that they feel that working in an office is more beneficial to their company than working remotely. In such cases, your request is likely to be rejected.

What are the disadvantages of working in an office?

Despite the clear advantages, there are also many disadvantages of working in an office. This includes:

• Commuting: Remote workers can wake up, get dressed, eat, and then go straight to work. As a result, they may be more rested and less stressed. Office workers, on the other hand, must commute, and that may mean they have to travel long distances during stressful peak hours. For many employees, this is one of the biggest disadvantages of working in an office.
• Flexibility: When working in the office, employees are bound to rigid schedules, but when working from home, they are usually given more flexibility.
• Focus on work: There may be distractions at home, but in the office, employees can get involved in office politics. This not only costs valuable time, but can also lead to tensions in the workplace.
• Less stress: Since teleworking eliminates commuting and office politics, teleworkers are generally less stressed. They can work in their own time and with optimal comfort, What keeps them stress-free.

Hybrid work as a compromise

Working in an office has clear advantages, but also a number of disadvantages.

So what is the solution?

Well, for many, the answer is to choose a hybrid work solution that combines remote work and office work. In the case of a hybrid model Employees divide their work between home and office. They choose the days themselves and adapt their work to their schedule, or they are instructed by their employer when and where they work:

• You'll continue to commute but you can take a break to relax.
• You can gradually get used to working remotely and find an appropriate balance.
• They stay in touch with their colleagues and expand their social contacts without worrying too much about office politics.
• You can work together in person and with collaboration software.
• New employees can meet their colleagues in the office to break the ice before getting to know them via remote collaboration.

What are the best days to work in an office?

On which days it is best to work in the office depends on the person in question. However, they should be consistent to avoid scheduling issues. So if an employee works in the office two days a week, he should choose the same two days each week. This makes it easier for him to plan his private and professional life, and it is also easier for colleagues and customers because they know where to find them. Of course, this depends on the industry and doesn't have to apply to everyone.

For most workers, the best days to work in the office are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This leaves Friday free so they can save themselves the commute and make plans for the weekend while leaving Monday off to avoid a stressful start to the week.

Flexopus: The desk sharing solution for a seamless hybrid office

Hybrid work and hybrid offices without a simple and reliable Desk sharing software like Flexopus are no longer up to date these days. The easier and more seamless a desk sharing tool is to integrate, the better. For exactly this reason, Flexopus was even combined with the German Design Award 2024 awards and gives both employees and supervisors a variety of tools to make the process in hybrid offices as smooth as possible.

Conclusion

Some companies benefit more from working in an office than from working remotely, while others are better suited to working remotely. However, most will work best with a hybrid work model that combines the freedom and flexibility of remote working with the collaboration, socialization, and productivity of office work.

Flexopus gives companies the tools they need to quickly and efficiently transition to a hybrid work model that is well received by employees and at the same time offers the company a range of benefits.