Working remotely is a dream come true. Between the inherent work-life balance that comes along with it and the freedom to work how you want every single day, this increasingly popular business trend has productivity up and employee costs down for companies that sign on. However, while remote employees are loving their new lease on life, there are a few things they miss from life in an office.
According to research from Owl Labs, remote employees miss social interactions with coworkers more than anything else. Nearly half of all respondents (48 percent) claimed it was the thing they missed most about working in an office, followed by team celebrations (40 percent), company culture (34 percent), and being closer to tactical strategy (26 percent).
This reaction from the more than 1,000 remote employees surveyed is pretty understandable. While remote work provides unmatched flexibility, the strife caused by working in an office often creates a strong bond between team members. Between lamenting the morning commute and laughing at your bosses ridiculous outfits, building relationships, celebrating victories, and basking in company culture are some of the best parts of working in an office.
On the other hand, it’s important to remember how this question was posed: “What do you miss most about working in an office?” Remote employees, while nostalgic for those social office days, are happier than ever working from home. In fact, with work-life balance becoming one of the most important factors for workers today, it’s worth noting that missing your work friends doesn’t mean you’re willing to head back into the office. It’s all about priorities.
“Hopefully, as companies give more attention to the importance of work-life balance, more and more people will be in a better position to decide and act more holistically on what’s important to them,” said Mohamed El-Erian, Former CEO of PIMCO – Pacific Investment Management Company.
Life is full of trade-offs. Sure, you can eat that whole cake, but you’re not going to fit into your new jeans. Yes, you can spend your life on social media, but you’re going to miss out on a lot of cool stuff in real life. And of course, you can work from home, but you’re going to have to do away with all the friends you made at the office. You just have to ask yourself: What do you value more?
Read more about the benefits of remote work at TechCo