Comments on: The Great Home Office Debate

By: DT

DT — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:56:35 +0000

I’ve worked from home for over 13 years. Was a big transition, difficult to bounce ideas off of colleagues or a session of brain storming on a project. Over the years, technology has made working from home almost like being in the office. If a company wants employees to work from home then the company has to embrace spending money on technology to keep their workforce equipped with the latest and greatest. I am more productive @ home – duh – the office is there 24/7. Flex time is a major benefit. While I have a dedicated home office – often I will opt for a change of scenery – work from my outdoor covered patio or dinning room. I’ve taken conference calls from my balcony – mixing things up so I don’t feel like I’m in my dungeon!

By: Jon King

Jon King — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:01:49 +0000

As a designer of contract office environments, I can tell you that this is a question that has alluded an answer for at least 2 decades. There is no silver bullet. It is as hard to beat personal focused flow time as it is the growth one gains from face-to-face sharing and communication. I suggest the ideal is a work scenario where it is 50/50. You have a touch down in at a corporate community or hub and a 3rd place to go and reach flow without interruption from the ebb and flow of being at home.

Great discussion!

By: Tamra Fuscaldo

Tamra Fuscaldo — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:39:09 +0000

I think it all depends on the level of actual engagement necessary for the work that you do. In my business, design is a collaborative, spontaneous, ever-evolving process that engages many different players, from architects and engineers to product vendors and clients. The type of interaction is decided on phasing – face to face collaboration is key in schematic and design development but during construction documents you’re working 50+ hours on Autocad drawings where home is great place for uninterrupted work. Companies will continue to utilize best practices and ultimately allow as much flexibility as possible, as long as the result is great design.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:49:09 +0000

It amazes me that companies are comfortable with offshoring to vendor-employees in remote offices in different timezones, but they’re so resistant to having employees work across town in their home-office once or twice a week.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:19:25 +0000

As technology gets better, the argument for increased telecommuting is stronger and by quantifying the savings we can effectively promote bencing/hotelling solutions to clients, at least for a part of the office to drive down overhead real estate costs. Evolution of the workplace.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:12:47 +0000

I think the important factor here is flexibility. Employers who offer flexibility in work; whether it’s flex time or the ability to work from home, a cafe, a train, etc, have found their employees tend to be happier, healthier and more productive. The key is to help people find THEIR optimal working conditions so that they can produce work they are proud of and excited about in the end.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:05:17 +0000

I agree that productivity increases, commute time disappears, and flexibility is great when working from home. However, in an industry that exists to provide workplaces (ie office space and all that goes with the space ) and all the associated services and functions – design, construction, furniture, etc, the trend towards working at home could have long reaching detrimental impact to the office market by reducing the need for office buildings. Will we, as we adjust to working remotely, also need to redirect our collective business pursuits?

By: Urban Office Interiors

Urban Office Interiors — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:57:48 +0000

We work & promote both paths of lifework, but ultimately ensure there is space & time allocated to the office, especially on design projects when collaboration is key at critical stages. Nobody likes an empty workspace, no matter the size. Time away from the office is as important when heads need to be down & provided the right tools are to hand. This can also be achieved within the workplace by away areas such a snugs or breakout areas. Works a treat at our offices & the offices we have been lucky to work with.

By: Cheri

Cheri — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:30:14 +0000

I worked from home for 7 years and recently got a job in an office. While I like the office environment I am three times more productive at home. While I’d like to work from home 50% of the time it’s not really an option.

It’s too bad more employers don’t see the value in it. While it’s not for everyone, once you get over the sleeping in and watching TV, folding laundry phase, it’s wonderful and really a win-win.

By: Cerentha Harris

Cerentha Harris — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:51:12 +0000

Hi Jeremy
I think it’s great that you were able to spend that time at home. That is exactly the kind of nimble work/life relationship I think we all seek.
Cerentha

By: stephen witte

stephen witte — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:02:18 +0000

Seems like whenever there is economic uncertainty, this issue cycles through the minds of those running businesses with thousands of employees and extensive real estate holdings. We are now at a moment when everyone works everywhere: the “central office” houses some staff all the time, other staff some of the time and still others virtually never. Work has changed, so the patterns of working have also changed. As for cost savings, it is mythical because it is a cost shift to the employee to work at home. Ultimately, it hits the taxpayers because the space allocated to home offices and related equipment is a tax deductible item. There is value to sitting across the table from someone and having the sort of conversation that leads to something different, or original, that might not have happened by email, text, Skype or what-have-you. Variable with the work and the individual employee, some combination of fixed-base and nomadic workstyle will continue to evolve. Just my two cents.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:56:19 +0000

I worked from home for 3 weeks after our daughter was born. Aside from bandwidth issues with acad drawings, there was no lag in communication with MS Instant Messenger.
I saved a ton in commuting time and $ and was able to get additional things done after hours for projects that permitted it.
I am all for a flex schedule at the very least.