Why Remote


Office buildings are expensive, very, very expensive. The average annual per seat cost in the U.S. is around $15,000 (this varies per study/industry, but not by much). Now multiply that by the number of employees in your company, and you get my point.  On top of the financial implications the environmental impacts are huge.  Depending on the physical footprint of an office building, the carbon footprint of operating it increases the expense many times over. Unfortunately, those expenses are not always accounted for. Throw in the cost of commuting, and maintaining homes that remain empty all day, and the expenses just keep building up.
Why? Because this is “how it’s done”?
Well, the way work is done has shifted. Technology allows people to connect, communicate, engage, and work from anywhere. Even professions that seem absolutely tied to physical space, or are based on human interactions are able to become increasingly virtual.
This is not a bad thing!
Virtual does not mean less; it actually can mean a lot more. Technology creates efficiencies. Reducing travel increases available time and energy. The virtual space also lets information flow more freely, reaching more people in a shorter amount of time. This brings up the collective intelligence and lets things advance more quickly.
Well, really this all barley touches on the Why. There is a lot of information out there. Most of it is put out by someone trying to sell the idea, or products around this idea. Not me though. I am just offering up a perspective. If you want to read more studies though, here are a few suggestions:
Deloitte is a consulting firm, and in 2009 put together this study.
Here is a different study from 2010 by Peter Mscowich.
Cisco offers a lot of products to enable and enhance mobility.
Ok, more to come.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Chantel I enjoyed reading your post and you made some very good points about the impacts and cost of having a physical work space.I have recently been looking for a new career and I have been weighing the pros and cons of working from home and I must say I am drawn more towards a physical space to work. I like the collective energy that comes from working side-by-side with my colleagues. I also like keeping my home and work life separate. Perhaps this is because I have yet to have a job that I love so much that I don't mind if it spills over the 5 o'clock hour. I spend a lot of time in coffee shops here in Seattle I notice the various types of people who have turned the coffee shop into their office and I can't help but think that they are attempting to be around people even though they have their company is online right in front of them. Looking forward to future conversations on this topic.
October 29, 2011 at 9:26 PM
Singledad said…
Chantel, I take your point. Telecommunting is a great way for people to work and still maintain a vestige of normality and get the work done in a manner and in a schedule that suits them. However, there are downsides. People are by their very nature, social animals, and we benefit greatly from the interaction we have with coworkers, although we would all be better off no doubt if we could avoid "Kenny the sales weasel" completely. Another thing is that working from home puts much burden on the employee, regarding heating, power and the lack of an ergonomic workspace. Additionally, I can speak to how difficult it is to get any meaningful work done when the kids are running around the house, there is laundry and cleaning to be done or when there is a sick family member in the house who needs tending. I am dealing with all 3 of the above right now, and getting anything done, even a shower or a meal is a major achievement under these circumstances. Maybe the days of the traditional office are numbered, but I think that it will be a long and hard death.
November 2, 2011 at 9:58 PM
Chantel said…
Taryn, thank you for your comments. It is difficult to reconcile remote with social. I do believe, and have found that having the option to work outside of an office, does allow people to become more social in other areas of life, and to have time to focus on friends and family.
You may enjoy reading this post on the matter:
http://chantelhb.blogspot.com/2011/11/social-connections.html
Also, you spoke to the exact point which is a founding impetus of Regus
"how many business people were forced to work from hotels for lack of a more professional environment"
http://www.regus.com/aboutus/default.htm
The social aspect of remote/flexible work araingments is a very central topic!
November 30, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Chantel said…
D.A. thank you for your comments. I do agree that home offices shift a large burden to employees, hence why it is such a great cost savings for companies. However, remote does not focus specifically on working from home. I outlined this distinction further in this post:
http://chantelhb.blogspot.com/2011/11/space-matters.html
I absolutely agree that working from home is not for everyone, not only due to space and environment constraints, but also one of my most central points- personality.
The important part is to recognize these conflicts, and to identify a more optimal work environment. There are options!
November 30, 2011 at 2:00 PM
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