Telework refers to working in a way that is not tied to time or location, rather than working in an office.
Telework has attracted attention due to the impact of the new coronavirus, but it has many benefits other than preventing the spread of infection, and many companies have introduced or continued telework after realizing the benefits.
Advantages and disadvantages of telework
The benefits of implementing telework for companies and employees are as follows.
<Advantages from a company’s perspective>
- Since they are not restricted by the location of their work, opportunities for employment are expanded to include those who are raising children or nursing care, as well as those from local and overseas locations, making it possible to secure a diverse range of human resources.
- It is possible to reduce the cost of maintaining offices such as meeting rooms, reception rooms, and cafe spaces based on the assumption that employees will come to work.
<Benefits from the employee’s perspective>
- Eliminating commuting eliminates the stress and physical exhaustion that comes with commuting, and allows you to use commuting time to secure more time for yourself or work.
- You will be able to independently and flexibly adjust your schedule, allowing you to work more productively in a more focused environment.
- You can maintain a work-life balance by spending more time with your family and for self-improvement.
On the other hand, there are also challenges when implementing telework, such as the following.
- It becomes difficult for employees to communicate with each other, and the sense of unity within the organization is weakened.
- Because people have different self-management abilities, there are differences in work performance.
- It is difficult to grasp the actual status of work, and it is difficult to manage working hours.
- Easy to work long hours.
When implementing telework, it is important for companies to not only manage working hours, but also to maintain a sense of unity as an organization and to prevent health problems for employees due to long working hours.
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