Disadvantages of Telecommuting
While telework continues to rise and has allowed businesses to progress despite the ongoing health crisis, this work arrangement can pose challenges for any organisation. Here are some potential drawbacks your business may encounter if they offer telecommuting to their employees,
1. Weakened Company Culture: Enhancing and maintaining the company’s overall work culture can be difficult when most employees are working remotely, which can also diminish their sense of belonging to the organisation.
2. Difficulty in Performance Tracking: Direct supervision becomes nearly impossible with telecommuting. The productivity of telecommuting employees will largely depend on their self-discipline and capabilities, as they are no longer in a strictly professional work environment.
3. Reduced Security: Ensuring that the employees are accessing company data over secure personal WiFi connections can be challenging, especially if they are working from public spaces like coffee shops with shared networks. 90% of IT professionals believe that remote work poses risks to company data. Without proper safeguards, this could pose significant threats to your data.
4. Limited Communication: 17% of employees report that collaboration and communication are their biggest challenges when working remotely. Despite the availability of numerous tools that facilitate seamless telecommunication, face-to-face interactions offer benefits that virtual communications cannot replicate, such as brainstorming or collaborating with colleagues on various projects.