Why some People Prefer On-site to Remote Jobs

In recent times remote work has become the most popular and preferred work setting, especially among tech specialists, freelance creatives, and digital nomads. Many other professionals have also embraced remote work as a necessity rather than a perk due to its numerous benefits, one of which is a balanced work and personal life, which a considerable number of workers lack while working on-site.

 Most remote workers have discovered that they can provide the same results while working from the comfort of their homes as they do on-site, but this successively affects their ability to put in more effort and maximise proper time management. Because remote workers believe they have more time than they actually do, they tend to be very relaxed and approach deadlines and deliverables lackadaisically, which begs the question of how efficient and dependable remote workers actually are. 

While there’s a lacking in the advantages of remote jobs, an on-site work setting solves the problem of poor time and task management as its structure requires workers to be at a particular place and work around certain hours. This means on-site, there’s a more rigid system that compels workers to have a routine that suits the delivery time for daily tasks and projects around the office. 

There are a lot of pros that come with working on-site, and this post addresses some reasons why some people prefer on-site to remote jobs. 

1. Teamwork: As the saying goes, “teamwork makes the dream work”. When there’s an environment where everyone works together towards a common goal, there’s a more active and positive teamwork spirit which can spark productivity and even encourage a healthy competitive element within work environments.  
2. Motivation & Productivity: On-site employees can motivate one another, boosting team morale. Teammates are also there to help when they need questions answered or a solution to a problem.
3. Direct workflow: There’s a more straightforward workflow working on-site, such that if a problem arises while working, you can immediately contact the most appropriate team member. You can instantly gather your team to liaise and get quick and direct approvals from superiors. While remote work poses the option of getting teammates on video call calls and sending emails for approvals, there are constraints of getting all the necessary people together at short notice and getting quick responses via emails. 
4. Confidentiality: Some tasks require utmost confidentiality and secrecy. For example, pitches, proposals, and client presentations require the immediate team to be present and discuss details privately. Sadly, finding a solution when staff aren’t present is tricky. On-site work ensures that company software is installed securely and documents and information are stored or circulated safely. 
5. Availability and usability of office equipment: On-site there is unlimited access to equipment such as; printers, shredders and others that make productivity faster and easier. With a more reliable internet network, there’s a boost in work efficiency and the elimination of network hassles or excuses that might arise from remote working. People who work remotely might live away from other teammates, and the network speed and strength might vary and cause a breach in the workflow, but under one roof there’s uniform connectivity that serves everyone’s needs. Also, if there is a hardware or software issue, there is usually on-site IT support rather than trying to resolve it over the phone. 
6. Fewer Distractions: This is one of the biggest problems of working remotely. Because remote workers work around their own schedule there’s little to no accountability and loyalty to daily tasks, so they can easily get distracted by their surroundings, take more breaks and get lesser work done.  An on-site work setting eliminates frequent distractions that might come up. With workers designated to their desks, laptops etc, workers are prone to a better concentration level and productivity while working. 

Although On-site work proposes a lot of benefits, it is the generic working arrangement that hinders flexibility and can get overwhelming for some workers. When workers constantly have to commute to their offices at early hours and redo the same routines over and over there’s a tendency to become burnt out, and this can affect their morale, willingness to work and creativity. 

For both remote and on-site work, it is expected that every worker will have unique experiences, responses and preferences for either of them based on how conveniently they can work and efficiently deliver. It is necessary to keep both options in mind whilst creating a work structure because what works for one might not work for another, and a system that works uniquely but simultaneously is necessary for an organisation’s growth.