Pros and Cons of Working from Home in 2021
With the onset of the COVID pandemic, working from home became the new normal. While working life is trying to creep back toward normal and many folks are heading back into the office, working from home is still an increasingly popular choice in 2021 by some employers. Many workers who were asked back to the office realized they preferred working remotely so much that they are turning in their badges to try and go out on their own with freelancing. There are numerous pros and cons to consider. Whichever way you look at it, consultant insurance can take away a lot of the stress that comes with working at home as a consultant or freelancer.
Working From Home as a Freelancer in 2021
1. Pro – Make Your Own Schedule
A traditional office space holds its workers to all kinds of demands on time that might be necessary for a workplace to run but can have a detrimental effect on individual workers. Having to attend meetings at certain hours, or even take your lunch break at an allotted time, can really interrupt the flow of your work or put a damper on your day.
Working from home, you have a lot more control over your own schedule. You can start when you like, finish when you please, take your lunch break whenever it suits you. As long as you can get the job done and keep your clients happy, you can do things in whichever way is best for you. You’ll probably find it not only keeps you happier but boosts your productivity too!
2. Con – Lose the Protection of an Established Workplace (Consultant Insurance Can Help!)
An office isn’t just a building. It represents an established company. That means that when someone makes a mistake at work, there’s often a degree of protection for them. A worker facing legal action from a disgruntled client may well be protected by their employer’s insurance.
As a consultant, the buck stops with you. It’s just one reason many folks choosing to hang their own shingle are protecting themselves by investing in quality professional liability insurance.
3. Pro – Avoid Distractions
On the one hand, working in a traditional office environment might allow you a dedicated workspace, but on the other hand, it can be full of disturbances! Anyone who’s ever worked in a traditional office knows how many distractions can arise, from colleagues making small talking or complaining about their coworkers, to ringing phones and all the noises that come with an open floor plan.
At home, you can minimize disruption to your workday, keeping background noise to a minimum and avoiding the daily chaos of a busy office, and manage your own time. Shut the door of your home office and you’re safe and secure, without the need to be distracted by a lot of unnecessary noise or demands from colleagues.
4. Con – Keeping Motivated and Finding Clients
Without a boss giving assignments and tracking performance, some people struggle with self-motivation, especially if they have worked in corporations most of their career. While most consultants are able to keep themselves on track, it can be a big adjustment at first to ensure you’re structuring your workday in the most efficient way.
Many workers are eager to go out on their own because they have a passion for their line of work and the desire for more flexibility but working for yourself means you are solely responsible for marketing yourself and bringing in the work. This tends to be a huge learning curve and can cause stress in the beginning because income is typically inconsistent until you become established and build a portfolio of work.
5. Pro – Ditch the Commute
The daily commute is undoubtedly one of the worst things about the traditional 9-5 workday. Sitting in traffic for an hour or 2 each day can be a real pain, causing stress before the day has even truly begun. It’s got the potential to have a big impact on your productivity where it matters most, and also gives precious time back to your work-life balance.
When you work from home, the commute is only as far as a stroll downstairs. You can enjoy more sleep, have time in the morning with family, maybe even take the kids to school or get in some exercise before beginning work. It’ll also save you money, sparing you a small fortune in gas and other automotive expenses.
6. Con – Lose Connection With Colleagues
When you’re working together with others, losing contact can take a toll on a person’s mental health. Some people crave social interaction. It could also have an impact on your work if you struggle to communicate well over technology. While there are lots of great new ways to stay in touch through technology these days, some would say there’s nothing quite like seeing colleagues face to face and engaging small talk that can make or break office relationships.
This is another issue that can cause home workers to slip up or make mistakes. A lack of communication, or glitch in technology, can cause mistakes and those can definitely be costly. Again, professional liability insurance can help to protect against many of the issues that come up here.
There are as many pitfalls to working from home as there are advantages! Luckily, NOW Insurance can take a lot of the stress out of working from home. We provide insurance that is simple, fast and affordable. Any type of consultant today would be wise to take out a professional liability policy, which covers work mistakes and many situations that could arise with unsatisfied customers.
Learn more about professional liability for consultants.
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