Communication
Working on site is advantageous both for the employer and employees, especially with tasks which require team work and ongoing consulting. The fact your boss is standing right next to you does not have to mean he or she is all about controlling and having an eye on you. Just think how much time and nerves you can save if your boss can tell you live what is expected of you, can direct you towards the goal, and you have the comfort of consulting someone in the key issues! This is also true for developing new concepts, brainstorming, live discussions, being able to shape the project and actively participating in each of its stages, as well as being able to quickly overcome possible obstacles. If you know the client and their expectations, your absence in the discussions could result in forgetting about something really important.

Staying plugged-in
Talking to your colleagues, even about topics that are seemingly meaningless, and keeping abreast of everything that’s happening in the company definitely make your work easier and positively influence your projects. Being up to date, despite all the state-of-the-art technology, is far more difficult for remote employees, who need to be more determined to be in the swim. The direct contact is also important to us – working in the office we are able to strengthen relations with co-workers. Neither Skype nor communicators could replace that!

Freedom, but…
Another thing which is tempting remote employees is flexible working hours and the fact that it’s enough to get up out of bed to reach your workplace. You can save up to three hours when you trim all that morning hustle plus commuting. It’s also easier to find time for visiting a doctor, buying fresh veggies on the market or picking up your kids from school. But you still must remember you’re at work and your private life can’t interfere with it. Also your friends should understand that the fact you’re at home all the time doesn’t mean they can pop in any time they want.

Peaceful mind and happy medium
The most important things at our work are the results and deadlines. We also need to be available – would be unfair to expect customer satisfaction if customers can’t reach you. There’s also no denying working on site it’s easier to stay motivated and in case of a failure – you get support from your colleagues. When you’re on a sick leave or have something urgent to deal with, there’s always someone in the office who can replace you. Does this mean working remotely is nothing but trouble? Not necessarily. There are times when all you dream about is working remotely. – I prefer writing at home sometimes because of more comfortable conditions. Nothing disturbs me, there are no phone calls or e-mails telling you there’s something that has to be done right away. Being able to work in calmer conditions I am more effective and can finish the text faster – says Paulina Grzęda, editor at Aude.

Therefore, it’s best to find the happy medium, just like in life. If projects are completed with care and on time, if we respond to e-mails with no delay, answer the phones and call back, the clients wouldn’t mind the days when we’re out of the office. But we never forget being on the spot gives us most opportunities and allows us to stay up to date.