THE TRUE COST OF WORK FROM HOME_WFH

Sleeping in, avoiding peak hour traffic, greeting the delivery person when you’re expecting a parcel, or taking Friday off to head to a weekend festival; if you’re accustomed to the perks of student life, transitioning to a nine-to-five job might seem like a suffocating proposition. Not to worry: with the rise of the gig economy, working from home has become increasingly common. But is it the dream that it’s built up to be?

With more measures in place to contain COVID-19, many companies have implemented their own version of a Business Continuity Plan (BCP). Being able to work from home during this pandemic is a privilege, some are lucky to have. Many have lost their jobs or been asked to go on unpaid leave simply because their work isn’t the kind that can be carried out remotely. In addition to staying safe and continuing with gainful employment, working from home does have a host of benefits too, from zero commutes to higher productivity. There is a lot of talk about all the money one can save from by working from home. This could be true when it comes to the cost of commuting, eating out, etc. But there are a few costs of working from home that is often overlooked. There are actual financial costs incurred and not to be able to expense makes it all a tad tougher on your finances Waking up minutes before work begins, video calls in pajamas or a formal shirt with pajamas, ensuring laundry gets done within the day and more time is spent with loved ones — the perks you get are pretty incredible. But let’s face it. WFH is not as cheap as you think it may be. When you Work from Home, what you consume comes from your pocket. An entire day at home with the air-conditioning and lights on adds to your electricity bill. Other expenses may include your personal computer, printer, office supplies, and coffee and food replacing free coffee machines, and subsidized office canteens. If you are a contract worker on WFH, your biggest sensible expenses are health and life insurance otherwise covered by an employment contract through ESIC, LIC gratuity, or private schemes. If you are a desk worker, your health deteriorates and medical costs increase as activity levels drop further without the mandatory commute to work. The biggest intangible costs are on relationships and sanity as your social skills take a hit. A WFH career isolates you from the contact and connects that an office provides. It can lead to a creeping depression and loneliness if you seldom venture outside or meet people in person. Finally, fewer professional relationships lead to a drop in opportunities and income. If you are at the office, working on a project or in a team, you are exposed to constant professional interaction in the environment which gives you valuable information on the state of your company, manager’s priorities, and office politics. When you are working with your team in office there is a constant flow of information and informal communication that keeps you in the loop regarding what’s happening while WFH completely cuts off from that’s not conveyed officially. This sort of uncertainty can lead to stress and anxiety. WFH increases health and safety costs. Your home is unlikely to be equipped with a professional table and chair resulting in chronic back pain from poor ergonomics. Also, your breaks may be fewer, reducing overall movement and exacerbating medical issues. Finally, with additional power cables, your workspace becomes a hazardous zone for children and pets.

The wide reach of technology has increased the opportunities for employees of organizations to work remotely. Being home-based can be great as it provides workers with flexibility. However, it can also be more costly than you think and can actually end up eating into your very valuable time. It may seem strange, as there are so many potential distractions when working from home but there is a danger of it becoming a bit of a strain. Because you’ll have a quieter environment and be avoiding the occasional disruptions of working in an office, you may lose track of time and end up working too much. This might also leave you to feel as if you are always at work, causing you to feel deflated, burnt out, and as though there is no separation between working and enjoying being at home.