Following restrictions created by the Covid-19 pandemic, many major companies have been insisting that employees return to the office. Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and JP Morgan are just a few of the global names demanding that workers come into the office on either a full- or part-time basis.

And now even Zoom – the one organisation that helped transform the way many of us work – has followed suit.

Some business leaders believe productivity increases when workers are together under the same roof. Many also hope to boost in-person collaboration that is so difficult to achieve when people are working from their home offices, dining tables, or spare rooms.

At BMP Wealth, we’ve embraced a hybrid working model with everyone dividing their time between home and office.

With arguments for and against working from home (WFH) likely to rumble on for some time as we settle into a “new normal”, here are some pros and cons of WFH – with a particular focus on those faced by workers in Hong Kong.

Advantages of working from home in Hong Kong

Excellent connectivity

Communication technology is great in Hong Kong. With exceptionally high-speed internet and 5G cover pretty much everywhere, working from home is much easier than it may be for workers in other countries. Even in the UK, you hear stories of internet dropping out and poor video connectivity because of low-speed connections in some parts of the country.

Flexible working hours

Depending on your job, being able to WFH often allows for more flexible work hours. This, in particular, can be especially helpful if you have family commitments or other obligations outside work. And, of course, this flexibility can often lead to a better work-life balance.

Fewer distractions

For some, working from home can lead to fewer interruptions and distractions that you may experience in a busy office environment. The peace, quiet, and hours of uninterrupted time to concentrate could help to increase your productivity.

More comfortable

With the freedom to create your own workspace, you could find pleasure in having a peaceful, personalised workspace that you can make comfortable, according to your exact needs and preferences. Being able to create a working space that you enjoy being in could lead to better job satisfaction and overall well-being.

Drawbacks of working from home

Communication challenges

Having team members scattered across different locations can hamper communication and obstruct successful collaboration. This could lead to miscommunication and unnecessary delays. In worst case scenarios, it could cause potentially harmful conflicts within a team.

Cramped space

Homes in Hong Kong are notoriously small and cramped. This can make it particularly difficult to set up a comfortable and productive home office. This problem may be exacerbated if you’re a couple both trying to WFH, and almost impossible during school holidays if you have children living at home. Add in live-in helpers and finding a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed can become an impossible challenge.

Blurred boundaries

Without a clear boundary between your work and personal life, you may find it difficult to disconnect from work. If this problem persists, your inability to switch off from work could lead to burnout.

The opposite is also true, some may find it difficult to disconnect from their home or social life while at home, which can interfere with your productivity at work. We’ve all heard stories about employees absconding to the beach on a hot sunny day rather than sitting down to work.

Maintaining a healthy balance is key.

Increased costs

If you regularly work from home, especially if you’re stuck in a small apartment, not only will you need your air conditioner working longer hours, pushing up electricity bills, but you may find that you’ll want to go out for a change of scene more frequently. Whether you pop out for a lunch or simply a hot drink, these simple treats will soon add up and eat into your monthly budget.

Furthermore, working from a cramped apartment may eventually lead you to look for a larger property, which could make even more of a dent in your expenditure.

Isolation

It’s not unusual to feel isolated or lonely when you’re working from home. You may miss the social interactions and camaraderie of the office environment.

Plus, in Hong Kong, there’s a strong emphasis on face-to-face interactions and hierarchy within the workplace. As such, WFH can sometimes be seen as unconventional or less favourable.

WFH pros and cons can vary, but Hong Kong does have one single important advantage

Overall, the pros and cons of WFH can vary depending on where you live and factors such as your role, personal preferences, and specific circumstances of you and your employer.

The daily commute hasn’t been mentioned above. That’s because, unlike some countries,  commuting to your office in Hong Kong is likely to be far less time-consuming than it might be if you lived in, say London, or New York.

In fact, for many of us, the commute is short and efficient, which is another strong reason why we encourage a hybrid working model for the whole BMP Wealth team.