Homeworking lowers stress, but less chance to network

New research shows that working from home can result in lower stress levels, although the opportunities to network may be reduced.

The research, carried out by Durham Business School, studied the responses of 749 managerial or professional positions in UK-based knowledge-intensive industries and found a clear link between working from home and improved well-being, but also revealed worries that home working could harm career prospects.

Although the report did not poll small business owners, it clearly shows a correlation between stress levels and home working. Removing the time and hassle of the daily commute between home and office is just one obvious example of how working from home can lower stress levels.

Tom Redman, Professor of Human Resource Management, Durham Business School said: “There were worries from those we surveyed about a lack of face-time in an organisation – simply because their face wasn’t there to be seen.

"It seems at least for managerial and professional employees in knowledge-based industries that working from home is an antidote to the stresses of office-based working, but this may be at the expense of lower levels of support for career development.”

Homeworking does not lower staff commitment

There were no significant differences between the commitment of home and office-based workers to their companies. For example, in response to the question “I really feel as if this organisation’s problems are my own”, 69% of home workers and 67% of office workers respectively agreed with the statement.

Professor Redman added: “Employers were worried that staff who worked from home would not be as committed to those extra duties where employees go above and beyond the call of duty for their company.

“However we found that working from home did not undermine this behaviour and the interesting challenge for the future is to see how staff can become corporate citizens electronically.

“As working from home does not harm an employee’s commitment and has real benefits for staff our argument is that a lot of duties can be done electronically thanks to email and the internet.”

Nick Dines, Head of Communication at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "With advances in technology home working is now a realistic option for many people.

“Where it is possible for companies to do so, managers should consider the option for their employees as part of a sensible flexible working programme.

"However, it does have to be recognised that for some businesses it will be much harder to facilitate and allow home working due to specific requirements and resource restrictions.

“Overall, home working is certainly a concept that should be explored as more companies adopt flexible working."