Unless considered absolutely essential – many of us stopped working face-to-face during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, working from home is no longer a foreign concept for a majority of people.

Companies have adapted since the dark days of lockdown, discovering multiple benefits of their employees working either from their own homes, or in a hybrid manner. From cost savings and increased productivity to happier workers, there has been a clear shift in how we work; many people no longer visit the office daily, if at all. With conferencing software such as Zoom and Skype, employees have a newly found sense of flexibility and autonomy, without the workforce consequently losing their sense of community and teamworking.

In the ‘new normal’ post-pandemic world, it is likely that remote work will persist as a long-term solution for many businesses. Every day, as technology continues improving, it becomes easier for employees to work together – remotely. However, as more people work from home, there are increased concerns in addressing the following challenges:

Privacy

If you are one of many business owners who no longer require a physical office space, you may have decided to register your company under your home address. As convenient and straightforward as this may initially appear, this can lead to numerous difficulties for both you, personally, and your company.

Without purchasing a Registered Office Address, or a Director Service Address, the address given to Companies House will be publicly displayed. Devoid of these services, any private residential address will appear on the Companies House Register, meaning that you may receive a number of unwanted letters, parcels or even clients at your front door!

Communication

Communication can be more difficult when working remotely, especially when dealing with complicated or sensitive issues. A heightened risk of a business miscommunication and error exists (internally and externally) when there is room for misinterpretation of body language and tone of voice.

Isolation

Virtual office spaces can be great; they are cost effective, allow you to hire talent regardless of geographical location, increase productivity, and help employees improve their work-life balance. However, one of the most common long-term issues is finding effective ways to stay in touch with your team.

In a physical office environment, connecting with co-workers is easy. Working from home can make meetings, brainstorming sessions, and conversations with colleagues or clients feel distant and disengaging. Although Zoom works well for sustaining work relationships, it does not have a significant role in strengthening them.

Social isolation occurs amongst remote workers when they feel this disconnection from their colleagues, resulting in poorer quality of work, decreased productivity and an overall negative impact on their mental health.

Fortunately, booking a meeting room at one of our offices is now easier than ever! A popular and simple way to connect with the team face-to-face, the rooms start from only £20.00 an hour (+VAT). Our modern unbranded spaces can accommodate between four and 12 people, and our clients with a Virtual Business Address or Virtual Business Plus package can book by the day or the hour via their client admin portal.

Lack of Supervision

Outside of a traditional office setting, remote working can cause a lack of close supervision and support for employees. There are also a number of distractions found in the home which are absent in the office environment, such as family members, visitors, pets, and housework. These factors can therefore contribute to the production of lower quality work.

Potential Lack of Technological Advancement

Remote working can limit access to hardware, software and training resources, restricting the ability to progress, improve skills and collaborate. Additionally, more security threats exist outside of a physical office space. Limited access to secure networks and other security protocols could put your or a client’s sensitive data at risk.

Beneficial for both employees and employers, the future of remote work looks to remain a flexible, hybrid model that allows people to work in whichever way best suits them. With the right tools and resources, remote workers can often be just as productive and innovative as their office-based counterparts, and in some cases, even more so. If you’re looking for a solution to overcome any of the challenges listed above, The London Office can help.

Whether you want to protect your privacy, maintain a professional corporate image, book a meeting space, or gain access to exclusive business offers, we can assist you.

If you require any further information regarding our services, please speak to one of our friendly team members on 020 7183 3787 or email us at contact@thelondonoffice.com. Alternatively, click here for Live Chat.

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