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It no longer pays to work from home, says study
The benefits of working from home disappear over time for both employees and organisations if it is a full-time arrangement, a new study from the London School of Economics and Political Science has found.
The benefits of working from home disappear over time for both employees and organisations if it is a full-time arrangement, a new study from the London School of Economics and Political Science has found.
While previous studies have demonstrated that those working from home are more productive than office-based workers, the LSE study covering more than 500 employees shows that on a long-term basis, there are no differences between home and office workers.
Employees no longer see the working from home option as a discretionary benefit or a ‘privilege’ when it becomes the ‘norm’ in an organisation, said Esther Canonico from LSE’s Department of Management. “This study provides a glimpse into a future where flexible working practices could become business as usual, and will be seen as an entitlement by employees, especially among the younger generation. Whereas once people saw it as a favour and felt the need to reciprocate and give back more to the organisation for having that benefit, in this future, they will not. The study shows that some employees working from home feel resentful that employers don’t pay their utility bills or cover stationery costs. Some managers, on the other hand, feel those working from home often take advantage of the situation.”
Existing research shows that working from home for two to three days a week is the most effective arrangement for both employees and organisations.
