Successful In Sweatpants? The Pros And Cons Of Working From Home

Survey: 77 Percent of Employees Attracted to Jobs with Telecommuting Options

- Professionals in Los Angeles and San Francisco find remote work options most attractive

- Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh workers are least concerned with the option to telecommute

- Workers cite abusing the benefit and isolation as greatest downsides of telecommuting

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Jun 12, 2018, 08:11 ET

MENLO PARK, Calif., June 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Job seekers are enticed by work from home options but are aware of the pitfalls, suggests new research from global staffing firm Robert Half. More than three quarters of professionals surveyed (77 percent) said they are more likely to accept a job offer if there's the possibility of telecommuting at least some of the time. Those in San Francisco and Los Angeles are most likely to seek this perk. A previous Robert Half survey found San Francisco has one of the longest average commutes in the U.S., and Los Angeles the most stressful commute.

Many employees prefer the option to work from home some of the time, but realize it comes with drawbacks.

"High employment levels mean more people are on the roads traveling to and from their jobs, which increases traffic and makes working remotely more appealing," said Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half. "Employees want the ability to telecommute for various reasons — for some it's flexibility in their schedule, for others it's about saving time and money. Companies that promote these options are more likely to attract top candidates in a competitive employment market."

View the pros and cons of working from home by demographic and geography.

The top drawbacks of telecommuting, according to the survey, include people abusing the benefit (22 percent), feeling isolated and missing a team environment (22 percent), and strained interpersonal relationships due to lack of face time (17 percent).

"Work-from-home arrangements are most successful when employers set clear parameters and invest in technology, such as videoconferencing, to help remote personnel feel like they are part of the team," McDonald said.

Additional advice about how to make alternative work arrangements successful can be found on the Robert Half blog.

About the Research
The survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 2,800 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments in 28 major U.S. cities.

About Robert Half
Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. The company has more than 300 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can be accessed at roberthalf.com. For management and career advice, visit the Robert Half blog at roberthalf.com/blog.

SOURCE Robert Half