Effectiveness of Remote Work 1
Effectiveness of Remote Work
Bridgett Reilly
Liberty University
ADM610: Management of Public Sector Organizations
Professor Marshall
December 13, 2024
Effectiveness of Remote Work
Remote work, better known as working from home or telework, is a
concept that has been around since the late 1970s early 1980s. The concept of remote
work can be traced back to the 1970s, when Jack Nilles, a former NASA engineer,
introduced the idea of telecommuting as a solution to traffic congestion and
environmental concerns (Nilles, 2017). The advent of personal computers in the 1980s
and the widespread adoption of the internet in the 1990s further fueled the growth of
remote work opportunities (Friedman, 2019). In the early 2000s, remote work began to
gain acceptance as a viable work arrangement, with companies such as IBM, Sun
Microsystems, and Cisco leading the way (Kurland & Bailey, 2020). As Covid-19 began to
spread and change the way the United States went about its day-to-day activities it
became apparent that the only way for some business to stay afloat was to implement
working from home. “The biggest impact of Covid-19 may be remote work.
Prepandemic, roughly five percent of full-time employees with office jobs worked
primarily from home. That figure is likely to settle at 20-30 percent in the new normal,
Effectiveness of Remote Work 2
with variation across occupations and industries. Location will become less important in
hiring. More white-collar workers will live farther from city centers, in different parts of
the U.S. and even outside the country, accelerating and changing geographic
trends.”( Levanon,2022) Some scholars believe that being able to work from home is
more productive while others think the opposite “Remote work is defined as a flexible
work arrangement in which an employee, under a written remote work agreement, is
scheduled to perform work at an alternative worksite and is not expected to perform
work at an agency worksite on a regular and recurring basis. A remote worker’s official
worksite may be within or outside the local commuting area of an agency worksite.”
(OPM,2024) Remote work does not strictly mean working strictly from home, it can
mean working from a library or an internet café. With that concept in mind, in my
personal opinion remote work does not promote productivity in the public sector.
Although it may differ for some people, I believe that working from home can be less
productive than working in an office setting outside of the home. That is why my
position is that working in an office environment is significantly more productive than
working from home or teleworking.
Position
When you are sitting in a hospital waiting room or waiting to board a plane in an
airport and you see people pull out their laptops what is your first thought? I wonder
what that person is working on. Is the person in school? Have you ever thought that a
person does not look to happy? More times than not that person is working remotely.
They are answering emails, writing proposals, reviewing documents all without having to
Effectiveness of Remote Work 3
step foot into their office. Although remote work has its pros, I hold the position that
going into an office is more effective than remote work. Although things happen and
there may be times that a person is forced to work from home (ie.COVID-19) working in
a professional setting is more effective, especially in the public sector and managers are
able to effectively manage their employees and also keep track of what is going on with
each individual person. “Working in an office can set healthy and distinct boundaries
between work and personal life. While many employees prefer remote working, the
reality of working from home can blur the line between work and real life, which makes
it more difficult to fully switch off. Working in an office presents a clear boundary
between where your work should take place and leaving at the end of the day is a clear
sign your home life should begin. Mentally switching off is essential to stay motivated,
relaxed and engaged.” (Sturgess, N.d.)
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
When comparing working in an office setting to working at home it is important
to remember that not all people are equipped to work from home. It takes scads of
selfdiscipline to work from home and as we all know, not everyone has that kind of
discipline. In 2023 Dr. Gleb Tsipursky wrote an article for Forbes Magazine in which he
says, “The Big Five factor of Conscientiousness - characterized by qualities such as being
organized, reliable, self-disciplined, taking ownership of tasks, and showing initiative in
Effectiveness of Remote Work 4
problem-solving - strongly correlates with higher performance during the time when
employees work remotely. Certainly, those with higher Conscientiousness also
performed better in the office. However, the difference in performance between high-
Conscientiousness and low-Conscientiousness employees was much bigger when staff
members worked from home, with a high statistical significance (p < .01). Those high on
Extraversion perform less well when working from home, with a substantial statistical
significance (p < .01), compared to working in the office. That is not surprising:
Extraversion is the personality trait describing people who are more sociable, outgoing,
talkative, assertive, and energized by others. Those high on Extraversion tend to
experience more loneliness and social isolation when working from home, undermining
their performance.”
Managing a company and employees is a tough job in itself, this job can become
more difficult when one has to manage not only employees that work in the office but
also the employees who work from home. This can add extra stress, responsibilities, and
workload to the managers. It is recommended that in order for manager to support
employees that are working remotely they need to “establish structured daily check-ins,
provide several different communication technology options, establish “rules of
engagement” and provide opportunities for remote social interaction” (Larson et al.,
2021) There are numerous strengths to the argument that physically going into
somewhere like an office is more productive and easier for management to control. One
of the main strengths of being able to go into an office setting for work is having a
Effectiveness of Remote Work 5
formidable team dynamic. Physically going into an office means that the employees are
able to interact with their co-workers and managers face to face. Another strength that
comes with physically going into work is being able to brainstorm and conduct meetings
in a more professional setting with less disruptions. When it comes to managing the
employee, it is easier to determine the employee’s efficiency and productivity when the
employee is working beside the manager rather than in a completely different area.
Another strength that comes with working in an office setting is the fact that it promotes
somewhat of a consistent routine. Faster career development also comes with working
in an office setting. “In interviews with workers and management, Bloom and his
colleagues found there were two major reasons for the lower rate of promotion among
the remote workers. People who weren’t in the office, he explains, didn’t develop
relationships and managerial skills as readily, or didn’t have the opportunity to
demonstrate those skills” (Morgan, 2022) Ioana C Cristea, a Zürich-based remote-work
expert was quoted in the same article saying “Ten years ago, getting promoted was just
about being the most popular person on your team,” he says. “Now it’s like, well, if
you’re all distributed, no one’s really popular. So, it’s going to be based on effort and
skill, and how well you do your job – even if there’s no one watching you do it.”
Weaknesses
However, where there are strengths there are also weaknesses. One of the
largest weaknesses of physically going to work is commuting and the time and stress
that goes along with that. Having the feeling of limited personal space is another
Effectiveness of Remote Work 6
weakness to working in an office setting. Sometimes the atmosphere of an office can
feel overwhelming and confined. “The physical workspace has a direct influence on
employee productivity. Insufficient space can lead to cluttered workstations, limited
movement, and reduced focus. Conversely, a well-utilized space provides employees
with adequate room to work, promotes better concentration, and enhances overall
productivity.” (Aspell, 2023) Although you would think that the advantages of being a
manager with staff that works in the office would outweigh the disadvantages, that is
not always the case.
Managers have a difficult job as is even when everything and everyone is working at
“peak capacity.” One of the main weaknesses that has been researched when it comes
to managers and people working in the office is emotional connections. Unfortunately,
no matter how harsh it may sound, making emotional connections with employees can
make the job of a manager harder. When someone works outside of the office the
manager is less likely to form an emotional relationship with the employee leading to
less heightened emotions and less anxiety for both the managers/supervisors and the
employees. When thinking about the weaknesses or cons that come with working in an
office setting you also have included things like the commute to the office and the time
and stress that adds to your day, having a higher potential for health issues (i.e. Catching
a cold from a coworker) and last but certainly not least office politics. Office politics can
play a significant role in how an employee working in an office performs. There is not an
office in the world that does not have office politics. These can come in the form of
Effectiveness of Remote Work 7
spreading rumors, talking behind a certain person’s back, excluding them from office
functions or refusing to give valuable information to a certain employee or group of
employees.
Support and Opposition
Support
Support for working in an office setting can be traced all the way back to before
working from home was even thought about much less discussed or done. One of the
most important arguments that support working in the office is the effectiveness of the
employee. This is something especially important in any type of workspace environment.
Studies suggest that working in an office can be beneficial for collaboration, idea
generation, team building, and overall employee engagement due to the increased
opportunities for face-to-face interactions, which can lead to better communication and
quicker problem-solving compared to remote work alone; research from sources like
Cisco, Harvard Business Review, and Stanford University highlight these points, with
findings showing that in-person teams tend to be more productive and collaborative
than fully remote ones. There are numerous studies that have been published in the last
several years that support the opinion that working in the office is more productive in
many ways. Employers can support employees that come into the office with things like
physical support, i.e., adequate chairs and a clean and well-maintained work area, tech
support, and employee wellbeing.
Effectiveness of Remote Work 8
Opposition
Where there are arguments for working in the office there are also arguments
that oppose working in the office. Most of the articles, arguments of facts have been
published in the last six years since the introduction of the coronavirus disease in 2019.
Opposition to working in the office often stems from the benefits of greater flexibility, a
dislike of commuting, the ability to control one's work environment at home, fewer
distractions from colleagues, and the potential for a better work-life balance. “This
highlights the big challenge of enforcing tough return-to-office policies. If employees are
getting their jobs done — and we know from two years of pandemic they mostly are
given record firm profits and growth rate — then it is hard to punish them for not
coming in enough days. But if managers do not punish them, they risk appearing weak
by failing to enforce company policy. Making this harder for managers is the fact that
working from home can make changing jobs so much easier. You can search for jobs and
interview discreetly from the comfort of your own home. Searching and interviewing
while working at the office can be hard, with several hours away under some dubious
excuse.
Not surprisingly, almost half of survey responders in April 2020 said it was easier to
search for a new job from home”(Bloom,2022) “Many companies in 2023 have initiated
RTO policies for their employees that have been met with discontent. Employees are
resistant to regressing to the working style of the pre-pandemic era, and thus ‘the
Effectiveness of Remote Work 9
returnto-office (RTO) war continues to 5 rages—employers cracking down with in-office
mandates and employees quitting’ (Robinson, 2023 as cited in Nichols, 2023).
Biblical References
When you read thru the Bible one of the continuing themes about being
employed or working is that you put your heart into your work and be proud of the
difference that work makes. The word “work” is in the Bible over 400 times. Sometimes
people forget that The Lord Jesus may not be your crew leader. He may not be physically
sitting in an office watching your every move, or the one signing your checks, but he is
the one you work for.”( Wisnewski,2020). The majority of Colossians chapter 3
specifically verses 22-25,speaks on living as Christ wanted people on earth to. Col.3 22-
25 “ 22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye
is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human
masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their
wrongs, and there is no favoritism.” (Biblegateway, 2011) There are several other books,
chapters and
verses that speak about working. specifically Proverbs chapter three verses three and
11; 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans, 11Honest
scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making. No
matter where a person is employed and where they are completing their work at
Effectiveness of Remote Work 10
whether home or in the office the Bible speaks about treating all people equally, that
they are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. This lesson not only applies to people in the
workplace but the entire population in general.
Conclusion
Ordinarily, work is an important part of a person’s day-to-day life. Working
becomes part of a person’s schedule or routine. When COVID-19 reared its ugly head,
the world was crippled and everything changed. One of the harder things that had to be
introduced was working from home, which was not very well known or researched. In
some ways this was the only way to keep businesses open. As the world began to return
to the new normal it was made clear that working from home was a large part of that.
There have been many discussions, arguments, and research done in regard to whether
working from home is more effective and productive than working in the office. Working
in an office setting has been around for much longer than working from home, this
means that most of the research is in favor of working in an actual office setting being
more productive. As I stated earlier there are so many facts to support this fact. I believe
that no matter the benefits of working from home or the negatives in working in an
office setting that working in an office setting is the most productive and easier for
managers to effectively manager their employees.
Effectiveness of Remote Work 11
Sources
Aspell, R. (2023, October 24). Consequences of failing to maximize space in the
workplace. RFM Group. https://www.rfm-group.com/consequences-of-failing-
to maximize-space-in-the-workplace/
#:~:text=Collaboration%20and%20Communication.
%20Collaboration%20and%20effective%20communication,interact%2C%20share
%20ideas%2C%20and%20work%20together%20seamlessly.
Bloom, N. (2020, July). The great resistance: Getting employees back to the Office.
Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR).
https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/work/great-resistance-getting-
employees back-office
Friedman, B. (2019). The history and future of remote work. Forbes.
https://www.researchpublish.com/upload/book/THE%20EVOLUTION%20OF%2
0REMOTE%20WORK-10052023-5.pdf
Kurland, N. B., & Bailey, D. E. (2020). The advantages and challenges of working here,
there, anywhere, and anytime. Organizational Dynamics, 28(2), 53-68.
https://www.researchpublish.com/upload/book/THE%20EVOLUTION%20OF%2
0REMOTE%20WORK-10052023-5.pdf
Larson, B. Z., Vroman, S. R., & Makarius, E. E. (2021, September 2). A guide to managing
your (newly) remote workers. Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org/2020/03/a-guide-to-managing-your-newly-remote-workers
Effectiveness of Remote Work 12
Levanon, G. (2020, November 23). Remote Work: The Biggest Legacy of Covid-19.
Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/gadlevanon/2020/11/23/remote-work-
the biggest-legacy-of-covid-19/
Morgan, K. (2022, February 25). Why in-person workers may be more likely to get
promoted. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210305-why-
in person-workers-may-be-more-likely-to-get-promoted
New International Version (NIV) - Version Information - BibleGateway.com. (2011).
Biblegateway.com; BibleGateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-
International-Version-NIV-Bible/
Nichols, N. (2023). Understanding Resistance to Return-to-Office Initiatives by
Investigating the Transition to Remote Work and Its Effects (thesis).
Nilles, J. M. (2017). Telecommunications-transportation tradeoff: options for tomorrow.
Routledge.
https://www.researchpublish.com/upload/book/THE%20EVOLUTION%20OF%2
0REMOTE%20WORK-10052023-5.pdf
Opm.gov. U.S. Office of Personnel Management. (n.d.).
https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/telework-faq/remote-work/
what is-the-definition-of-remote-work/
#:~:text=Remote%20work%20is%20defined%20as,area%20of%20an%20agency
%20worksite.
Robinson, B. (2023, September 12). In-office mandates attacking progress and company
growth, but “big guns” not backing down. Forbes.
Effectiveness of Remote Work 13
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2023/09/10/in-office-
mandates attacking progress-and-company-growth-but-big-guns-not-backing-
down/
Sturgess, A. (n.d.). 10 benefits to working in an office environment. Pharmaceutical,
Biotech & Life Science Recruitment.
https://www.carrotrecruitment.co.uk/blog/10-benefits-to-working-in-the-
office rather-than-home-working
