What are the advantages and disadvantages of working at home?

IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Modern technology has made it possible for many people to work at home most of the time rather than going to an office every day. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working at home? Support your answer with specific reasons and examples.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Answer:
With the thriving of technology, modern people are able to do work away from the office was unimaginable just few decades ago. The term, telecommuting, refers to working in a decentralized and flexible work arrangement that allows full time or part-time employees to work at home or comfortable zone via a computer connected to the employer’s data network. It has immense advantages, while having some drawbacks also. In this instance, it is believed that the telecommuting’s benefits outweigh its limitations.To commence with, this cutting-edge work arrangement has brought about a pool of benefits to the society. First of all, the corporate organization has no longer need giant office space, which by consequence reduces substantial sums of money. Secondly, telecommuting allows the employers to hire a pool of highly skilled executives around the globe. Another key fact to remember is that the employers are able to keep their company running 24 hours. Telecommuting, thus, is not only economy, but also it is efficient.On the same token, telecommuting renders employees tremendous benefits. Employees can enjoy freedom.That is to say, executives can efficiently prioritize their works coordinating their work schedule with family and personal tasks. The opportunity is simply great for those with physical disabilities and single parent homes. Moreover, telecommuting offers more working hours. Let me elaborate a bit more. Employees do not have a traffic commute. Instead of sitting in traffic congestion, they can spend that time doing assignments.However, telecommuting also has some disadvantages. There may have many distractions that employees may have to deal with. For instance, if an executive is working from home, he or she could find himself dealing with his or her crying child, friends visiting or calling him or her when he or she should be working.Another drawback is that one cannot count on clients or colleagues to have the necessary computer competences or hardware necessary to organize a remote meeting with webcams, screen sharing, and so on. Many a times, a considerable amounts of time is wasted sorting out those issues. Besides, if the Internet access gets trouble, then the employee cannot get his work done.All in all, telecommuting is suitable for well-structured routine and well defined tasks with lucid and fixed goal, and not for complex tasks with fluid or fuzzy objectives requiring frequent personal contact. All things considered, I think modern technology or telecommuting surpasses its limitations developing convenient working arrangement.