Working from home

Working from home has become common in many professions, helped by faster internet and better software. In my opinion, the advantages of this change outweigh the disadvantages, although it is not suitable for everyone.

The most obvious advantage is the time and money that employees save by not travelling. A person who spends two hours a day commuting can use that time for sleep, exercise or family, which improves both wellbeing and productivity. Home workers also have more flexibility, so they can organise their day around their most productive hours. Employers benefit too, since smaller offices cost less to rent and maintain. For many parents, the extra time at home also makes childcare easier.

On the other hand, working from home has real drawbacks. Some people feel lonely without colleagues, and it can be hard to separate work from private life when the office is a corner of the living room. Teamwork can also suffer, because spontaneous conversations that lead to new ideas happen less often through a screen. Younger employees, who learn a great deal by watching more experienced colleagues, may be at a particular disadvantage.

These problems can be reduced. Companies can organise regular meetings in person, and employees can set fixed working hours and a dedicated workspace. A mixture of office days and home days is often the best arrangement.

In conclusion, I believe that the benefits of working from home are greater than its drawbacks, provided that employers and employees take steps to keep contact and a healthy balance.

Why it works

• The writer takes a clear side and still gives the other side a fair paragraph.
• The last body paragraph offers solutions, which makes the answer more balanced.
• Topic sentences at the start of each paragraph make the structure easy to follow.