In a recent editorial interview by Gitnux’s data analyst, it turns out that 26% of US employees, as of 2022, work remotely. “The pandemic is well known for causing a social trend toward working from home. However, the costs associated with this change are much less well-documented,” he explains.
A survey where 2000 employees were interviewed was therefore conducted to analyze the cost differences between office work and working from home. While office work may seem more costly than working from home, recent findings suggest that both dynamics incur significant costs.
Working from Home
Working from home is more convenient as you don’t have to wake up an hour or two earlier to prepare and commute to work. But convenience comes at a cost. 60% of the interviewed employees reported spending more on utilities than usual. Remember you are using more electricity, flushing the toilet frequently, and turning the heater on for longer hours. 50% also claimed to use more money on the internet to obtain a high-speed internet connection.
Utilities are not the only thing you will spend more money on. 50% of the interviewees reported using more food supplies than when working from the office. This makes sense as you are likely to feel hungrier out of boredom, and of course, you won’t resist the urge if you have easy access.
In terms of dollars, 60% reported spending $60 more than usual on utilities, and only a few spent more than $100 monthly. 40% also claimed to spend $100 more on food expenses since they started working from home.
Office Work
If you work at an office, your company likely covers some expenses like utilities and office supplies. Additionally, if you work for a company that is exceptionally kind to its employees, benefits like on-site babysitting or meals may be provided.
70% of workers who only work in offices say they incur $150 more on eating out than those who work fully from home. Furthermore, 58% increased their coffee expenditures by $50, while 30% increased their spending on socializing by $200. 15% of commuters report incurring more than $200 a month to get to work, making it costly.
Both options have advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness. However, when compared side by side, working from home outweighs office work as employees save more money through it.