While the world was getting used to working from home and negotiating the challenges of being out of the office, at Erudite, we did the opposite. Having worked from home for the previous 3 years, 1 year ago we decided that while remote working had its definite benefits, the collaborative work that we loved to do and the culture we were trying to create existed better in a physical space with colleagues.
So, on the 19th of May 2021, I moved my small team of 2 into a penthouse office at the bottom of the Newtownards Road with views across the city. This was a huge step and felt like a significant moment in the story of Erudite. When we moved in, it was hard to meet other tenants and get to know people so it still was a little isolated as COVID restrictions were still in place. We even went round all the offices and gave out some little J Bird cupcakes to say ‘hi’ and get to know some folks.
Now we are in the office for 1 full year and our team has changed quite a bit since then. Here are my thoughts on the working from home v. working in the office debate.
Commute: I used to joke with my wife (who runs a hair salon from behind our house) that my commute to the home office was even shorter than hers… except I had to do the school run also which added a few miles to my commute. Now I do the school run on the way to work, it also gives me time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks or make some calls. On the way home, it also offers a space to decompress before returning to the carnage of life with three kids.
Communication: While at home and in the office, we use Slack for internal comms. This hasn’t changed for sending through information about projects or clients. When it comes to meetings and discussions, nothing beats face to face interaction. It also saves time in arranging meetings or impromptu discussions (which I am maybe a little too guilty of having). Zoom meetings are ok with one person but when it comes to a group - they can be very frustrating. Being in the office can be noisy at times and there isn’t a lot of privacy which has its challenges, although working from home (especially during school holidays or after school finishes) can be a challenge for peace and privacy also.
Cost: An office costs money - ours is serviced so the broadband, heat and electricity are covered within the cost. It also covers maintenance costs which are handy when something goes wrong with the building (which always does). Rent and rates need to be paid that don’t when working from home and the cost for fuel for staff also costs money. There are costs associated with heating your house and electricity when working from home and it is definitely cheaper for a business to work remotely.
Community: this is one of the main reasons for us to be in an office. Feeling part of a team, working together, having fun and a sense of belonging is a lot easier achieved when in an office. As ours is a shared office, you can’t escape this easily - even when you might want to. Feeling part of something is an important part of what we try to achieve and when recruiting, having the ’right fit’ that adds to our community is vital.
Owen’s Final Thoughts
There are clear benefits to home working and working in an office. While we are an office-based business, our staff have the flexibility to work at home if or when they need. Due to the nature of our work, the culture we have created and the sense of team and collaboration, the way forward for us is definitely in the office.
