Would You Rather Work From Home or the Office?

Ah, the age-old question that has been keeping BPO professionals in Kenya up at night – should we work from the comfort of our own homes or brave the morning commute to the office? It’s a debate that has raged on for years, and quite frankly, I’m a little tired of hearing the same old arguments on both sides.

But hey, since you’re asking my opinion, I’ll give it to you straight. Let’s weigh the pros and cons, shall we?

On the one hand, working from home can be a total game-changer. No more getting up at the crack of dawn to fight traffic for an hour(If you work in  Nairobi,  you know how bad traffic on Thika Road can mess you up). Instead, you can roll out of bed, make yourself a nice cup of tea, and get right to work in your pajamas. And let’s not forget the sweet, sweet savings on gas money and bus fare. Who doesn’t love putting a few extra shillings in their pocket at the end of the month?

Plus, you get to be the master of your schedule. Need to step away for a mid-day workout or to handle a personal errand? No problem! As long as you’re getting your work done, your boss is (hopefully) none the wiser. It’s a win-win for your productivity and your work-life balance.

But before you start daydreaming about working from your balcony overlooking the Nairobi skyline, let’s talk about the downsides of remote life. For starters, it can be really tough to stay motivated and focused when your couch is just a few steps away and Netflix a wish away. And let’s be real, the Wi-Fi at home isn’t always as reliable as what you get in the office. Nothing kills productivity faster than a sudden internet outage or buffering in the middle of a big presentation. Let me not even remind you what our KPLC friends can do.

Oh, and what about those team-building happy hours and impromptu hallway conversations you’ll be missing out on? Sure, we’ve got video calls and Slack now, but nothing quite beats the energy of being together in person. Plus, let’s be honest – it’s just harder to hide from that one super chatty coworker when you’re all stuck in the same physical space.

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Some of us thrive in the buzzing office environment, while others do our best work in the solitude of our own homes. The key is finding the right balance that works for you and your employer.

So, what’s it gonna be – the pajama party at home or the morning commute to the office? The choice is yours, my friend. Just don’t forget to bring a good pair of noise-canceling headphones, whichever path you choose.