Within management consulting the most common way of working is four days a week on client site and one day a week working from the office or home location. Obviously there are exceptions to this with some firms working more or less on client site, however at a large number of management consulting firms four days each week on client site is standard. It is then about how the company works for the other day (or more) of the week, whether you are able to complete the rest of the work from home or if the company prefer people to be in the office.
There are definitely some significant positives (and negatives) to both sides of the fence on this subject, with the majority of people thinking that home working is best…but sometimes neglecting the benefits of days in the office. Below I will try to lay out some of the key comments that I receive from candidates regarding this and let you make your own decision.
Home Working:
This is the obvious one that people know a bit more about when it comes to positives, it is clear to see some of the benefits that come with a home working set up. Within this article, when I refer to ‘home working’ I mean the ability to work remotely when not on client site, as opposed to people who do not need to be on client site at all.
More and more companies are introducing the ability to work from home when not on client site, as the technology advances it is becoming much more feasible as an option. Here are some of the key benefits:
• Commute - a clear benefit is not having to do a significant commute or just a difficult one depending on your home location, allowing you to start getting you work done earlier and be home already when you finish for the day
• Time - as much as getting work done is important, even more so is spending time with the family and being around for important moments (such as children’s bedtimes), when working from home you can take a break to experience these moments and then continue working afterwards
• Efficiency - although being in the office can be useful, it can also lead to extra distractions such as questions from colleagues, internal meetings and the hustle and bustle of an office
• Comfort - offices nowadays are made to be as comfortable as possible, however it is easier to relax and be yourself at home without the pressures of a corporate environment
Office Base:
An office base location is often seen as the bad option out of the two but there are actually a lot of benefits to an office base that you do not get when working remotely. Within my role at Consulting Point there is the option to work from home some days, but I personally feel more driven and focussed when in an office environment (suited and booted). Here are a few benefits of an office base:
• Team Environment - the day to day chat in an office is often a big positive, with colleague rapport breaking up the day and making it an enjoyable environment to spend time in
• Focus - as mentioned earlier, when in a business environment and surrounded by other people working, it can often focus your day leading to more productivity
• Visibility - no one should be held back if they utilise the chance to work remotely when not on client site, but being in the presence of management and them being able to see your daily effort and extra input you have in the office can lead to easier career progression
• Social - depending on the environment there may be impromptu afterwork or mid-day social events, home workers could miss out on opportunities to build stronger internal relationships
• Availability - depending on your location and potential clients, an office base will allow availability meetings on short notice either internally or with external parties
Summary:
Overall there are advantages and disadvantages to both set ups, it will very much depend on what type of worker you are as to which environment you will thrive in most. As companies continue to introduce the option of remote working, employees will be more likely to have the choice of which one they do (although obviously the company may have a preference). Before choosing home working because of the time benefits, think about what you enjoy about your role and whether the office working environment adds to it or is not a factor.
If you are a management consultant with one or more years of experience, feel free to get in touch via the Consulting Point website or info@consultingpoint.com to arrange a conversation with one of our talent consultants.
Written by Matthew Liddle - Principal Talent Consultant at Consulting Point