Do You Still Need an Office? Here’s a Pros and Cons List

Many surprising changes have come out of the pandemic. As far as businesses are concerned (and especially small businesses that have to keep costs low wherever they can), office space that was once considered a necessary expense is now in limbo.

From major corporations like Target that are downsizing their office spaces to small businesses working out of coworking spaces, employers are confronting the fact that many of their employees now prefer to work from home. Considering that — by and large — productivity hasn’t dropped, many business owners are considering nixing office space altogether.

While saving money is a major pro, there are certainly some downsides to completely getting rid of office space and going entirely remote. Meetings still happen and tech glitches can start to get the best of anyone when they can’t connect to an important call. Plus, there will always be some people who far and away prefer to go into an office every day.

Like most things small business related, your company has an individual choice to make based on what’s best for you, your company, and your workers. But figuring that out can be tough, so here’s a list of some of the main pros and cons to weigh as you wonder whether or not you still need an office moving forward.

First, we’ll go over the pros.

Pro: Getting rid of your office space will save some serious cash

Think about how much money you pay to rent an office each month. That money will now not be leaving your bank account. Especially for small businesses with slim margins, this pro practically stands in a class of its own in terms of the benefits it provides.

Pro: A good chunk of your employees — especially younger ones — will likely be super jazzed

For those who like the freedom of not having to report to an office, working remotely from home, a coffee shop, or even an Airbnb across the country could be a serious boost to employee morale.

Especially among the Millennial and Gen Z crowd, flexible work situations are a coveted amenity. For those who like the freedom of not having to report to an office, working remotely from home, a coffee shop, or even an Airbnb across the country could be a serious boost to employee morale. This is especially true if your office is currently located in a place like the upper Midwest where the climate isn’t exactly the number one draw of the area.

Pro: It’s not an all or nothing choice

From coworking spaces to new hub and home models for office space, there’s so much more to the choice than either being fully remote or fully office-based. You can get coworking spaces for those who prefer to work in person (once that becomes an option again) and for hosting meetings and the like, or you can simply downsize the office space you rent and save money that way.

It’s anything but a one-size-fits-all choice to make. You can certainly find ways to come up with an original model that fits the needs of your small business.

There are some pretty serious upsides to ditching traditional office spaces, but there are some very real drawbacks, too.

Con: Not everyone will be happy with the choice

Even though the majority of your workers might be excited about the flexibility that comes with working from home, chances are very slim that everyone will be on board — especially those who have spent nearly their entire working lives in an office.

Working from home has been especially challenging for women and those with children who are still doing remote learning. Then there’s the interruptions of dogs barking, delivery people knocking on doors, and the like. Everyone has been giving each other grace during the pandemic, but it’s hard to say if that patience will continue once this is all over.

Switching to working remotely could certainly have a negative impact on your workers’ happiness just like it could have a positive one. It all depends on what your unique workforce prefers and is capable, and how supported they are.

Switching to working remotely could certainly have a negative impact on your workers’ happiness just like it could have a positive one. It all depends on what your unique workforce prefers and is capable, and how supported they are.

Con: You’ll likely need to invest in some serious tech, software, and accessories for full-time remote work

On that note, it’s not like you’ll be able to simply ditch the office space and pocket all of that cash.

If you’re going to require remote work, chances are you’ll have to invest in the tools that your workers need to be successful in long-term or permanent work-from-home situations rather than the potentially temporary arrangements people have been able to make work during the pandemic.

Chances are that workers won’t be happy about a permanent boost to their internet bill, which is why companies are stepping up to cover some of those costs. Then there’s subscriptions to platforms like Zoom of Microsoft Teams that makes remote work go round. What about when workers start to have back issues because they don’t have standing desks at home like they do in the office? Will you shell out for those amenities or put the cost on your employees?

Con: Meetings will likely still need to happen somewhere

Some people — which could include your current and potential clients — are itching to get back to a face-to-face environment.

Especially with the pandemic, people are more accustomed to meeting remotely than perhaps ever before. That said, not everyone likes it. Some people — which could include your current and potential clients — are itching to get back to a face-to-face environment.

Not only do some people prefer it, but for some all these remote meetings have been a hassle. Plus, some believe  — whether right or wrong — having a dedicated office space comes off as professional and established. Of course, there are coffee shops (which can be noisy and aren’t exactly private) or coworking spaces (there goes that cost savings) that can get the job done, but they’re not the right solution for every business.

When it comes down to it, only you know your business and its needs best. If you aren’t sure what your employees think, consider sending out a survey or gather their feedback if that matters to you in your decision making.

The only thing you can do is your research, gather all of the information you need, and make the best choice you can for your business and its future success — whether that includes an office or not.

Check out our People Ops Podcast episode “Setting up Managers for Success in a Remote-Friendly Future.”