During the pandemic, working from home became the norm. We are excited to report that in the past few weeks, the Clairemont team officially transitioned back to working at The Clairemont House for the first time since March 2020. Being together in person has made us realize how valuable onsite work can be. Keep reading to learn our top 5 forgotten benefits of working in the office.

1. Collaborative work environment

To start, being in person at an office with your team creates a collaborative work environment. Now instead of exchanging ideas through never-ending email chains or logging onto yet another Zoom call, you can schedule meetings in person, stop by a coworker’s desk to ask a question or pop down the hall, depending on your office set-up. 

2. Adds structure to your schedule

Another benefit of working in the office is that it creates structure and encourages a healthy work-life balance. Working in the same space you relax in can make it harder to turn off your brain when it is time to rest. Physically being in a new environment will separate your work life from your home life. Commuting to work also allows the time to take a break and to reflect or just let your brain rest between activities.

3. Easier to build professional relationships

This next benefit is especially important for young, entry-level professionals or employees new to the organization. It is that working in an office makes it easier to build professional relationships. There are simply more opportunities to share experiences and develop connections with coworkers when you are in person. Being in a conference room or taking a lunch break together gives you an opportunity to connect that sitting on mute with your camera off doesn’t. 

4. Eliminates outside distractions

Another benefit of working in the office is that it eliminates outside distractions. We can all admit that home offices come with their own set of distractions. Whether it’s the dog barking, the doorbell ringing or balancing a partner’s home workspace with your own, working from home can be distracting. Having the option to go to work creates space from your home life and can make it easier to focus on your work. 

5. Improves efficiency

Working in the office improves efficiency by eliminating distractions, reducing screen fatigue and improving communication amongst the team. Explaining ideas or asking a question virtually can take up more time than you would imagine. Typing every detail in an email and waiting for a response often creates a lag time that working in the office eliminates.

We are excited to be back together and collaborate as a team to best serve our clients. Let us know if you agree with our 5 benefits of working in the office or if you have any other benefits. See you in the office!

By Clairemont intern Anna Beth McCormick, a senior at N.C. State.