From Laundry to Naps: The Hidden Costs of Remote Work

From Laundry to Naps: The Hidden Costs of Remote Work on Your Business

Let’s talk about remote work. On the surface, it seems like a great deal. No commute, no office distractions, and employees can “work” in their pajamas, right? But the truth is a little different. A recent survey revealed what many business owners have long suspected: remote workers aren’t glued to their desks all day. They’re multitasking, running errands, folding laundry, even taking naps—all while on the clock. One in five remote workers even admitted to taking a snooze during work hours.

Here’s the thing: in my experience, working from home just doesn’t work. During COVID, I let all my employees work remotely, and what happened? I remember calling into the office only to find the phones weren’t being answered. Why? Because my employee was “busy helping her mom clean the house.” Another time, the excuse was laundry. And one day, I found out an employee was in the shower during work hours. While I was paying them to answer the phone. It was an eye-opening experience, and frankly, I think I’m forever poisoned against the idea of full-time remote work because of that incident.

The reality is, when people are at home, they’re surrounded by distractions. Whether it’s TikTok, Netflix, or just the temptation to run a quick errand, the lack of structure makes it easy to drift away from work tasks. Sure, some people claim they’re more productive at home, but as the survey shows, that’s often just a convenient story they tell themselves (and their bosses).

For me, local employees need to be in the office to be effective. There’s no substitute for in-person collaboration and accountability. When we’re in the same room, we can brainstorm, solve problems, and share ideas in real-time. That’s the kind of energy you just don’t get from a Zoom call or Slack message. Plus, in matters as sensitive as a Strategic Planning Session preparation, face-to-face interactions foster the trust and rapport essential for effective client relationships.

Of course, I have some off-site employees. They’re off-site because they live in different parts of the country—and even the world. But for the local team, it’s different. You have to earn the privilege to work from home by proving that you can maintain focus and productivity without distractions. That takes time, trust, and, frankly, a lot of discipline. But even with remote work veterans, I still prefer face-to-face interaction. It builds a better team dynamic, keeps everyone on the same page, and ensures that we’re all working toward the same goal.

Call me old-fashioned, but I think being in the office together creates a certain magic that remote work can’t replicate. I know some people swear by working from home, but from where I sit, it’s a risk I’m not willing to take with my business. Too many distractions, too much time wasted, and not enough accountability.

If your team is off doing laundry or helping their mom clean the house, who’s answering the phone? Who’s handling your clients? Who’s running the business? For me, those are questions I just don’t want to worry about, especially when it comes to important decisions like Healthcare Proxy and Power of Attorney arrangements. That’s why, unless you’ve proven yourself over time, my team works together, in the office, where we can keep the ship sailing smoothly—and without a load of laundry in sight.

And it seems I’m not alone. Amazon recently announced that all their corporate employees will be returning to the office full-time next year. Their CEO, Andy Jassy, emphasized that in-person collaboration fosters better teamwork, stronger culture, and more innovation. After requiring three days a week in the office, Amazon decided to scrap hybrid work altogether, citing the clear benefits of in-person work. In Jassy’s own words, collaborating, brainstorming, and connecting with the team is simpler and more effective when everyone is in the same room. I couldn’t agree more.

While remote work might offer flexibility, it comes at the cost of real engagement, team connection, and productivity. Amazon’s move back to the office is a signal that even the biggest companies see the cracks in the remote model.

In my business, I want my team here, in the trenches with me, where we can work side by side to solve problems and build success together. Remote work? Sure, if you’ve earned it. But for the rest of us, I believe there’s no substitute for the power of face-to-face collaboration.