I beg to disagree with this publication, it's their view but it doesn't matter if you are working in the office or at home, all that matters is to get the job done and be gainfully employed as a citizen of a country. In that way, you will be able to live the good life you desire and will also be able to transact financially among other people in the country which is what encourages the economy.
No, no, that statistics is actually true and I'll explain why it is true. When you are at home, you are more relax than in your office. At home, we all have habits of drinking beer, watching TV, doing some random staff, home is a very different area where we were always relaxed since our birth. Also, if you are not alone at home, it's very hard to keep your attention on work because parents or siblings will sometimes call you and or attach you some duties. That's why a lot of people that I can confirm from my personal experience, buy a membership of special co-working office spaces to feel the atmosphere of the working environment, be more focused on their work and less destructed by others. Definitely, it doesn't apply to everyone but it's true for majority of people.
Though you have a point because of the distractions, and for sure you've experienced it, I've been working remotely for a couple of years right now, and I've met up and talked to tons of people that are working remotely, and even I've joined a group, but all of them say that they don't get distracted when it comes to working remotely, meaning they develop a focus so that even if those distractions are there, they still continue to work, and right now they will say they are not distracted to work, and also they have their own work space where they are working. From my personal experience, as I've worked in an office before, I am less productive in an office than here in my remote job because, by the end of the day, you'll need to report what you've done on a day, unlike in an office where there were no meetings; you've just casually gone out, and even if you haven't done some things, it doesn't matter. But again, that is what I've noticed.
Thank you for this, when I first responded, I wasn't thinking about myself alone but also those who I know working from home. Working from home is beyond what many think, and what @Synchronice explained is right, only that it's applicable to a few, especially women that are either housewives or nursing mothers, even though many of them still have their strict moments. The people I know who work online are real hustlers, thinkers and creators, it's serious work when the time comes to work and nothing will distract them, not even friends or family. It's about getting the job done whether you are working for yourself or working for a company, after all, your success on the job would only be measured by your seriousness. Unless you are either lazy or unserious, you have to get it done even at home.
I've tasted the two sides as I've worked with a bank and the government of my country, and I could even say that more talking and engagement in unnecessary things happened then than when working from home. The only difference is that I earn more working at home (higher productivity) than working at my former jobs which was one of the reasons I quit instead of them controlling my time and still paying me less.
And in detail, it started with online trading, then graduated to trading and marketing. I still realized that I had more hours because I usually close between 5-6 PM daily. So I decided to start writing books in my spare time. I'm now planning to add an offline business in which I will employ people but will only be managing and supervising it in addition to all that. That is what I call "productivity."
You see, it depends on you and how focused you are. Personally, I've not seen a lazy online worker so far they get the job done, and for me, it makes me earn more, control my time, and make me think. Even now, I have a lot of projects written down to execute as I get more financial power.
All I see here is freedom and productivity.