Job seekers willingly gravitate toward remote jobs for a myriad of reasons. Telecommuting has proven to be beneficial in many ways. Obvious benefits like flexible timings and working in your P aside, there are more substantial benefits to remote working.
2020 introduced many challenges for the global economy, the biggest and most threatening being Covid-19. Businesses big and small, struggled to stay afloat – making tough decisions to downsize and permanently dissolve almost entire departments.
Only a month into 2021, still in the midst of a global pandemic, many businesses have made the tough choice to completely go virtual. Some chose to do this to reduce overall costs for the company but other businesses simply had no choice.
Despite either circumstance, many businesses have thrived in the virtual workspace to the point where a pandemic isn’t the only reason why remote working has proven to be the ideal choice now.
The current situation aside, encouraging employees to work remotely can provide some real advantages to your business (along with a well-planned remote work policy).
If you are considering implementing a work-from-home policy for your business but you’re not fully convinced you should do that, here are some benefits to consider:
1. Lowered Overhead Expenses
Remote working can directly reduce overhead costs associated with onsite business operations. This way, since your business is no longer occupying a physical space, you are technically no longer required to pay for commodities like rent, electricity, or other items like furniture, equipment, and stationery.
According to global workplace analytics, Telework Savings Calculator, a single company can save $11,000 per employee who works remotely 50 percent of the time.
With all that money saved on utilities, you will have enough to grow your company structure by hiring more remote workers, giving bonuses to deserving employees or completely forgoing brick-and-mortar business activities altogether.
2. Improved Employee Satisfaction
Giving existing and prospective employees the opportunity to work remotely is the most tempting offer any business can make.
Working adults aged 18-35 are willing to sacrifice more than 10 percent of their pay to settle for flexibility that comes with remote work, despite the high rate of unemployment in this age range. Studies have generally shown that remote working increases levels of employee satisfaction and subsequently employee retention.
Easy, the happier your employees, the more likely they are to continue working for you. Reiterating the desirability of remote-working and the lowered rate of attrition that follows it.
Remote-working is ideal for some in particular, like working mothers. Where childcare is concerned, many if not most mothers would opt to work from home if it means also being able to watch over their child.
Although the relationship between remote work and job satisfaction is subjective, a study also shows that remote work also increases engagement.
According to a study conducted by Global Workplace, remote workers claim they are satisfied with their jobs 22 percent more than those who do not work remotely. This decision is also mostly influenced by the fact remote workers no longer have to commute, which decreases their daily expenses – who wouldn’t be satisfied with that?
3. Better Levels of Productivity
While there is no denying that a shift to remote working is rather drastic at first, there is also no denying that it is much easier to adapt to a familiar environment like home. However, there is a common misconception that those who work from home are couch potato-Esque employees who slack off rather than work.
Statistics show that this is not the case and that productivity is not deterred by a shift to remote working. 79 percent of remote workers showed higher levels of productivity because of the removal of typical workplace distractions like background noise and interruptions from other colleagues.
Another survey documented evidence of the productivity of remote working. Airtasker survey report documented 1004 workers’ daily habits and showed that even though they spent a lot of time taking breaks throughout their workday, they still devoted more time to their tasks.
There is a certain ‘peace’ to working at home, where employees are able to sit in the comfort of their homes and focus on the tasks in front of them. This peace of mind comes with the flexibility to choose where and when they want to work.
Simply affording your employees the choice will make them want to perform better if it means they get to work from home.
4. Better Sense of Independence
We as working professionals are generally used to working in an environment surrounded by our colleagues, managers, and bosses.
Some of us require constant guidance, some of us simply prefer it to make sure we are going in the right direction. With remote working, not being near your colleagues and managers means developing a stronger sense of independence, especially with regard to work.
Independent employees won’t need to look over their shoulders for help to make sure they are going in the right direction, which means more confidence in the work they are doing.
This newly developed sense of enthusiasm and proactiveness that comes with working independently from home will be a benefit to businesses everywhere. Employees will be learning new things, picking up new skills, and figuring out more efficient ways to get things done, which is something their bosses can capitalize on as an efficient employee directly affects the success of a business.
5. A Personalized Workspace
Feeling a sense of belonging is important to any employee. But there are things that hinder that sense of belonging in the workplace.
While some companies encourage employees to decorate and personalize their workplace, there are other companies that believe it to be a distraction and a mess. When it comes to remote working, of course, employees are able to work wherever they like.
They are able to create a comfortable environment for themselves to work in and that is not exclusive to their homes. They could work in a coffee shop too because sometimes even your favorite cafe feels like home.
When remote workers work from a physical space they are more attached to, it will generate higher levels of engagement therefore more enthusiasm towards their work.
6. Better Work-life Balance
The number one reason employees choose to work from home because they are able to maintain a better work-life balance. Working from home gives way for more time to pick up more hobbies and improve personal relationships.
Aside from bettering the health and personal relationships, remote working lessens the strain on professional relationships as well. Specifically those between employees and their managers.
With the subtraction of workplace politics, employee-manager relationships function in a more positive manner. Instead of breakroom gossip, conversations would generally be more positive. Not to mention a significant boost in worker morale.
7. More Workplace Inclusivity
With most companies, recruitment is usually restricted to a particular locale, usually in the area where the company is located that not everyone lives near.
With remote working, many companies are more open to hiring people from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Paving the way in the company for employees with different ideas and perspectives.
Hiring news employees and encouraging them to work remotely from the communities where they feel comfortable – and that could be anywhere in the world.
This also means supporting diversity and promoting the significance of community and family in the workplace which is always appreciated by anyone.
8. Less Contribution to the Carbon Footprint
Corporate social responsibility is an objective for all businesses. What better way to contribute to society than by not contributing to the carbon footprint. Remote working means no employees have to commute to work, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a significant amount.
Making environmentally sound choices within your business is not exclusive to just ‘the road’. Remote working reduces the need for paper, air conditioning, and heating thus making remote work equivalent to planting an entire forest of trees.
In retrospect, remote work is supporting many sustainable initiatives like socioeconomic growth, responsible consumption, and of course the biggest social initiative of any company: a culturally diverse workplace.
Not to mention the fact that incorporating remote work policies will show potential customers that your business model is sustainable and that you are a responsible, environmentally conscious entrepreneur.
Conclusion
Though a pandemic is still prevalent, don’t let it be the sole reason you choose to work remotely. Instead, consider the numerous benefits that remote working affords both small and major businesses.
Bottom line is, remote working benefits both employers and employees – through the advantages for employees are far more obvious, businesses will thrive when employees do.
Entire workforces will develop a stronger sense of independence and enthusiasm to their work and loyalty towards the company they work for. With that said, do not fear the idea, but embrace it and foster a modern workforce.
Ian Haynes is a seasoned writer, providing expert content writing services to a clientele spread across the United States and Europe. He is a strong believer in content marketing, having witnessed how excellent content can allow your business to increase conversions. When he’s not occupied with work, you can find him reading or playing with his golden retriever, Fluffy.
