Remember when working remotely was seen as a privilege? When you were considered lucky to work outside of an office? The pandemic changed all that, and now we don’t want to go back to the office.
In fact, 84% of remote workers say they would be happier to continue working remotely and would even take a pay cut to continue this privilege.
Is remote work right for your company?
The benefits of remote work are not one-size-fits-all and will vary depending on the company, team, and role. Below we explore 7 benefits of remote work that employers and employees can experience.
Table of Contents
1. Improved Work-Life Balance
Employees who work from home enjoy a better work-life balance brought about by less time spent commuting to and from work. The ability to schedule their work around more productive times means they get to spend time with kids, participate in physical activities, and schedule doctors and other appointments when convenient. All while sometimes outputting results more than when they were in office.
This is a benefit for both employees as well as employers as it can lead to a reduction in sick days, higher morale, and increased productivity.
2. Fewer Distractions and More Time for Deep Work
In an office, there are constant interruptions from colleagues dropping by your desk, impromptu meetings, and general office chatter. Working from home allows you to have more control over your environment and eliminate distractions so you can focus on deep work.
3. More Relaxed Dress Code
One of the most common questions people ask about working from home is, “Can I wear my pajamas?” The answer is a resounding yes! With a more relaxed dress code, you can feel more comfortable and focused while working from home. The more relaxed dress code offers not only savings on the purchase of suitable office attire but also on laundry and clothing care.
4. No Need to Commute
Commuting not only saves time but it saves money too, especially if you have a long commute. Working from home eliminates the need to commute, which gives you more time for other activities. It also eliminates the stress of traffic, missed breakfasts, and hurried mornings.
5. Set Your Own Schedule
We mentioned this in the first point, but it’s worth exploring on its own. Setting your own schedule means your employees can work when they feel most productive.
Some people are natural night owls and prefer to work late at night when the house is quiet and familial obligations are met. Others rise early in the morning, and these are their best hours. Others still prefer to break up their work day into separate blocks of productivity around other activities.
This flexibility can be helpful if you have young children or other personal pursuits throughout the day.
6. Better Organization Skills
Working from home can help you develop more independence and self-discipline. When you’re not in an office, you need to be more organized and better manage your time. This independence leads to fewer meetings and less need to micromanage. Once you set expectations as a manager and these are being met, there’s little need to have regular check-ins.
7. Increased Productivity
One of the most common misconceptions about remote work is that employees are less productive when they’re not in an office. But several studies have found that remote workers are actually more productive than their in-office counterparts.
A Stanford University study on remote work found that employees who worked from home completed 13% more calls than those working in a call center.
These employees enjoy more autonomy over their work. They can take breaks when they want, work on their own schedule, and are not micromanaged by their boss.
There’s also a reduction in office politics and squabbles when most of your employees are working from home. Your employees are focused on work and not the latest office gossip.
8. Increased Employee Retention
When employees have the opportunity to work remotely, they’re more likely to stick around. Some employees reported they would stay with their current company if they were offered the opportunity to work remotely permanently.
Offering remote work can also help you attract top talent. In a survey of 2,000 professionals, 77% said they would be more likely to accept a job offer if the company allowed them to work remotely
9. Reduced Turnover Costs
The cost of turnover can be significant, and it’s often much higher than most employers realize.
The Center for American Progress estimates that the cost to replace an employee earning $30,000 per year is approximately 16% of their annual salary, or $4,800.
If you have high turnover in your company, offering remote work could help reduce those costs.
10. Increased Employee Engagement
Employee engagement is essential for any business, but it can be hard to maintain when employees are spread out or working remotely. Fortunately, remote work can actually increase employee engagement.
One study found that employees who work remotely are more engaged than those who work in an office. And engaged employees are more likely to be productive, stay with their company, and be less likely to look for a new job.
11. Wider Access to Talent
Offering remote work increases your chances of being able to employ workers who are more qualified to do the job. When specific skills are required, location can sometimes restrict access to qualified personnel. A remote or freelance hire may have all the skills you require. You might even hire someone from a different country thanks to remote work. This informative article speaks to the benefits of building a global company.
Remote work can also help businesses save money. For example, employers no longer have to provide office space for remote employees. And employees can save on things like transportation and child care costs.
Capitalize on the Benefits of Remote Work
The benefits of remote work are plenty. This list summarizes the top reasons you may want to encourage working remotely in your business. When it comes to managing employees, happy employees are usually the most productive.
If you’re running a business, begin to look for ways you can capitalize on remote work benefits for the cost savings and higher productivity you may enjoy.
Keep reading this blog for more ways to improve your business output.