Remote work is an option more companies are looking at in the ongoing COVID pandemic, and rightfully so. If a business can operate remotely, giving employees the freedom to work from their homes, it provides advantages on both sides of the coin.
In the corporate world, remote work is becoming the new norm. It’s what many workers want, and many employers are listening. There are many advantages of remote work for businesses and workers alike.
Here are the sixteen benefits of remote work for business productivity:
Benefit #1: Increased Job Satisfaction
Most employees working remotely or in work-from-home conditions report increased job satisfaction. This means better morale, higher productivity, and a higher likelihood of these employees remaining with their existing employer.
Benefit #2: You Still Have Communication Channels
Nowadays, employee communication software exists to make remote work easier than ever. Open communication channels allow workers to keep in touch with coworkers and upper management, garnering direction and answering questions efficiently throughout the day.
Benefit #3: More Work-Life Balance
As someone can work from home, this allows them to look after their children, be home when their kids arrive home from school, care for a parent or grandparent, eat more nutritious meals, and more. A better work-life balance is a major benefit of remote work.
Benefit #4: Flexibility in Work Conditions
There is a lot of flexibility that comes with remote work. Workers can choose what they wear and where they set up for the day’s work and customize their work environment according to how they like. This gives employees a sense of ownership over their workspaces.
Benefit #5: Less Stress and Anxiety
Going to work and being in a workplace can be very stressful. This wears on someone’s mental and physical health. Working remotely reduces exposure to stressors, putting employees in a better mood for work.
Benefit #6: Location Independence
The ability for an employee to work anywhere means you’re more likely to retain them if they have to move. For example, if one’s spouse gets work in another city and the family moves, you’d normally lose that employee. Location independence, however, allows you to keep the worker and keep your workforce intact.
Benefit #7: Custom Workspaces
A person can work at home, in a café, in the car, or while travelling. They can pick their office desk, their chair, and the décor around them and prioritize their comfort in a way that working in a public office does not.
Benefit #8: More Productivity
Employees have so much control over their work environment, attire, and what’s around them, which usually means they’re more focused on the work. Numerous companies have reported an increase in productivity traced to remote work.
Benefit #9: Plan Your Own Schedule
Some remote work involves freelancing, contracting, or task-oriented. This allows a worker to plan their schedule a bit better and work around the hours of their household. This flexibility isn’t always present in all remote work, but for some, it is.
Benefit #10: More Inclusivity
Work-from-home opportunities allow companies to hire people they may not otherwise be able to. Disabled people. Individuals with barriers geographically or socio-economically. People of different cultural backgrounds. This benefits companies as they expand their collection of potential hires. For workers, it gives them greater opportunity to access quality employment.
Benefit #11: Reduce Absenteeism
Remote work has helped businesses save money and reduce absenteeism. A worker can continue working through sickness or on days when they might not be available to come to work, either due to sickness or other commitments.
Benefit #12: Improve Business Perception
Remote work prioritizes the worker. It will give employees a positive perception of your brand, which builds loyalty. Work-from-home is popular and a relatively easy switch for most companies.
Benefit #13: Business Cost Savings
A business can save a lot of money by offering remote work. They can rent a smaller office space or potentially none at all. They save on rent, utilities, office supplies, materials and inventory, and office equipment. A business doesn’t sacrifice anything, either, with remote work. They get productivity and performance from their workforce, with lower expenses overall.
Benefit #14: Reduced Carbon Footprint
Remote work means less travel. Fewer people having to travel reduces greenhouse gas emissions, something any company can be proud of. You also will have less paper use in-office and less office space use. It may not be a primary reason to switch to remote work. However, it’s a significant by-product that should be noted.
Benefit #15: Upgrades Your IT Infrastructure
Remote work means updating any outdated software and improving your IT infrastructure. Upgrading to remote work and team communication software is easy for most companies and can drastically improve communication between workers.
Benefit #16: Saving Money on Your Commute
Commutes are costly in time and finances. The chance to save a worker anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple hours a day driving to and from work is a massive benefit of remote work. That doesn’t even factor in gas, parking, or public transportation costs. This alone has more people wanting remote work.