21 Benefits of Remote Work for Employees and Employers

A staggering 98% of workers expressed the desire to work remotely, at least part of the time [3]. This overwhelming figure reflects the workforce’s growing affinity towards the flexibility, autonomy and work-life balance that remote work offers. Currently, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, illustrating the rapid normalization of remote work environments.

The ability to balance these two worlds has become the key to feeling happier and more productive while at work. Saving time that would otherwise be spent on a long commute allows employees to have better work-life balance and adds hours back into https://remotemode.net/blog/how-remote-work-can-benefit-employees-and-companies/ their days. With today’s technology, there’s no excuse for employers not to reap the benefits of a remote workforce. Internet connection and a good digital workplace platform means employees have access to all the apps they need to do their work.

Access to a Larger Talent Pool

Reflecting on the impacts of the pandemic on today’s workforce, this white paper explains the most critical trends in management and how you can improve processes in your company. Pedro Marques Quinteiro studies how teams work in space-analogue situations to predict and improve future work in space stations. Catching up with your boss through a weekly virtual or phone one-on-one can give you both a chance to stay up to date with each other. It’s subliminal and human nature by bosses to be wary when employees are out of sight, so protect yourself. Paulette Weems, a virtual assistant who lives in Miami, dresses for work in yoga pants or a pair of shorts and a tank top, but she’s careful to keep a scarf and a jacket in her home office for video calls.

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And as remote work becomes more common, businesses that don’t offer flexible work options will become unusual—and less attractive to employees. As many as 60% of companies now rely on such tools to track remote employees [12]. While these tools can aid productivity and accountability, they also pose privacy considerations, highlighting the need for transparency and consent in their use. Even sectors such as HR and recruiting and customer service, traditionally reliant on physical offices, are experiencing the benefits of remote work.

• Giving employees the freedom to seek out education and self-improvement also keeps them engaged and ensures they’re constantly adding more value.
• Based on this statistical analysis, remote work is not going anywhere any time soon.
• Depending on where remote employees live, employers may need to set up specific benefits to accommodate employees in specific locations.
• This increased productivity comes down to happier, healthier, and more rested employees and fewer distractions, saving time for deep work and problem-solving.
• Further complicating matters is when employees decide to work from a coffee shop or other location with public Wi-Fi, and when they bring personal devices onto a business network.
• As many as 60% of companies now rely on such tools to track remote employees [12].

Companies can offer online employee assistance programs (EAP) so employees can still stay physically and mentally fit in the comfort of their homes. Access to care may also become an issue for remote workers, especially those living in or relocating to more rural areas with fewer health care providers. In these cases, employers may want to consider leveraging telemedicine to provide routine and primary care and triage.

The pros and cons of working remotely

It can also promote colleagues to get to know each other through messenger apps and chats and find out how they can benefit each other. You spend many hours working so an office space you love to spend time in can increase your output. Remote employees can make their workspace as bright or plain as they wish. If you work remotely and have your own office space you can personalize it to reflect your personality. You can put up as many pictures of your kids and animals as you wish, to create an inspiring workspace. This is all about making your work area totally yours, with your favorite plants or your prized baseball cap collection.

• The average one-way commute time in the U.S. is 27.1 minutes, equating to nearly ten days commuting to and from work each year.
• Employees can create customized work areas that suit their needs and preferences.
• Moreover, young people working in more progressive organizations are already into remote working from different parts of the world, using Airbnbs and more specialized work-life abodes.
• In addition to personal health and wellbeing, co-worker and manager relationships tend to be more positive without the distractions and politicking of an in-office job.
• Remote workers rely heavily on technology and the tools they use to work and to communicate with the team.
• In fact, many of today’s top companies offer full, half, or partial remote work.

The biggest concern for most employers is how remote work will affect output. From saving money to time, there are many benefits that come from working remotely. In a physical office, employees may have more control over managing disruptions and trusting their coworkers will respect their need to focus. When working from home, however, personal disruptions—like a dog barking during an important call or a child needing immediate attention—can be harder to avoid.

The Psychological Challenges Of Remote Work

Some events happen during work hours which prevent employees from attending. Other employees have commitments outside of work that make it challenging to prioritize professional development. Employees need to be comfortable operating from home to ensure adequate disaster preparedness, so it’s essential to test that it’s possible. You may find that your team is more productive collaborating remotely than in an open-plan office. Supporting remote work is a great way to increase employee retention.

If you like living rural or in a small town, you no longer have to move to a city to get access to well-paid jobs. Remote work was a global movement before the coronavirus pandemic and only accelerated with it. According to Gallup, nearly 60% of U.S. employees working from home want to continue to do so. There are many other benefits that companies could offer remote workers – but what works for one company may not work for another.

In a Zoom meeting, there is no privilege on seating order or physical presence, as everyone’s screen is the same size. Without the need for long commutes to work and travel to other cities and countries, people find that they have a lot more time for their work and their families. This “found time” can be used to get more work done or spend more time with family, exercising, or relaxing. Gartner’s recent survey finds that about 70% of employees wish to continue some form of remote work.

For instance, if a company has a limited budget for a particular role, candidates in their location with a high cost of living might not be the best choice. Research shows that companies employing remote workforce earn more than those who don’t. Data reveal that companies save around $11.000 yearly per remote worker – a 21% profit increase. Search Remotely is a marketplace where existing and aspiring remote workers can find new employment opportunities, up-skill, and book co-living and co-working spaces globally. With no gaps in work and coordinated communication, companies can boost their productivity and output in ways that are simply no possible just during office hours at the location where your team is based. Many organizations spend years building the perfect teams of dedicated and talented employees.