Like we’ve covered, remote workers should be supported with good technology and digital workplace solutions they can access anywhere, even across multiple time zones if necessary. Using a remote workforce to cut back on office space is a reliable way to save money. With remote work, employees no longer have to live in one neighborhood, city, or country even to work for a company. Remote work also opens the door to students, caregivers, people with disabilities, and a host of other workers who might otherwise have been unavailable. Among other benefits of working remotely, this access to a broader talent pool can also help companies ride out the current ‘turnover tsunami’ we’re currently experiencing. The benefits of working remotely for both employees and employers are becoming more and more apparent.

When COVID-19 forced companies all over the world to send their employees home to work virtually, remote work had a big moment. If a company employees people all over the world they can be open 24/7. 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. If you telecommute or are a freelancer and how companies benefit when employees work remotely work from home you can set up your desk where you want it, close the door if you wish, and listen to music if it helps you express your creativity. If you’re actively seeking out remote-working roles, be sure to explore the finer details of the job ads you’re interested in. If the job spec states “must work on site”, then it’s very unlikely that the hiring manager will consider an applicant who wants to work remotely.

What are some of the benefits of working remotely?

Having fewer employees in the office also reduces costs for a business. Do you see a thriving, energetic work center, or are you imagining some of the desks sitting empty, waiting to be filled with next year’s hires? That ghost town effect is real—and could be costing your company thousands in wasted spending. With fewer people in the office, companies can condense their real estate footprint, allowing for more efficient workspace usage. That same Stanford study of remote workers allowed the participating company to save nearly $2,000 per employee on its office space rent, simply by using the space more efficiently.

• Working remotely means it doesn’t matter if you live at the top of a mountain or next to the sea.
• Products like Slack, Monday.com, Outlook and HR Software mean that you no longer have to be in the same building – or even country – to work on a project or hold a meeting.
• This major economic benefit of remote work could continue as more companies make it a long-term solution.
• This recognition typically translates into loyalty to the company and high productivity.

The average one-way commuting time in the U.S. is 27.1 minutes—that’s nearly an hour each day spent getting to and from work, and it really adds up. According to the Auto Insurance Center, commuters spend about 100 hours commuting and 41 hours stuck in traffic each year. Some “extreme” commuters face much longer commute times of 90 minutes or more each way. Employees can be more productive when working from home as it’s in their interest to get the job done effectively and not waste time. Loyalty also means employee retention, as staff won’t look for another job if they’re happy where they are. This is a cost saving for the company as it avoids new hires and it also retains skills.

The hybrid workplace benefits both employees and employers

Providing employees with the flexibility to work where and when they want cuts across all industries and company sizes. In fact, many of today’s top companies offer full, half, or partial remote work. Working remotely doesn’t always mean “from home,” either; it can apply anytime an employee works off-site—whether that’s at a coffee shop or a flexible workspace.

• With remote work, you can hire the top talent your company needs and deserves.
• Organizations also must contend with the possibility of confidentiality breaches.
• A shift to 15 to 20 percent of workers spending more time at home and less in the office could have profound impacts on urban economies.
• Beyond offering hybrid work, there are more ways that companies and FMs can counter the negative aspects of remote working.
• In the past, employers have been reluctant to abandon their punch-in-punch-out policies but giving employees the ability to work remotely does have its rewards.

As virtual meetings become a normal business event, the technology will also improve. In some cases, remote work, especially when completed in a timely and effective manner, can help increase collaboration and enhance job satisfaction for employees. Remote work makes some employees worry about career progression, and nearly 60% of managers feel remote work is robbing them of opportunities for informal leadership development, according to the Owl Labs survey. This is where remote team-building efforts and one-on-one discussions on career development are critical for the well-being of employees and the long-term growth of the organization.