The coronavirus pandemic has dismantled industrial workplaces and remote work culture is one of the most visible changes among other regulations that came into effect due to the pandemic. Remote work is going to stay around for a while, at least until the pandemic is gone. Have you ever thought of the benefits your business would get by continuing work from home policy beyond the pandemic?
6 Benefits Of Remote Work
Whether there is a pandemic or not, remote work offers various benefits to a company and its employers. Here are the six benefits of working remotely.
Better Balance Between Work And Life
A better work-life balance granted to the employees is one of the most impressive features of remote working. According to a Gallup study, 53% of the employees said that they regard the role with better work-life balance as very important.
A better work-life balance can:
- Decrease stress
- Reduce turnover
- Boost productivity
- Improve employee morale
- Keep employees happier
- Give employees more free time
- Stop the workers from burning out
To offer a harmonious work-life balance to the employees and keep their productivity levels high, consider continuing the practice of remote working even after the pandemic ends.
Improved Flexibility
How do you like the idea of rolling out of bed and walking straight into the office? Sounds impressive right? Remote working allows you to enjoy more flexibility in your work schedules.
The improved flexibility offered by remote working allows the employees to do things that they would normally be unable to do throughout a workday at the office. Employees get time to exercise, clean, and do other chores during break time without having to wait for their daily schedule to end.
No Transportation Required
Commuting can be a major hassle. Traffic and the extra time you take to get to the office and get back home make it difficult for you to save time for personal matters. With remote work, you no longer have to take the time-consuming commute, which means you get more free time and can boost your employee morale.
An average worker spends 52.2 minutes traveling to work every day. If you are doing a full-time job for 5 days in a week, then you would be spending 4.35 hours commuting to work every week.
Remote work cuts out commute time and helps the employees cut down on costs like gas and toll. They can achieve a better work-life balance and stay happier.
Boosted Productivity
Some employees may think that working from home may affect the productivity of employees. However, a study made the exact opposite observation. It found that employees that work from home are 13% more productive.
If you want a potential boost in productivity, consider permitting your employees to work from home partially or entirely from home even after the pandemic. Working in the comfort of homes avoids many distractions that employees would have to face in offices. In a noise-free environment without any interruptions, employees can exert better focus on their work and finish the tasks assigned to them quickly.
Better Communication
Working from home isn’t all about more leisure time. To ensure productivity while working from home, employees have to communicate with one another like they did while in the office. They require special tools for communication and collaboration. If the employees are provided with the necessary tools for communication, they can stay connected while working remotely.
In order to develop a solid communication culture within your remote team, invest in collaborative software, have regular team check-ins, and keep in touch with your team throughout the day.
Fewer Chances Of Falling Ill
Remote working can boost the health of employees in more than one way. It can give a mental health boost to the employees and help them stay clear of pathogens and pollutants.
In a remote working set up, sick employees can avoid infecting others in the office. Employees who aren’t seriously ill can get their work done at home.
Disadvantages Of Remote Working
Although there are many advantages to remote working, the working strategy has its downsides.
The cons of remote work vary depending on the employee’s role, business type, and home environment. Some of the disadvantages include:
- Employee isolation
- Possibility of increased distractions
- Technical issues (like loss of connectivity)
- Security risks
Before you decide on asking your employees to choose remote work partially or fully, analyze its advantages and disadvantages to predict the impact it will have on your business. In addition to considering the aforementioned disadvantages, ask yourself the following questions to decide if implementing remote work even after the pandemic ends will help your company:
- Will we be more productive than or at least as productive as we are in the office?
- Which tools are essential for my team’s success?
- Is the team ready to continue working remotely?
Take time and do some research to decide if remote work is the best option for your business as well as your employees in the long run.
