Everyone is talking about the future of work, and remote work seems like the hero that will usher in a new age. Many organizations held their breath when they took the remote plunge, but they discovered that it wasn’t as bad as they thought.
In fact, it’s kind of nice.
Research[1] has proven that remote work has improved employee engagement and retention and contributes to the company’s growth. Let’s look closer at the benefits of remote work for the employees as well as the organization.
Benefits of working remotely for employees
Zero commuting time
According to the US census bureau, the average commute to work and home again is 52 minutes. With the exponential increase in traffic all around, employees tend to lose a significant amount of their time on the road. Remote work helps employees put their valuable time to good use. With plenty of time saved in travel, employees get to be more productive and get more work done for the day.
Save money
Not only does remote working save commute time but it also helps save money. Gas, car maintenance, public transportation, lunches bought outside, business attire and many more expenses are reduced considerably, leaving the employee with more savings. Additionally, one can say goodbye to unhealthy eating habits by having regular home-cooked meals.
Health benefits of working remotely
The carbon footprint we leave behind commuting from work to home and back has significantly raised over the years. The increase of greenhouses gases (GHG) in the atmosphere has impacted human health and the environment[2] causing respiratory diseases and degrading the air quality. By choosing to work remotely, employees experience lesser commute stress and are exposed to lesser pollutants. Also, with fewer people commuting daily, pollution levels will reduce and the planet will become greener.
Employees get to focus more on their mental well-being by spending more time with their dear ones. They can even maintain eating habits, health routines, and even try to get their daily dose of exercise to improve their physical health.
Work-life balance
Personal life is as important as work life and to many it matters even more. But in today’s fast-paced business world, striking a perfect balance between work and personal life is no easy task. Long commutes and long work hours has left employees’ work-life balance[3] hanging by a thread.
With remote work, employees can save all the time spent commuting. Also, with a flexible schedule, employees can manage their own work schedules and spend more quality time with their family. Having a good work-life balance leads to improved mental health and less burnouts thus improving employee performance.
Inclusiveness
Managers practice bias and favoritism with or without knowing. While working with team members remotely, all of a sudden the who, when and where don’t matter anymore. Companies track employees performance based on their results rather than on physical supervision, thus eliminating discrimination and providing an equal playing ground for all.
Customizable office
From a good ergonomic chair to having an office setup which meets your medical needs, employees get to customize their home office to their choice. Employees even get to choose their preferred work location everyday — be it the park, the coffee shop, or the house terrace.
Working from anywhere can become a reality with remote work. A change in environment can always help with flow of ideas and perspectives.
Job Satisfaction
Let’s see — Zero commute, money saving, better well being, work-life balance, inclusiveness and customized office. What more could an employee ask for? Remote work brings job satisfaction as it comes with the above mentioned benefits. With job satisfaction, employees are prone to be more engaged, stick to the job and perform better.
Benefits of working remotely for employers
Attract potential talent
Finding the right talent for the right job is a challenge by itself. When companies try to fill positions, they tend to restrict their search because relocation is no walk in the park for both the employee and the company. Companies have to offer an attractive amount for relocation to get the best talent come work for them. Many times, companies lose out on potential talent due to geographical location. With remote working options, companies can break geographical boundaries and expand their talent pool thus making the hiring process easier and faster. This indeed is a huge step forward because companies now get to maintain their competitive edge in the market by attracting more talent and growing faster.
Retention of employees
A research by Gallup[4] shows that 51% of workers would switch to jobs with flexible work hours. That is half the workforce. Remote working has become so common now that companies who don’t offer it are considered unusual. By offering flexible work hours companies can drastically reduce attrition and retain their best talent.
Increase in employee engagement
Employee engagement is the emotional commitment the employee has to the organization and its goals. An engaged employee works towards achieving the organization’s goal rather for only a paycheck or a promotion. Creating a work environment that prioritizes work-life balance helps employers invest in employee engagement.
Employee engagement has a direct effect on the profits of the organization. According to Towers Perrin Global workforce research[5], a company with the highest level of employee engagement gains 3.7% in operating margins and companies with the lowest employee engagement dropped by 2%.
Increase in employee productivity
Employee engagement is directly proportional to employee productivity. An engaged employee takes discretionary efforts at work i.e. they go the extra mile for their company’s success, without being asked. They get work done faster and more effectively without many distractions and interruptions. Working in a quiet and personalized space removes/minimizes many distractions one experiences on-site, like office politics, stress due to commute etc. Thus leading to more productivity.
Diversity
With no geographical limitations, companies get to hire potential talent from anywhere around the world. Inducing diversity in the workplace brings a wider perspective, more innovation and creativity, and a deeper understanding of the market. Diversity also inculcates good relationships within the team and helps improve productivity.
Lower operating cost
Money savings is not only for employees but for organizations as well. Think about the money an organization would save if they had all their employees working remotely full time. Running cost, maintenance cost, workspace rental cost, to name a few, would all be eliminated from the equation, leaving the company with a satisfying income statement.
Environmental impact
With companies building huge infrastructures to attract talent, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and e-waste have been on the rise, leaving a significant carbon footprint. By opting to work remotely, companies can drastically reduce the carbon emission caused by commuting, reduce office supply wastage, paper waste, food wastage and energy usage. Reducing carbon footprint not only impacts the environment but also saves the organization money.
As you can see, the benefits of remote work extend far beyond working in casuals. However, one can only enjoy the benefits to the fullest when there is a structure that enables remote teams to keep working in sync. A digital workplace offers a single platform where employees can collaborate, and innovate. Because it’s a single platform, it’s easier to work remotely, with access to data anytime and anywhere to get the job done. A platform like this takes all the benefits of remote working and makes it better. Remote working is sure to become the best path forward and a Digital Workplace facilitates its existence.
Reaping the benefits with the right platform
As you can see, the benefits of remote work extend far beyond working in casuals. Though the pandemic has acted as a catalyst for remote work for many employees around the World, it is not the only reason to work from home. When it comes to telecommuting, everybody is a winner. However, one can only enjoy the benefits to the fullest when there is a system around it. Digital Workplace takes all the benefits of remote working and makes it better.
A single platform where employees can go to collaborate, coordinate work, advance processes, and manage projects. Because it’s a single platform, it’s easier to work remotely, with access to data anytime and anywhere to get the job done. Remote working is sure to become the best path forward and a Digital Workplace facilitates its existence.
