Remote work (sometimes called working from home, telework, or telecommuting) is when employees perform their jobs from a location outside of the office. Typically, this means in their homes, coworking spaces, or other private locations.
Many people fear that when workers are allowed to work from home, company culture will suffer. But the truth is that it doesn’t have to!
Flexibility
A major advantage of remote work is that it gives employees flexibility to work where they want. In addition to saving companies costs, which may include office space, furniture, printers, and even commuting expenses, flexible working allows employees to save time and energy by not having to commute in the rush hour, and they can work in a more quiet, comfortable environment without distractions.
Another benefit is the ability to better manage personal commitments, such as taking care of children and elderly relatives. This flexibility can also help reduce stress levels, which is important for employee mental health and performance. In fact, a study from the University of Minnesota found that people who work remotely are more likely to exercise and eat healthier than their counterparts who work in the office.
Regardless of the size of a company or the industry, flexible work can be offered to employees as an option for meeting goals and driving productivity. Many companies now offer full, part-time, or occasional remote work as a way to attract talent and improve retention. And, according to FlexJobs’ 2020 survey, when done right, workers who work from home are just as productive (or sometimes more) than those who come into the office.
When it comes to managing a remote team, the key is communication. Managers should always be open to discussing remote work options with their teams, and they should provide clear expectations to their staff. They should also keep in touch with remote workers via phone, video conference calls, and virtual meetings to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding work objectives.
In addition, managers should encourage the use of collaborative software and tools that facilitate collaboration, such as Slack, Google Hangouts, and Zoom. Additionally, they should host in-person events to bring their team together, like retreats, team lunches, or formal get-togethers. This will give employees a sense of community that is often lacking in remote teams and can lead to higher levels of performance. Finally, they should consider implementing a more transparent time tracking system for remote workers to avoid any discrepancies between how much they work at the office and how much they work at home.
Boosted productivity
When COVID-19 forced businesses to rethink how they worked, many realised that remote work was here to stay. Whether they work from home or in an office, the flexibility that remote working provides helps them get more done in less time and without distractions.
Studies show that remote employees are a lot more productive than those who are in the office. That’s because they don’t have to worry about the stress of commuting or navigating traffic, and they can work in a comfortable environment that suits their needs. In addition, workers feel more engaged and motivated to do their jobs when they are not stressed out, which leads to a happier work life and improved morale.
However, it is important to note that if your business is going to allow employees to work remotely, they must have the right tools in place to do so. Otherwise, the productivity benefits can be wiped out by slow internet or unreliable applications that drain employee motivation. To avoid these pitfalls, make sure your business invests in top-quality hardware and software to keep remote teams happy and productive.
Besides ditching the dreaded commute, remote workers save money on gas and avoid the health hazards of sitting in rush hour traffic. This savings allows them to put more money into hobbies, travel, or even a side hustle. It also allows them to fit in daily workouts or healthy meals, and clock more snooze time, which gives them a better overall quality of life. This may explain why stats show that remote employees are less stressed and have higher morale than their in-office counterparts.
Another common misconception is that when workers are not in the office they will become lazy or slack off. However, the opposite is true: if you have the right tools in place and the right team culture, remote working can boost productivity more than ever before. It’s all about communication: a good system will allow your team members to collaborate in real-time, reducing friction and fostering a sense of camaraderie. Moreover, it will help your team to communicate more effectively and efficiently as they learn how to work together virtually.
Better mental health
Work can have a huge impact on mental health, but it doesn’t have to be the enemy. Remote and flexible work can actually offer a lot of benefits to the mind.
The flexibility of working from home allows workers to set their own schedules, making it easier for them to work at their most productive times of the day. This can help improve overall mental health by giving employees more time to relax during the evenings or take a short nap during the day.
Additionally, remote work can also help to improve physical health by allowing employees to spend more time outdoors and exercise. This is particularly beneficial for people who live in areas with harsh climates or who have to commute long distances each day, as these workers often report an improvement in their overall health as a result of working from home.
One of the major disadvantages to remote work, however, is that it can be difficult for people to connect with coworkers on a regular basis. Many people find themselves feeling lonely, especially if they’re transitioning from a traditional office job to their first remote role. This can be particularly hard when they’re working with a team that’s scattered across different locations and time zones.
Fortunately, there are ways to overcome this issue. One way is to encourage employees to communicate with their teammates on a daily basis, whether through a virtual chat tool like Slack or more traditional channels of communication. Another way is to organize small gatherings of workers from the same region or company. These meetings can be a great opportunity to catch up with coworkers and feel more connected.
While there are some pros and cons to remote work, most individuals agree that it offers a host of mental health benefits that the office can’t match. As businesses decide between continuing remote work during the pandemic or returning to an in-office environment, they should keep in mind how it can benefit their employees’ mental well-being and overall satisfaction with their job.
Better retention
Retaining employees is one of the biggest challenges that businesses face, and this is especially true in the remote work era. Fortunately, there are several strategies that companies can use to improve employee retention and boost their bottom line. One of the best ways to do this is by offering flexible working. Flexible work gives your employees the freedom to choose where and when they want to work, which can lower stress levels and increase job satisfaction. In addition, it can help eliminate unnecessary distractions that can impact productivity. Furthermore, it can help reduce absenteeism as employees won’t feel the need to miss work if they are happy in their jobs.
Moreover, flexible working can also save your business money by lowering recruitment and training costs. Employees are more likely to stay with a company that they are happy in, and this can reduce the number of lost staff members and the time it takes to train new hires. In addition, allowing employees to work from home can save your business money by eliminating the cost of office space and equipment.
In addition, a study by TINYpulse found that employees who work from home are less stressed and more satisfied in their jobs than those who work in the office. In fact, 75% of employees in a Softchoice survey said they would be willing to quit their current job for one that offered flex working.
Another way that remote work can boost retention is by reducing the amount of time and energy that is wasted on commuting. In a study by Royal Society for Public Health in the UK, it was found that commutes can be very stressful and cause high levels of fatigue and anxiety. By letting employees work from home, they can save themselves time and money on commuting, which can help improve their mental and physical health.
It is important for every organization to consider implementing a remote work policy and find innovative ways to enable it to happen. In addition, it is a good idea to allow employees of all levels to work remotely – including executives. Failure to implement a remote work policy at the executive level can prevent top-level employees from advancing within their organizations, thereby affecting morale and increasing the risk of turnover.