Whether you’ve recently accepted your first remote job or have been thinking about it for a while, there are a few things to consider before jumping into this new career path.
Working remotely can bring a lot of benefits to your work and your life. In this article, we’ll explore five of them: Flexibility, Better Health, Work-Life Balance, More Productivity, and Better Communication.
1. Flexibility
The flexibility of remote work can be beneficial for employees. It can improve their productivity, increase their wellbeing, and enhance their work-life balance.
When companies offer flexible options, they should develop written frameworks that clearly lay out expectations and communicate these policies widely to ensure everyone understands how to use them. These policies should also be transparent, accessible, and equitable.
In the past, managers have often managed flexibility in one of two ways: as an accommodation around individual work-life events such as illness or childcare, which they used to attract and retain workers; or as boundaryless working, in which employees are expected to be available 24/7 to perform their jobs.
Flexibility may have unintended consequences if it is implemented without structures or norms, resulting in an unpredictable work program that can disrupt work-life balance and cause disorganized communication. It can also worsen inequalities if it is not equitable and does not support cultural consistency or career advancement.
For example, if an organization’s flexibility policy excludes immigrants or people of color, it can be harmful for these employees because they are not able to fulfill their work-life needs and feel isolated from their coworkers. In addition, it can create an environment that is not conducive to workplace diversity and innovation.
For this reason, companies must take the time to evaluate their flexibility policies and ensure they are aligned with their business needs. They can do this by assessing employee preferences, managing workload, and setting expectations for working remotely or in another flexible arrangement. They can then fine-tune their policies and practices to make them more effective.
2. Better Health
Aside from the flexibility that remote work offers, it also has some great health benefits. Many people have reported that they have been able to make healthier eating and exercise habits as a result of working remotely.
Another benefit of remote work is that it can reduce stress levels and increase productivity. It can also help you avoid the flu and other illnesses as you are not exposed to germs and other toxins.
This is especially true if you live in an area where the flu is common and you are prone to getting sick. You can save money on medical expenses as you are able to stay home and not have to worry about going to the doctor or having to pay for travel costs to get there.
Additionally, it can improve your mental health as you are not exposed to toxic coworkers. This can be a huge relief for those who have had to put up with workplace bullying or discrimination based on race, religion, or sexual preference & identity.
Employees also have more control over their lives as they no longer have to worry about commuting and long hours in the office away from their families or friends. They can enjoy more time with their loved ones and take care of things at home, giving them the energy to be better employees.
Overall, the better health benefits of remote work are quite significant and they can be beneficial for both employers and employees. As a result, it is important that employers make this option available to their employees. It can help to increase job satisfaction and lower turnover rates resulting in savings for the company.
3. Better Work-Life Balance
Remote work can help foster a positive work-life balance. Employees have the freedom to set their own schedules and can make time for personal activities that they enjoy.
This can help them feel less stressed at work and more satisfied with their job. In fact, a 2020 Nitro study found that remote employees reported less stress than their office-based peers did at the same time.
However, there are still some challenges that employees may encounter when they work remotely. For example, they need to learn how to manage their time wisely and be disciplined about not working outside of their scheduled hours.
It can be helpful to set goals for each day. This can motivate workers to get the most out of their time. Moreover, it will keep them on track with their tasks and projects.
Another way to achieve a better work-life balance is to limit distractions, such as social media. It can also be useful to use the Pomodoro technique, which focuses on short bursts of focus.
In addition, it is important to communicate regularly and meet deadlines. This will help people see that you are a reliable team member and can be relied upon for quality work.
Finally, it is a good idea to have daily meetings / team calls. This can give the opportunity for employees to discuss their thoughts and feelings freely without having to worry about suffocating in silence or wasting time on idle chatter.
In addition to these benefits, working from home can also be beneficial for the company itself. It can boost productivity, increase executive retention and reduce turnover. This can lead to a higher revenue and profit margin.
4. More Productivity
Productivity is an important factor in the success of any business, and if you’re looking for ways to increase your remote employees’ productivity, there are many options. For example, employers can offer a variety of flexible work schedules, which can help to make remote employees more productive.
Another benefit of remote work is that it can encourage better communication. As a result, workers can develop strong relationships with their peers. They can also collaborate easily and efficiently through written communication.
In addition, remote workers often have a more relaxed lifestyle, which allows them to focus on work without distractions. This is beneficial for both employees and employers, as it can promote a more productive and healthy work environment.
One way to improve communication is by offering daily or weekly meetings where everyone can discuss upcoming projects, deadlines and any other topics. Having meetings is also a great way to ensure that all parties understand each other’s goals and expectations, which can help reduce the risk of communication mishaps.
Other ways to increase productivity among your remote employees include eliminating distractions, creating a daily schedule and maintaining a positive work-life balance. Employees should have a consistent routine that allows them to get up and start working at the right time each day.
In addition, workers should avoid talking non-work-related matters in office meetings because this can distract them and derail their productivity. Instead, they should pre-read and prepare for their meetings so they can be more effective in the discussion. This will save them time and energy and will increase their overall productivity. They can even take advantage of small business organization apps to note what they need to do and organize their tasks in a more efficient manner.
5. Better Communication
While many people think that remote work is the death of communication, it actually brings a lot of benefits to employees. For one, it can promote better communication between coworkers, which is essential for great teamwork.
In addition, remote work is beneficial for the company itself because it saves money on rent and utilities. It also reduces employee absenteeism and can help prevent staff turnover.
Another key benefit of remote work is the ability to build relationships with colleagues from around the world. This can be done through messenger apps and other communication tools.
Getting to know each other in this way can be beneficial for collaboration because it increases trust, which makes it easier to communicate across cultures and time zones.
While it’s easy to get lonely working remotely, building relationships with fellow workers can improve morale and increase productivity. This can make remote work a more enjoyable experience for both employers and employees.
For example, it can be helpful to set up daily conference calls that allow remote workers to discuss ongoing projects and get answers to questions without wasting time or disrupting their workflow. This will also give leaders a chance to create relationships with their team members, which can boost employee engagement.
It is important for leaders to keep remote workers informed of the company’s goals and initiatives, which will enhance their performance and improve their productivity levels. This is especially true when it comes to projects that involve a lot of communication and coordination.