Almost around 99% of employees in the United States would prefer working remotely for the rest of their careers, even if it was only part-time remote working.
But even though there is an undeniable desire for a remote work solution, we’re witnessing The Great Return. After two years of the pandemic, some companies are ending their remote work orders. They’re bringing employees back into the office and ignoring the benefits of a remote workforce.
And there really are tons of reasons why you should keep your remote workplace. Read on to discover the top ways you stand to benefit from offering remote work!
1. Keeps Your Business Overheads Low
As a business owner or manager, you probably worry about your overhead costs. Keeping your employees working from home can lower these considerably.
Having an office means paying for rent, bills, furniture, supplies, and much more. Think about all the pastries for meetings and Christmas trees you’ve had to buy over the years.
But if you keep the transition to remote work permanent, you can cut out most of these costs. You will only need to provide your employees with hardware and software. They can even claim tax write-offs for energy use and office furniture if they work from home.
2. Promotes a Better Work-Life Balance
Running a 100% remote business means that you and your employees are more likely to enjoy a better work-life balance. You won’t spend most of your life either commuting to or at the office.
Instead, you and your employees can use that time to be with friends and family. You will have more time for hobbies and interests. It also means you can whip up home-cooked meals for lunch instead of eating a sad sandwich at your desk.
Work is important. But it shouldn’t be the only important thing in the lives of you or your remote workers.
3. Allows You to Recruit From Further Afield
Before remote work was an option, you could only hire staff from your local area. And if workers wanted a career in a specific industry, then they’d have to pack up their lives and move across state lines.
Running a remote business means that you can recruit employees from all over the country. You’ll gain access to a wider talent pool and be able to find more competent employees who better fit your company culture.
You might also be wondering how important it is that all of your employees are in the same time zone. Ask yourself, does it matter more that your employees live in EST or that they’re passionate and dedicated? When recruiting from a larger talent pool, you’re much more likely to find those employees who are committed to your business.
4. Increases Productivity and Efficiency
When you realize that finding employees in the same time zone isn’t as important as you think, this could start a snowball effect. You might also realize that your employees don’t all necessarily have to work the same hours.
Some people are more productive at certain times of the day. By forcing your workers to stick to the traditional 9-5 working hours, you might not be making use of their most productive hours. Many people create their best work early in the morning or late at night when they are less distracted.
Remote work allows the possibility of your workers “clocking in” at any time they feel prepared to work using remote timekeeping software. This will still enable you to check whether they are working full-time hours, and you can still assign a couple of mandatory working hours for team meetings every week if necessary.
5. Boosts Employee Morale and Retention
Small businesses can’t always match the benefits that corporate companies can offer employees. But they can afford to give other attractive benefits like remote work.
For some employees, this perk is far more important than monetary benefits. This means your employee retention will be high. If you were to force employees back in the office, some of your employees will hand in their two-weeks notice.
Employees also like companies that care about their wants and needs. Offering remote work when it’s clearly a priority for your employees will help boost employee morale and increase the trust between management and workers.
6. Reduces Presenteeism and Burnout
There’s a harmful practice within US offices in particular called presenteeism. This is where employees stay in the office longer than necessary so that their colleagues and bosses think they are hard workers.
Some employees also won’t leave the office until their boss leaves, even if they have no urgent work to complete. And some employers demand their workers stay late to show their dedication to the company. This can lead to worker burnout and lower productivity levels.
Remote businesses don’t have to worry about presenteeism because they don’t have a physical office. This means that how long employees stay doesn’t influence how their bosses and colleagues perceive them. The quality of their work is much more important.
Plus, if your employees are able to take time for themselves, they’re less likely to take sick days or be overstressed by working too much.
7. Improved Comfort for Vulnerable Staff
Though there are vaccine programs in almost every country, and the worst of the pandemic has likely passed, it isn’t over. Many living with chronic conditions are still nervous about catching the COVID-19 virus.
Allowing your employees to work from home enables them to protect their health and the health of their families. It also means you can avoid the spread of other viruses or germs that are rife in offices.
Remote working can also be beneficial for employees with physical disabilities. Their homes likely have all the modifications they need to be comfortable and therefore perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.
Permanent Remote Work Is the Way Forward
These reasons should prove why permanent remote working is the best solution for most companies. Keeping you and your employees happy should be your main focus, and remote work makes this possible.
If you’re still struggling with managing remote teams, you likely need to revamp your workflow and streamline your systems to suit remote work. That’s where Remote Work Made Simple can help.
We can give you a remote work toolkit that will allow your company to be more successful than ever. Find out how to get started here.
Recent Comments