Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has given many workers a new appreciation of its freedom. Without having to commute every day, they have more time for both work and family life.
But, to create an effective long-term remote work policy requires adjustments in management styles, communication methods and company culture. Here are some benefits and challenges associated with adopting such an arrangement.
1. Flexibility
Prior to 2020, only a few companies had remote work policies in place and it wasn’t something most people were familiar with or experienced. Since then, however, telework has seen exponential growth and should only become increasingly popular over time.
Working from home offers many advantages for employees and businesses alike. Employees benefit from being able to set up a productive home office and forgoing long commutes; more time for self-care, family obligations, exercise or hobbies! Plus those able to focus on tasks without interruption.
Implementing remote work options can enable business owners to hire the ideal talent from anywhere around the world – this is particularly advantageous for accounting firms and small-to-mid sized enterprises (SMBs). Furthermore, working remotely increases data security since documents will be saved securely in an online cloud repository accessible only by authorized personnel.
Remote work offers many advantages, yet some potential drawbacks as well. Some employees may become isolated in a virtual workplace and miss opportunities to interact with colleagues and supervisors, find it hard to separate personal from professional issues and feel they don’t have enough insight into company goals and achievements.
But these challenges can easily be met head on by using tools such as project management software that enables teams to collaborate on projects in real-time, communication apps that allow employees to showcase their accomplishments, and in-person meetings and remote work can provide employees with an opportunity to build relationships while still accomplishing assigned tasks at home.
2. Increased productivity
Workers during the COVID-19 pandemic found they were much more productive when working from home. Without distractions like long coffee breaks, social media updates, or personal calls – they were able to focus solely on work tasks without being pulled aside for lengthy coffee breaks, social media updates or personal calls – more projects were completed more quickly; many managers now permit employees to work from home at least once or twice weekly to boost productivity.
Subtracting commuter stress reduces back and eye strain, along with other physical ailments that result from extended time spent sitting or standing at an office desk, contributing to improved back health, eye strain and job satisfaction – leading to greater employee retention rates and decreased recruitment costs for new hires.
Furthermore, remote work arrangements enable businesses to tap into a larger talent pool of applicants – particularly in locations where finding qualified applicants can be challenging. Furthermore, flexible working arrangements may attract millennial candidates more readily than older generations are open to working remotely.
But while flexible working has many advantages, both employees and employers must address some concerns related to it. Communication and collaboration may become challenging without being able to interact face-to-face, and regular meetings must take place to review progress and issues. Furthermore, not all jobs are suitable for remote working; positions requiring frequent interpersonal interactions or extensive direct supervision may not lend themselves well to this model; having both on-site employees as well as remote ones is often the optimal solution.
3. Employee retention
Employees who work from home typically enjoy greater balance in their personal lives and are typically more motivated to put forth effort at their job – this results in lower turnover costs associated with replacing and training new hires regularly.
Remote work allows employees to spend more time at home with their family and children, as well as possibly relocate to an area with lower cost of living – potentially saving money on childcare and travel costs while relieving stress from commutes or finding affordable housing in big cities.
One of the greatest challenges associated with working remotely is creating social bonds among coworkers since face-to-face communication is less frequent. This can create feelings of isolation; however, companies such as GitHub and InVision are combatting this through providing coworking stipends and team retreats for virtual collaboration.
Remote work offers employers another advantage for hiring more diverse workforces. By eliminating geographical limitations, remote work opens up potential candidates to those who otherwise might not be eligible to apply for on-site jobs due to other responsibilities such as caring for elderly parents or managing chronic health conditions – creating an inclusive culture within your business that directly improves quality of work produced.
4. Reduced stress
Working from home allows employees to strike a work-life balance, which can significantly lower stress levels in their lives. Working from home allows more time with family, friends and hobbies – as well as eliminating commute time expenses (according to FlexJobs the average American spends over $4500 annually in commute costs!). Working from home helps employees reduce this cost.
Stress relief can have many positive outcomes for employee wellbeing and job satisfaction. Although remote work offers several advantages, its nature can lead to feelings of isolation; to counter this possibility it is essential that team members make time to socialize face-to-face at least once every week.
Implement tools that enable employees to track their own progress and performance, like project management software or a cloud environment that offers document protection not available elsewhere in traditional offices. One such way to reduce stress at work would be for employees to track their own advancement. For instance, project management software gives supervisors visibility into each team member’s work while celebrating milestones – giving supervisors opportunities for celebration of individual accomplishments or team achievements.
As more businesses move toward hybrid office models, it’s worth exploring how they can leverage remote work benefits to achieve their goals. To do this effectively and sustainably, leaders must clearly articulate how this strategy fits within the greater picture of goals and objectives for their company; then create a sustainable part of business life through remote working.
5. Lower costs
While remote work may not provide as much social interaction, employees typically value its flexibility. Not only can employees enjoy better balance between work and home life with remote working arrangements; relocation to areas with lower cost of living also allows employers to save costs associated with childcare costs.
Employers also benefit from remote work as it reduces costs associated with office space rentals and allows companies to recruit from a more geographically diverse pool of candidates – something which helps improve team quality while increasing bottom lines. Furthermore, should an employee choose to leave for another position with greater flexibility, their employer won’t incur as many costs related to replacing that employee and training their replacement.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many people to question what their jobs really mean and if they were fulfilling. When offices reopened, workers made clear their determination to find work-life fulfillment; work-from-home was an increasingly popular choice during the pandemic and 91% of Americans say they plan to keep this option for at least some of their time.
Remote working will continue to expand as more businesses recognize its benefits for a flexible workforce. Remote work is an extremely useful technology tool that can meet the needs of both business leaders, employees and independent professionals in 2019. As you plan for 2017, consider how remote work technology could help achieve your goals in 2019.
