But while isolation from your coworkers may persist if you work from home after the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not nearly as restricted as you were in the early days of lockdown. Cost-effectiveness and productivity are, therefore, among the most commonly cited advantages of remote work. But beyond these economic effects, there are many other benefits of remote work that appeal to both employers and employees. But it becomes critical when an organization must accommodate remote working arrangements. A company’s potential security loopholes increase when factoring in antivirus software, firewalls and VPN configurations for employees’ home internet connections. Further complicating matters is when employees decide to work from a coffee shop or other location with public Wi-Fi, and when they bring personal devices onto a business network.
- Many companies were using outdated tools, forcing them to upgrade their systems.
- We all need a break, so take that extra time to call a friend, play with your pet, hang with your family, or go out to your favorite spot for dinner.
- For many businesses, even a couple of decades ago, working remotely would have been nearly impossible.
- And home broadband access is generally less prevalent in Black and Hispanic residences compared to white residences, according to a PEW Research Center survey.
Remote employees have more freedom
Remote workers reported stable or increased productivity while working remotely compared to in an office, according to a Great Place to Work report. During 2020, the steepest productivity improvements came in April and May, during the height of the pandemic. Much of this was due to the elimination of daily commutes and lengthy in-person meetings.
Greater Job Satisfaction
A traditional employee would need to request time off in order to do so. But a remote employee can still clock in from home or a regional headquarters at their destination, as well as check in, as needed. From working from home to traveling abroad to being in the office one day a week or three, employees enjoy the freedom of remote work. Generally speaking, remote employees report a much higher degree of job satisfaction than those who work in a central office space. That morale boost leads to more employee engagement, which is a proven way to keep experienced employees happy, motivated and loyal. Satisfied employees tend not to jump ship to other opportunities as frequently.
Understanding the advantages of remote work is a good place to start. Virtual workers can benefit from reduced healthcare costs and increased employee engagement by promoting a healthy lifestyle. According to a ConnectSolutions survey, 45% of remote professionals sleep more, 35% exercise more, and 42% eat healthier than on-site employees. Employees can prioritize their physical and mental health with more control over their work areas and schedule. Employees can create customized work areas that suit their needs and preferences.
Millions of workers have left their jobs as a part of the Great Resignation. Lack of work-from-home flexibility is one of the many reasons why employees are quitting their jobs recently. Companies that offer the benefits of remote work flexibility stand to retain more talent. Without the physical presence of a supervisor, remote employees must be accountable for their own output and time management. The boundaries between your job and your life can become blurred when you work from home. According to research from NordLayer, remote employees in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada put in an average of two extra hours of work per day in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is a huge advantage for people who have difficulty fitting traditional work hours into their schedules. The first and most obvious benefit of working remotely is that it gives you the opportunity to create a better work-life balance. Let’s break this down and consider the most important advantages of remote work from both perspectives, starting with the two just mentioned. In fact, a recent study investigating the process of remote work adoption by US organizations found that the model has become a widespread and increasingly standard workplace practice. While early predictions suggested that this new trend was a passing fad likely to end with the pandemic, it’s now clear that remote work is here to stay.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of remote work for both employees and employers. Before the pandemic, remote work wasn’t an option for her; now her company is fully WFH and only maintains office space for monthly meetings. Global lockdowns forced all but essential workers to adopt remote work almost overnight. People scrambled to set up home offices and adjust to back-to-back virtual meetings and online collaboration.
In nearly every industry, employers and employees alike are benefiting from the advantages of remote work
Having fewer benefits of working remotely employees in the office also reduces costs for a business. Do you see a thriving, energetic work center, or are you imagining some of the desks sitting empty, waiting to be filled with next year’s hires? That ghost town effect is real—and could be costing your company thousands in wasted spending. With fewer people in the office, companies can condense their real estate footprint, allowing for more efficient workspace usage. That same Stanford study of remote workers allowed the participating company to save nearly $2,000 per employee on its office space rent, simply by using the space more efficiently. Providing employees with the flexibility to work where and when they want cuts across all industries and company sizes.
For Employees
This is because remote teams use written communication more than teams in traditional offices, which can lead to more clear and concise communication overall. When you work remotely, you can choose the schedule that works best for you. Flexible hours allow you to take care of personal errands during the day and then make up for the time by working in the evening or on weekends, if necessary.
Businesses can also maintain operations during unforeseen circumstances, such as natural disasters or public health crises. As a result, work can continue despite disruptions because employees can access applications and data from anywhere. “We’re on FaceTime and Zoom every day, but you can’t have the same quick side conversations on a video call,” Bostwick says. With no commute, you contribute fewer greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere.
The proliferation of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic reflected the harsh realities of coping with a deadly communicable disease. While some heralded the development as a net positive for employers and employees alike, others were less convinced. Articles and op-eds proclaiming it was bad for business and for the careers of those who didn’t want to return to offices popped up on a regular basis. There are many distractions at home that can detract from an employee’s focus on their work.