Remote Work, Why Some are Ditching the Office

There are plenty of reasons to consider working remotely. Maybe you’re tired of the daily commute, or you’re looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint. Or maybe you just want to be able to work in your PJs. Whatever your reasons, remote work can be a great way to improve your quality of life.

Some people think that working remotely is all about taking long lunches and not having to wear pants. While this may be true for some people, for the majority of us, remote and hybrid work is a great way to get more done.

In fact, there are many benefits to remote work for both employees and employers.  So, if you are looking for a way to increase your team’s productivity or just want to learn some best practices for working remotely, read on!

Increased productivity

If employees can work from anywhere, that means they’re not confined to a specific space or time limit. I’m writing this blog from a farm 150 miles from my home, and my change in scenery has only improved my work. 

For people with more creative jobs, a remote job can be extremely beneficial to their productivity. If you have more time-sensitive tasks to complete, then there are still ways to keep your team on task. You can have your employees fill our task logs, or go the more extreme route of using monitoring apps.

You should reserve these extreme micromanaging techniques for when you really need to use them though. Let your employee’s work speak for itself if you can. If reports are being turned in on time, and tasks are completed when they need to be, then working from home is working for your team!

We use a combination of letting our work speak for itself, and tasks logs for our different clients to be able to charge them. You might have to trial and error a few systems before you find the one that works best for your team. But, remote work can greatly benefit your productivity. 

We have a blog all about improving team productivity for you to read if you need some help. Our website is also chock-full of resources and tools to help you.

Reduced stress levels

Working from home can help elevate a multitude of stresses. From not having to get ready every day, to simply taking a break whenever you need to, the stress relievers are endless. 

You don’t have employees coming in aggravated after a difficult ride to work, or people calling off due to a lack of transportation. You have fewer in-office disputes, and no crying in the office bathroom (we know it happens to the best of us). 

Not to mention wearing comfortable clothes and being around your pets all day. Reduced stress is one of the best benefits of remote work. 

More flexibility 

Allowing your employees to choose where they work can leave time for them to handle the things they need. If your employees aren’t doing time-sensitive work, then let people have flexibility with their schedules. If they’re getting their time-sensitive tasks done on time, let them have flexibility with their schedule.

The next generation of employees is not going to fight for sick days or time to visit the doctor. They will take the time when they need it or they will find other jobs. There are too many jobs hiring for any employer to make it difficult to work for them. Work with your employees and take care of them, and they will work harder and stick around longer. 

Cost savings for the employer 

Aside from saving on gas and buying less takeout for office lunches, employers can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars a month by telecommuting. According to Global Workplace Analytics, the average employer can expect to save $11,000 a year per employee by telecommuting. 

The savings won’t just come from the rent of your office space. Think about the supplies you’d need to keep an office up and running. You would need equipment, utilities, cleaning, and any other financial aspects you’d have for an office. Think about all of the costs that you could cut by letting your employees work from home.

Support work/ life balance

Allowing your team to make the choice for themself, whether they work remotely, in-office, or a hybrid form of both, shows you respect your employees to the fullest. You respect their time and their work/life balance. 

You might not know what is going on in someone’s home. Allowing caregivers, parents, or pet owners the option to be home when they need will make for the happiest employees. 

Working remotely isn’t just about watching Netflix all day (although, we won’t judge you if that’s what you want to do). It’s actually a great way to get more work done. And, there are many benefits to remote work for both employees and employers.

If you are ready to start working remotely, check out our tools and services. We can help make the transition easy for both you and your team.