Why Choose Remote Work? 10 Reasons

Employees who work remotely —also known as telecommuting or telework— do their tasks mostly away from the traditional office, even though there is no all-or-nothing compromise available. Some remote employees, such as sales reps who travel and call center agents, work away from their employer on a long-term basis. Middle managers frequently dock with the workplace mothership while carrying laptops. The thing is, every year more and more companies are embracing the remote work model, or at least testing it.

Remote video conversations, outsourcing, and employees who work from coffee shops are attacking and destroying the conventional workplace. It is a threat that Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo!, once attempted to eliminate by requiring all employees to work onsite and failed. Who, nevertheless, desires to operate in the outdated headquarters? “Are you aware of my great plans for today? “Take the bus to work!” said no one. Ever.

Every day, a growing number of people work remotely. According to the 2022 US Federal Government’s status of telework report, 47% of its employees, or 1,076,066, (yes, more than a million people) were working remotely during the year, a significant rise from the previous one.

Thus, is the office in decline? Is it impossible to resist the attraction of working from the comfort of your couch while wearing pajamas? Some years ago, a roundtable discussion on the subject of remote employment took place in the UK under the direction of a business panel that included national newspaper The Guardian and conference call service Powwownow. One of their worries is whether you can trust a remote worker. Does presenteeism win out over absenteeism? What will take place after that? These are a few of their findings:

1. Remote employees experience less stress

In order to empower his team and set an example for the rest of the firm, Nationwide Building Society‘s group head of digital development, Daryl Wilkinson, stated he wants to encourage remote working. People feel empowered to work in a style that suits them and the company, and there is less stress in the office and at work.

Wilkinson believes that remote working can increase productivity and improve work-life balance. He also thinks that it can help reduce the company’s carbon footprint and attract a wider pool of talent.

2. Remote employees are well connected

You no longer need to be right next to someone in order to communicate successfully, mobile phones and social media’s widespread use has paved the way to the era of telecommunications. Additionally, emerging corporate trends like BYOD, cloud-based project management, video conferencing, and remote administration are enhancing the efficiency of remote work.

As a result, businesses can now access a global talent pool to assemble a diverse team with a range of perspectives and abilities. Increased productivity, innovation, and creativity is result from this.

3. Remote employees are less expensive

According to Ian Adams, head of strategic marketing development at outsourcing firm Mitie, organizations may lower their rent and property costs by promoting alternative working arrangements. This shift towards remote work is not only increasing efficiency but also reducing overhead costs for organizations. So, remote work has become a popular choice for many big and small companies looking to reduce costs of operation while increasing productivity as a result of the advancement of technology and communication tools. It’s a win-win situation.

4. Absenteeism is fine

This is “remote from the office” absenteeism, not the AWOL variety. Jonathan Swan, a policy and research officer for Working Families, a nonprofit organization that promotes work-life balance, once asserted: “The ability to work remotely eliminates the necessity for ‘presenteeism,’ or being in the office as much as possible”. This assertion underlines the importance of allowing for remote work since it can improve work-life balance and release employees from the obligation to be present in the office all the time. In the end, this could lead to increased output and job satisfaction.

5. New employment is created by the new dynamic workplace

For the organization to adapt, new positions must be created. The creation of this dynamic workplace is being facilitated by increased HR, IT, property, and facilities management coordination, according to Adams. Adams also mentioned that this new dynamic workplace is attracting a younger workforce that values flexibility and work-life balance, which further drives the need for the creation of new positions. Employees will benefit from this change in the workplace, but the organization as a whole will also grow and succeed.

6. Remote employment offers options

Robert Gorby, marketing director of Powwownow, claims that working remotely gives one more options. “Choosing wisely is crucial. There should not be a mandate to function in a specific manner because of technology.”

Employees may have more freedom to work how it best suits them with remote employment, which can increase productivity and job satisfaction. However, it is important for organizations to establish clear communication and collaboration protocols to ensure remote workers feel connected and valued.

7. Employers profit from contented remote workers

Consider fitting in a stress-relieving nap during your lunch break. That is accurate; it is not feasible. Swan remarked, “It is about working with the grain of people’s lives.” By prioritizing the well-being of remote workers, employers can increase productivity and reduce turnover rates. It is important to recognize that remote work requires a different approach to management and support than traditional office-based work.

8. Remote employees are more involved

“When you are tweeting with people in your team close to midnight, it brings home that people are experiencing something beyond just ‘doing work,”” said Nationwide’s Wilkinson. “They are engaged in a different way.”

This involvement and engagement can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction for remote employees, as they have more autonomy and flexibility in their work. However, it also requires effective communication and collaboration tools to ensure that remote workers feel connected to their team and the company’s mission.

9. Alternative locations are preferable to the office

We have all heard how J.K. Rowling spent a lot of time writing Harry Potter in her neighborhood coffee shop. Office employees may now participate in the activity. Flexible working is not limited to the workplace or home; there can be a location close by with greater amenities, according to Celia Donne, global operations director of Regus, a distributor of office space.

10. Commuting is not that good for you

Employees who telecommute are better off than their coworkers who commute physically, even before the workday begins. Employees who commute, on average, have worst life satisfaction, a lower sense that their daily activities matter, a much lower level of enjoyment, and a higher level of anxiety than non-commuters, according to the UK Office of National Statistics. Additionally, fewer commutes result in a lower carbon impact, which pleases environmentalists, not to mention the cost savings.

Conclusion

A revolution in remote work has recently taken place, and it is still going strong today. Although remote working has become commonplace, flexible working is already a given. According to Andy Lake, editor of the flexible work website Flexibility, the Department for Business Studies found that more than 90% of businesses offered some form of flexible working, but that telecommuting was not as common as flexible hours and part-time employment. As more employees persuade their employers to permit them to work from home, expect the old cube farm to lose more employees.

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