Working from home certainly has its perks. At times, you can do the obvious — roll out of bed and start work in your pajamas.
But working remotely also allows companies to save money on office space and supplies, it gives the environment a rest, and it keeps workers safer — all as they work from the comfort of their home office.
Many companies these days think that the open floor concept works, but go ahead, ask your employees: do they really like working under these conditions or would they rather have their own office instead? How about a home office?
Of course, giving each employee their own office isn’t in the budget, therefore all business owners need to start thinking outside of the box; this is where remote work fits in.
As long as KPIs (key performance indicators) are constantly met and the employee is proving their value, remote work should be granted.
Working from home should be every company’s new perk, as implementing this option will certainly expand the candidate pool.
But while there are many obvious benefits for both the company and the worker in a remote work agreement, some advantages aren’t easy to spot at first. Below we’ll discuss some of both.
Let’s start with something everyone knows and get weirder from there.
1. Companies can save on office space and supplies
When company owners allow workers to work remote, they can buy less office space and supplies.
Less building space and tools mean the company is saving company dollars.
Stanford conducted a two-year study on telecommuters; an article on Inc.com covered the story and stated that “the company saved almost $2,000 per employee on rent by reducing the amount of HQ office space.”
2. Workers save on commuting costs
Workers pay for expensive fuel, car maintenance and train/bus trips every year; these fees add up.
When employees save on commuting costs, they can use their hard-earned money for things they want to spend on. This will create a happier employee.
Company retention rates will be higher when workers are satisfied; this will take the stress off of the business owner and the burden of needing to find someone new to fill the position ASAP.
Save time. Commuting to work takes time. If you are driving thirty minutes each way, you will be able to gain an extra hour; use it wisely.
3. Less driving equals a better atmosphere
When fewer drivers are on the roads, less carbon dioxide from automobile emissions will leak into the earth’s atmosphere and the air will be cleaner than it currently is.
4. Workers can remain safer
According to an article on USA Today, there were over 40,100 people killed by automobile accidents in 2017. Fewer drivers on the road means that fewer accidents will happen.
Staying at home while working will keep the employee off of the road and will ease the stressed-out feeling of getting to work on time, which may lead to bad driving, speeding and road rage.
5. Less germ exposure equals fewer workdays missed
Going back to an open floor environment — no one really likes it, but it is a way for companies like Facebook, Google, and all of the other top-players to collaborate (aka micromanage). This floor plan doesn’t necessarily mean more work is getting done; perhaps employees have more time to chitchat with co-workers? In turn, they may become distracted.
An Inc.com article reports that a Stanford telecommuting study “found it less distracting and easier to concentrate at home.”
When workers are surrounded by other employees, sure it can build immunity and create everlasting professional bonds, but who wants distractions at work and all of the extra germs?
Company owners, do you want to decrease the number of sick days your employees take on an annual basis?
Try implementing remote work and track the analytics. Stuffy offices and shared supplies spread germs; let your workers breathe and work remote.
6. Less hassle with office politics
It is true, no one really loves politics, unless you’re in the industry. When it comes to office politics, this can be a draining experience, especially when you have to trek to the office day in, and day out.
Working remotely allows you to forget about the break room gossip and enables you to stop wondering why Sally got invited to eat lunch with the boss, while you didn’t.
In fact, when you work remote, you will be able to get more done at lunch and you‘ll have more time to integrate self-care during your breaks; if you’ve been sitting all day-stretch.
Instead of trying to vie for your bosses attention, you can concentrate on the reality of getting things done.
7. Workers can put their families first
If you are at an office for 8-hours a day and your commuting time is one hour each way, this means that you will forfeit 10 hours a day away from your family at home.
When you work remotely, you will have the opportunity to see your family anytime they are home.
Work is important, but it is not the main purpose of life. Just make sure that you section off a quiet office area to work in — and let your family know that just because you are working in your PJs doesn’t mean they can bother you.
Set your working hours and boundaries, but spend more time with your true loved ones that matter.
8. Employees are free to travel the world
As long as you have the technology that you need to get your work done, aka an internet connection, a computer, and a phone, you can work anywhere in the world.
Working remotely gives workers the ability to change office settings and locations.
If you love to travel, pack your office supplies and start to discover continents that you’ve never stepped foot on. Our experiences and memories are what life is all about.
Win-Win
Company owners will be placing employee safety number one and will minimize risk if they decide to adopt this type of work style; while the worker will gain number one flexibility and plenty of other perks.
Businesses could profit from employees taking less sick days, can benefit from utilizing smaller office spaces, and will be helping keep the atmosphere cleaner as they will be cutting down on the number of drivers on the road.
Working remotely is not just a dream in the year 2019; it is happening. Upwork, an online freelancing platform, reported “$1B in annual freelancer billing” in 2017. Remote work is bound to see a larger growth spurt in the near future.
The remote worker will improve their well-being, be safer, and be able to save; while business owners will thrive financially if they adopt this work style too — go on, don’t grab your coat, and go remote.