6 Reasons Why Remote Work Is Here To Stay
Businesses and employees around the world are increasingly choosing remote work arrangements, and that trend is only going to continue in the future. Most data shows that roughly 25-35% of workers are now working from home. And a recent study of remote work by the National Bureau of Economic Research which surveyed 30,000 Americans, found remote workers experience better productivity, a reduction of stigma associated with remote work, and that they benefited from tech innovations that support remote work. Remote workers also enjoy better work-life balance, reduced overhead costs, and access to an enormous, global pool of highly skilled workers from around the world. Future data projections for remote work indicate that it’s here to stay.
Employees Prefer Remote Work
9 out 10 employees would like to continue to work remotely. A study by FlexJobs found that remote workers are much happier and do not want to return to the office full-time.. One of the primary reasons people say they’re happier is that they don’t have to commute. According to Census Bureau data, in 2018 the average commute time to work across US metro areas was 117.7 minutes each way, per week. That’s a lot of time lost that could instead be spent doing anything else. Remote workers largely use their extra time exercising, which adds up to greater health. And remote workers take less sick days because they’re not exposed to ill co-workers or the germs of fellow passengers on public transportation.
Employees Actually Get More Done
The productivity of remote workers is much higher because they are more focused exclusively on work when working. Unlike their office-fettered colleagues, they have the ability to attend to personal matters as needed, which is a huge plus for many people who juggle long hours at work with other obligations outside of it. They’re also more likely to get a promotion or a raise—probably because they’re not stuck at their desks all day, dealing with interruptions and disruptions or distractions from colleagues.
Companies Have Access to A Greater Talent Pool
Employers of remote workers stand to benefit as much as their employees. Without geographic limitations on where they’re hiring, companies can recruit high caliber talent from anywhere in the world. This larger pool of candidates allows companies to hire employees with niche or specialized skills, or unique backgrounds, that would otherwise be out of reach. It also means a reduction in how long it takes to recruit talent, and a decreased risk that you’re stuck with a candidate who’s a bad fit; if that’s the case, the global offerings for replacement are aplenty.
Flexible Hours Benefit Everyone
Another way to broaden your talent pool is by letting employees work when they work best, rather than within specific hours. And this includes having people working in any timezone they want. Studies have shown that employees who have greater autonomy over their schedules are more engaged and productive. Expect to see an increased trend in companies from San Francisco to New York City creating a presence in new cities, like Toronto and Berlin.
Businesses Can Save Money on Office Space
Expensive leases for huge spaces may be a thing of the past. These days, many people work from home or coffee shops and just get together to share ideas at scheduled times. These intermittent opportunities for interfacing and collaboration in person are good for morale and company culture, but without the mind-numbing, productivity-sucking drawbacks of forcing everybody to always be in the office. Fewer people in the office at a time, means companies need a much smaller footprint. In fact, many companies offer their remote workers a stipend to pay for extra office space outside of their home, and this still saves them money compared to the exorbitant cost of larger real estate.
Digital Technology Is Liberating
Technology is enabling people to work from anywhere, anytime. Connectivity via high speed internet connections, reliable digital video communications, affordable global phone services, and digital web services for all administrative life functions make any kind of remote work possible. This freedom of location has become a major reason why people choose remote work over traditional office environments. It’s also making an impact on how they live their lives in general: more time with family and friends, more time doing what they love, more time exploring new opportunities, and more time living.
Remote office work is not going anywhere!
