In 2020, the world was turned upside down by the news of the pandemic. People were forced into their homes, forever changing the way that we live our lives. Part of this change included the shift to remote work.
During the pandemic, millions of people worked from home nearly exclusively. However, even years after the initial lockdown, reports show that approximately 40 per cent of U. employees still work remotely at least once weekly. Although these numbers have steadily declined since the conception of remote work, there are still many opportunities across the country to work from home. Even years into the post-pandemic world, this business model’s benefits to employers and employees cannot be ignored.
Having and maintaining distributed teams both in and outside the office presents many benefits for the employees within the system. When working from home, a commute is no longer necessary. Not only does this mean saving time at either end of the workday, but it also means that some expenses can be eliminated. Workers no longer have to spend money on gas or food and have greater flexibility before, during, and after the workday.
Under this system, the time given back to employees can be spent with family or friends or enjoying other extracurricular activities and hobbies. Some employees even report fewer meetings during the day when working remotely. Overall, the benefits of remote work help to promote a better work-life balance, which in turn boosts the success and efficiency of the company.
When employees are satisfied with their work environment, their employers and companies also profit. There are several ways that businesses benefit from a remote or hybrid work schedule, most of which stem from employee satisfaction in their position. First, studies have shown that offering work-from-home opportunities can reduce absenteeism. Businesses have seen nearly 60 per cent fewer employee absences and have reported 50 per cent fewer employee sick days. In addition, productivity is on the rise under these parameters.
Also Read: Examining global hybrid and remote work trends beyond the West
Many businesses have seen a 68 per cent increase in employee productivity. Employing this business model also has the potential to lower turnover, reducing employee churn by a shocking 50 per cent. Companies are not only seeing higher employee retention but also saving money per employee. Reports have even gone as far as to estimate that a remote or hybrid work schedule can reduce employee costs by US$20,000 to US$37,000 annually.
Even now, four years after the initial lockdown and the conception of remote work, nearly 100 per cent of people say that they have an interest in working remotely some or all of the time. To make this a reality, businesses have to take several necessary steps to keep up with this demand.
The recipe for keeping teams out of the office starts with strong connectivity platforms. There are many reliable platforms to take advantage of, some of the most well-known being Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Regardless of which platform a business decides to utilise, ensuring that it is working efficiently is imperative to success. When employees are calling in and working from all corners of the country or even the world, making sure that everyone stays connected and communicative is a must.
Another important step is to strengthen cybersecurity and IT tools. When much of a business is taken care of in the digital space, there is an increased risk of cyber attacks. To keep employees and company information safe from such threats, a strong IT team and the subsequent tools are non-negotiable.
Finally, new technology, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be used to optimise business proceedings. For example, advanced software can make schedules and other organisational decisions to ensure that each workday is efficient and runs smoothly. Using this technology will only streamline important processes and take the organisation to the next level.
Combining these techniques and tips can and will prepare a business for the future of the modern workday. Remote work is not going anywhere, and the companies and organisations that embrace it will quickly realise the benefits and find success.
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