The Benefits of a Remote Workforce
Thanks to technology, the ability to perform remote work or telecommute has never been more accessible. However, many managers are reluctant to let their teams handle their tasks from anywhere outside of a traditional office. They often fear a lack of direct oversight.
In reality, remote work provides your team with a variety of benefits. The benefits typically outweigh the potential drawbacks associated with the arrangement.
If you are wondering about the benefits of being open to remote work, here’s what you need to know:
Increased Productivity
One of the biggest benefits of telecommuting is increased productivity. In a recent survey, 66 percent of respondents stated that working remotely allowed them to accomplish more than they could in a traditional office environment.
While certain potential distractions exist in the home environment, offices can be filled with them as well. Co-workers stopping by to chat, being pulled into meetings that don’t require the employee’s input or ambient noise, especially in open office environments, can all make it harder to concentrate. Employees generally have greater control over their home, so they may be able to limit interruptions more effectively than in the workplace, where the ability to exert control over their environment is limited.
Additionally, telecommuting arrangements may allow workers to handle tasks when their energy levels are highest, especially if you support flexible scheduling. Not everyone fits naturally into an 8-to-5 rhythm, so letting team members adjust their schedules can increase productivity even further.
Better Work/Life Balance
Telecommuting options can do wonders for work/life balance. If you work from home, even on occasion, the need to commute is effectively eliminated on days you don’t have to come into the office. Considering the average commute is 26.6 minutes each way, that’s 5 hours of time savings a week!
Additionally, working from home makes it easier to manage certain personal obligations, thereby minimizing personal projects spilling into company time. For example, parents may be able to pick their children up from school or limit the need for daycare. Medical and dental appointments may be easier to manage, and squeezing errands in on lunch breaks might be more achievable.
Ultimately, a better work/life balance can improve morale, which typically has a positive impact on work performance.
A Larger Talent Pool
Many professionals seek out opportunities that allow them to telecommute entirely or at least part of the time. For example, working parents, introverts and those battling a chronic physical condition may prefer these arrangements.
Additionally, if a position is entirely remote, you can seek out top talent from anywhere in the country. You don’t have to limit your search to those who live in (or are willing to relocate to) the immediate area, which can be ideal if you need to find someone with a highly specialized skill set that is otherwise in short supply.
By being open to remote work, both you and your team can become more productive and achieve better work/life balance. You’ll also increase the size of your talent pool, making it easier to secure the skills you need to meet your objectives.
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