17 Key Benefits of Remote Work for Employers and Employees
In addition, a 2015 survey reported by SHRM concluded that 77% of remote employees reported greater productivity, with 30% reporting that they got more done in less time. By adopting remote-friendly policies, you can empower employees to perform work whenever it’s best for their schedule and preferences. The future of virtual project management increasingly centers on hybrid working models that blend the best aspects of remote and in-office collaboration. Most employees now prefer this flexible approach, driving organizations to restructure their management strategies. You build your dream team from anywhere in the world at a lower cost of talent, which helps you optimize your overhead without sacrificing skill.Working remotely brings together people from diverse backgrounds. The researchers state that before the pandemic, a regular Australian spent 4.5 hours commuting.
Take the initiative in Building Social Opportunities
During the pandemic, as people began working from home, they were able to regain an hour and 18 minutes a week of extra time. Most of that pre-pandemic commuting time, however, was actually spent getting more work done, which meant that companies were benefiting from their employees working from home. In fact, they found that 43% of this extra time was used to turn in more work—in line with the research that has found that remote workers are 35-40% more productive and make fewer mistakes. They should welcome the questions and have clear answers for you about their efforts. If you’re working from home and finding it harder to stay connected to your colleagues, or even to your sense of purpose at work, you’re not alone. One in five employees worldwide says they felt lonely “a lot” the previous day, according to Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace report.
Advantages of Remote Working for Employees and Employers
Wallins suggests consciously enjoying those temptations in small doses (say 10 to 20 minutes) and without guilt. She also recommends creating tiny rituals or events to carry you through the days and weeks so your structure doesn’t exclusively come from meetings and deadlines, which can be demotivating. Enjoyable, at-home rituals could be as simple as walking the dog, doing 10 minutes of yoga, or scheduling a lunch every Thursday with a local friend who also works from home. That’s not to say that there are no distractions that come with remote work, of course, but for many people, the in-office ones are more disruptive to their productivity. Studies show that many of the most qualified candidates you could hope to attract for your company prioritize remote work. If it’s not available, they’ll keep looking for a better work experience.
Greater Flexibility
Utilize your flexible schedule to foster social connections during work hours. Grab breakfast with a neighbor, spend extra time with family before school or take your dog to the park during lunch breaks. These micro-interactions throughout your day can significantly impact your overall sense of connection and well-being while working remotely.
Given all these benefits for employers and employees, it’s no surprise that remote work is on the rise. If you’re currently looking for flexible work in the tech space, you’re in luck. There are plenty of great remote work opportunities out there, even for people without much work experience. Having looked at the key advantages of remote work for employers, let’s now discover the benefits employees can enjoy.
Team members can keep in touch through a modern company intranet, so it’s as if they’re in the office anyway. You spend many hours working so an office space you love to spend time in can increase your output. Remote employees can make their workspace as bright or plain as they wish. Working remotely also saves time traveling to and being in meetings as modern technology means teams can video call on the intranet. AI will also enable organizations to monitor productivity and performance, ensuring that remote workers are meeting their goals and objectives. AI remote jobs encompass a wide range of roles, from data scientists and machine learning engineers to AI researchers and natural language processing specialists.
As the COVID-19 crisis begins to wane and vaccinations become more widespread, many people want to continue working remotely, at least on a part-time basis. So, if you’re looking for a career that offers flexibility, autonomy, and the opportunity to work from anywhere, these are the industries to keep an eye on. But when you work remotely, you can set boundaries and establish rules to minimize distractions, thus maximizing your productivity. Another advantage of written communication is that it can be easily documented and referenced later, which helps to keep track of projects and progress. When you’re not constantly interrupted by colleagues or meetings, you can focus more easily on the task at hand and get into a flow state. This is especially beneficial for introverts who may need more quiet time to think and work independently.
Mastering the Art of Remote Team Management
After weighing the pros and cons of remote work, many businesses may want employees to return to the office. It is up to the employer to make that transition as easy and painless for workers as possible. But it becomes critical when an organization must accommodate remote working arrangements. A company’s potential security loopholes increase when factoring in antivirus software, firewalls and VPN configurations for employees’ home internet connections. Further complicating matters is when employees decide to work from a coffee shop or other location with public Wi-Fi, and when they bring personal devices onto a business network.
An employee with chronic joint pain, for example, may feel more comfortable in their ergonomic home desk chair. A worker with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can position their desk near a window to get more sunlight. Someone who moves or fidgets often through the day can do so without worrying about distracting others. Your daily commute can compound or increase your stress levels as you deal with factors beyond your control, such as rude passengers, vehicle breakdowns, and traffic jams. A longer commute can also reduce job satisfaction and worsen your mental health. My mom has also reached the age where she needs help managing day-to-day activities.
- Working from home also allows people with disabilities to join the workforce; not only giving them financial independence, but also improving their mental health.
- Internet connection and a good digital workplace platform means employees have access to all the apps they need to do their work.
- Participate actively in company-wide initiatives and optional social events.
- The study, which polled more than 18,000 U.S. workers, defined “job flexibility” as the ability to adjust their own work schedule to meet personal demands.
- Utilizing reliable communication tools and establishing clear communication protocols can help alleviate these issues.
Remote employees also tend to be happier than office workers, making them good advocates for the company. If you telecommute or are a freelancer and work from home you can set up your desk where you want it, close the door if you wish, and listen to music if it helps you express your creativity. Make an effort to engage in non-work conversations with your teammates. When appropriate, share personal updates, ask about their weekends or hobbies and show genuine interest in their lives outside of work. Consider forming or joining career development groups within your organization to enhance your skills and knowledge. Book clubs, skill-sharing sessions or mentorship programs provide structured opportunities to connect with teammates while also advancing your career goals.
One survey suggests that companies can save $11,000 annually on average per part-time remote employee, translating to 21% greater profitability. Moreover, 34% of employees responding to a 2019 Owl Labs survey indicated they’d take a pay cut for a remote position. At least half of employers responding to remote work surveys report that working from home reduces employee absenteeism. When you trust your employees to shift their work schedules to accommodate their needs, they’re able to get tasks done more efficiently. You can even include employee profiles and social networking apps on a modern intranet, making it more desirable benefits of working remotely to use.
We all may not be physically in the same room, but work can be just as effective, if not more so, than the traditional working model. It’s time for employers and employees alike to embrace the new world of work and to consider the benefits of working remotely. But employers shouldn’t skip a wellness plan in the remote workplace; inclusion in company wellness programs, such as access to the gym, is just as important for those with a flexible work schedule. Still, with increased social support and systems put in place by managers and organizations trained in managing hybrid teams, research also suggests there’s plenty of benefits to working from home. Below, 10 studies and surveys that quantify just how game-changing remote work can be for employees and companies. Starting a new job is stressful for most people, even under the best of circumstances.
The researchers posited that such flexibility helps women balance paid employment with unpaid caregiving and household duties, which women disproportionately bear the brunt of. The study, funded in part by the British National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, pointed out some negatives, too. One of the studies reviewed found that 46.9% of employees working from home had put on weight. The new world of work is full of opportunities, especially for those willing to embrace change and seize the advantages that remote work offers. If you live in a big city, you know that commuting can be a huge time-suck. Working remotely eliminates this wasted time, giving you back precious hours to do things you actually enjoy.
Access to a global talent pool
- One of the most notable trends is the rise of remote jobs, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
- When asked if the opportunity to work remotely would make them happier, 83% of the survey respondents agreed, while 80% agreed that working remotely would make them feel like their employer cares.
- At least half of employers responding to remote work surveys report that working from home reduces employee absenteeism.
- Hires don’t have to be local and can be anywhere in the world, depending on time zones.
This can lead to a more diverse and skilled workforce, as companies are not limited by geographic location when hiring. However, it also requires effective remote management and communication strategies to ensure team cohesion and productivity. A frequent complaint in today’s world is the difficulty of striking a good work-life balance. Working eight or more hours a day leaves little time for family — especially when commutes and sleep are factored in. Working from home eliminates lengthy commutes, enabling more time with loved ones. And on days when employees aren’t required to attend video meetings, they can dress any way they choose — including pajamas.
In Buffer’s latest State of Remote Work survey, 23% of fully remote workers identified loneliness as their second biggest challenge—just behind difficulties with collaboration and communication. Remote work took off once cloud tools like Google Workspace made it easy to share documents, track tasks, and chat in real-time, no in-person meetings required. More than a mere workplace trend, the concept of working from anywhere at any time is the future state of work. Technology is going to become more advanced and bring us all virtually ever closer together. It will continue to connect us as employees and businesses across time zones and continents.
AI and automation are streamlining workflows, tracking task completion, and allocating resources without constant manual intervention. And on the well-being front, mental-health tech will help you support your team’s stress levels and work-life balance. The role of a remote project manager is to lead every phase of a project entirely online – from initial planning to final delivery. You’re not just checking off tasks; you’re setting strategy, coordinating a team spread across locations, and keeping an eye on performance every step of the way. These solutions are a single space where everyone can co-edit, share, and find files without hunting through multiple drives. That means you get seamless collaboration and secure storage, all inside the same platform where you manage your workload and budgets.
