Whether you’re looking for a new job, or just want to work from home, remote work is on the rise.
It’s one of the biggest trends since Covid-19 upended our lives, and it’s here to stay. It’s a flexible workplace option that offers many benefits to professionals.
1. Flexibility
One of the biggest benefits that many people seek in a job is flexibility. That’s because flexibility is an important aspect of work-life balance and eliminates commuting stress.
A great way to increase your organization’s flexibility is by giving employees the option of working remotely. It’s also a great way to make sure your employees are happy, healthy and productive.
When employees work from home, they can choose when and where they want to work. This gives them the freedom to be able to pick up their kids from school, take care of their family, and still get the job done.
Companies that allow flexible working also have 25% lower employee turnover than those that don’t. This means that your company will be able to retain the best talent, which will ultimately help your business thrive in the future.
Flexibility should be a part of the culture and should be supported by leaders. The key is to understand how your organization defines and manages flexibility and to develop policies that are clear, easy to follow and consistent.
The right kind of flexibility will vary depending on the needs of your employees. You should be able to offer them the options they need and make it as simple as possible for them to use those options.
Remote working is the most common type of flexible work. However, other flexible work options exist as well.
Another popular form of flexible work is part-time or temporary jobs. These positions typically have a set end date, but they can give you the opportunity to earn supplemental income or test out new careers while avoiding a full-time commitment.
Ideally, flexible work should mirror an office schedule, allowing employees to have natural breaks during the day and meetings that break up the workday. A common mistake is to expect employees to work nonstop without any breaks, which can lead to overwork and burnout.
2. Reduced Stress
Workplace stress is a major concern for many people, and can lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. It can also affect physical health, such as a weakened immune system and an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Remote working offers a number of benefits, including reduced stress and better work-life balance. For example, remote employees can take time to exercise or cook healthier meals without compromising on their work schedules, and are more likely to be able to find the time for other important events in their lives (such as doctor appointments).
Another way that remote workers report reduced stress is because they have greater control over their schedule. They can choose to work from home when they feel the most focused and productive, which is often at night or in the early morning.
In addition, remote workers can schedule their appointments around their kids’ school pickup and drop-off times. This allows them to spend time with family and friends and reduces the likelihood of conflict between work and family responsibilities.
A study of a large sample of office workers found that remote work decreased psychological and physical stress responses. Additionally, remote work decreased presenteeism when controlling for confounding factors such as job stressors, social support, and sleep status.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused widespread promotion of remote work, but the effects on workplace stress responses and presenteeism remain unclear. This research provides evidence that the remote work experience decreases psychological and physical stress responses, and presents a unique opportunity for organizations to create a healthy workplace culture.
3. Increased Productivity
There’s no denying that remote workers have an easier time getting their work done. They can choose when they’re most productive, they don’t have to be concerned about commuting or getting ready for meetings, and they can be more flexible than in-office employees.
As a result, they may spend more time on their work, but it’s also likely that they’re working more efficiently and effectively. In fact, a 2020 Airtasker survey found that, on average, remote workers are more productive than office-bound employees and take longer breaks.
The key is to give your remote team the flexibility they need while still meeting company goals. This means making sure that they understand exactly what you expect from them – and when they need to meet it.
Similarly, make sure that they know how to reach out to you, if the need arises. Many remote teams find it helpful to have a dedicated contact who can be an advocate for them and ensure that they are always getting the support they need.
Productivity is something that can be measured and tracked with remote teams, and it’s important to make sure they’re aware of what their performance is expected of them. By providing them with standard key performance indicators (KPIs), you can make sure that they know exactly what you expect from them.
As remote work becomes more common, more organizations are implementing it in the workplace. This is a great way to boost employee productivity and help companies get the most out of their talent.
4. More Time to Spend with Family
While some people might be concerned about their remote work causing them to miss out on time with family, there are several benefits to this type of working arrangement.
One of the major benefits of remote work is that it can help to reduce stress and increase productivity. This can lead to increased engagement and motivation in the workplace, as well as greater levels of satisfaction and happiness.
Another benefit of working remotely is that it can help employees build stronger connections with their family and community. This may have been difficult or impossible for them to do when they were working a traditional commute from their home.
Additionally, working remotely can help you find new ways to be productive that you may not have been able to do when you were in the office. For example, if you typically work best in the morning, try working during different hours of the day.
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activities of life and forget about the most important part of our lives: our families. This is why it’s important to set aside specific times each week to spend quality time with your family.
This can be done in a variety of ways, including volunteering at the local food pantry or taking the kids to a local event where everyone can enjoy spending time together. This can also be a great way to strengthen family bonds and teach your children about giving back to their community.
Many people feel that they don’t have enough time to spend with their families, but this isn’t the case. In fact, the more time you spend with your family, the less stress and anxiety you will have overall. By establishing regular and consistent family time, you will be able to build relationships that are strong and long-lasting.
5. Better Mental Health
The mental health of your employees is a critical part of the overall wellbeing of your business. As such, it’s important that your remote workforce has access to resources and tools that will help them to manage their mental health.
While remote work may seem to be an unavoidable aspect of the new normal, it is possible to foster better mental health in your team by establishing a culture of healthy behaviors and empowering employees with resources they can use at home or work. Whether that means a company-wide initiative or an individual employee’s own wellness strategy, it’s vital to ensuring the morale of your employees remains strong while working remotely.
Another benefit of flexible work options is that they allow employees to make healthier decisions on a regular basis, such as exercising or catching up with friends. Having more control over when and how much time they spend on these activities can help reduce stress levels and boost productivity as well.
Additionally, a report by Cisco revealed that fully remote workers reported a 20% higher level of happiness than those who worked in an office. While it’s not clear how this could be achieved, the fact that fully remote employees have more control over their daily schedule is likely to make them feel more satisfied and content with their work life.
If your remote workers are having trouble managing their mental health, consider offering a variety of free and paid apps that offer everything from therapists and online therapy to self-help tools and mental health assessments. Providing these tools can help them manage their mental health and maintain a positive state of mind, which in turn will help your business thrive.
