Modern technology has made possible for cubicle days to be over and make space for all the benefits that remote working can offer.
Remote work has grown faster than any other commute method, especially during and after coronavirus pandemic. Many studies have shown that remote working has valuable effects on employee productivity, happiness and general well-being. There is also, evidence that shows that employees aren’t the only ones who benefit from working from home; a company can benefit just as greatly from a remote employee. You might be wondering how a company can benefit from this work model, for a business the advantages can include:
- Improves employee satisfaction. The flexibility to work remotely decreases pressures that often cause employees to leave their jobs, such as commutes, physical conditions, or life events.
- Increases productivity. A study revealed that work-from-home employees work a true full day (or more) rather than being late to the office or leaving early multiple times a week. These employees can work when they are most productive, even if that means late at night or early in the morning, and they tend to work extra hours per week.
- Saves employers money. A remote workforce cuts down on the costs involved in keeping an office operating, such as computers, phones, electricity, heating, and air conditioning.
- Expands the talent pool. You are no longer limited to a specific geographic area instead you can go anywhere and find specialized professionals. This benefit is especially valuable for companies located in more competitive areas that struggle to even find enough candidates to fill certain roles.
While there are many real benefits to this work model, it also faces many challenges, especially when its workforce is scattered around the globe. However, there are ways in which you can minimize the struggles and maximize the benefits of a remote workforce, like:
- Communication. It is so important to maintain good communication. Communication issues can negatively affect not only work progresses, but also employee morale; add tools like Skype, Zoom etc. to facilitate constant and open communication, try to avoid using only email as your main source of communication.
- Create a culture. While employees do enjoy the flexibility of remote work, it doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy being part of an office culture. Provide opportunities for colleagues to connect by organizing team building activities such as online trivia nights or have them come once in a while to the office for a coffee meeting to provide opportunities for informal interaction.
- Employee performance. Employees need to know exactly what is expected of them at all times and should have goals and metrics established. When armed with this knowledge, teams are happier and better able to live up to set expectations.
- Maintain security. Make sure employees keep business-sensitive documents in one secure cloud location rather than on individual laptops; this practice also ensures employees always use the most up-to-date documentation. Make sure to constantly reinforce the importance of secure passwords and remind employees of password best practices. Also, remote workers are more at risk from internet attacks since they often work from public Wi-Fi. Make sure employees connect through a virtual private network to keep all internet traffic secure.
There are exciting opportunities for both companies and workers in remote working; if done correctly, it is a win-win situation for both. Webline-Services offers web solutions for your company that will benefit your remote workforce by providing reliable and secure hosting services at affordable prices.