REMOTE WORK: Benefits for all

In a series of blogs, we discuss the topic of remote working. In the first blog, we focused on the concept itself, and now we’ll talk about the benefits that working remotely brings.

Benefits for employees

When we talk about remote work, most people first think of all the good sides that this kind of work brings to an employee. The fact that you don’t have to drive to work isn’t the only benefit, though it’s the most obvious. Here are a few more:

• Flexibility – parents can plan their work according to the children’s schedule, everyone can adjust their work obligations according to medical examinations, socializing and other non-work activities, e.g. studies.
• Better health and well-being – remote workers are significantly less stressed and have higher morale – some studies show that the journey to and from work contributes a lot to stress. Also, when working remotely employees do not feel the need to avoid work, without a good reason, because they feel engaged and collected in their role, instead of being under stress or pressure.
• Renewed passion for work – the environment in which the employees choose to work, inspires them and so they can filter out disturbing environmental factors as they see fit.

Benefits for the employer

Although these benefits are not the most obvious, they certainly exist and are extremely important. For example:

• Higher productivity – higher productivity comes with flexibility (this claim is also supported by some studies).
• Cost savings – the employer can save on renting premises and office furniture.
• Employees engagement – studies show that many employees are willing to leave the current job and replace it with one that allows working remotely. This is therefore a competitive advantage that employers need to be aware of.
• Economical and smarter development team – it is easier to include talents from all over the world into the team. Because your employees already work remotely, they are used to such a system and it is easier for the whole team. Therefore the employer is not geographically limited.

Of course, the entire organization can also benefit from this way of working. Many employees already work from home to a certain extent. When they come home from work, they reply to emails, they are reachable by phone, or they simply finish their work remotely because they had to leave the job for whatever reason. As mentioned above, remote working is a competitive advantage in both recruitment and retention. However, employees understand this way of working as a benefit and therefore it acts as an incentive for them. We also prove to our employees that the organization sees them as people, recognizes and supports diversity, and is aware that the same way of working does not suit everyone. It is also important to remember, that working remotely may, to some, represent a better motivation than a higher salary. And a monetary reward also does not promote loyalty to the organization, while comfort at work does.

Remote work is becoming a new norm, so companies are expected to make this kind of adjustment, as evidenced by the fact that the younger generation is increasingly asking whether the job interview itself can be done online.

So if you haven’t already, now it’s the time to start actively thinking about it.